Protein Power

A couple o' folks have written in lately to ask if I'm still consuming Jay Robb protein shakes or if I've found something better. Easy answer: I've been so contented with that product that I haven't gone looking for anything better.

I have modified my "recipe" a bit: I used to make 'em with ice-cold water and now I make 'em with half ice-cold water and half fat free milk. I'm also largely abandoning their vanilla flavor (soon as I use up what I have left) for all chocolate, all the time. I still make them in my Magic Bullet — the only product I've ever encountered via TV infomercial that worked exactly as advertised and proved actually useful. The result is a pretty good-tasting chocolate drink, sweetened with Stevia instead of something artificial, that I consume about once a day, sometimes twice. It may be the healthiest thing that goes into my body not counting my urologist's finger.

The Jay Robb folks have made a few changes, mainly in their packaging. They used to sell their powder in plastic canisters like the one at above left. They've switched for environmental reasons to a reclosable bag that I find somewhat awkward to scoop powder outta. Fortunately, I still had some plastic canisters about so I buy the new bags and refill the old canisters. The Whole Foods Markets I've been in lately still have the plastic canisters on their shelves but when those are gone, they'll have the bags in their stead.

Also, when I've mentioned Jay Robb products in the past, I've noted that while I like their Egg Protein and their Whey Protein, I thought their line of Rice Protein powders was pretty awful. I can't be alone in this opinion because the Jay Robb company has quietly dropped Rice Protein from its offerings.

So there you have it: My update. If you're looking for a good protein drink, give it a try. You don't have to start with the reclosable bags or the plastic canisters because they sell little one-drink packets which you can sample. If you're only going to sample one, try the Chocolate Whey. One friend who started drinking this stuff on my recommendation adds in about half a teaspoon of Nestle's Quik or somesuch product but I don't think it needs it. And sorry about the urologist joke but it's early.