Hosts serving a milkshake with Christmas dinner
If you want a lower-fat dairy drink, compare fat per 100 ml as well as the amount you intend to pour. ‘No added sugar’ answers a different question.
Who is this choice for?
Shoppers considering a protein shake
A protein-focused drink may come in a larger bottle than the glass you planned to serve. Check the full-bottle nutrition, sweeteners and intended serving size before treating it as a milkshake alternative.
Families making several drinks
A larger carton or milkshake mix can be divided between guests. For a mix, compare the nutrition of the prepared drink using the milk and quantities specified on the label.
What should you compare?
Start with the finished drink’s fat per 100 ml, then consider its sugars, serving size and ingredients in the context of the meal.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat in the drink | Compare fat per 100 ml on the finished-drink label. Tesco lists Yazoo Chocolate at 1.4 g per 100 ml; Müller UK & Ireland lists FRijj Favourites Chocolate at 1.3 g per 100 ml. | I want to compare drinks on the same basis, rather than assume that a particular type of milkshake has less fat. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Read sugars per 100 ml and the ingredients alongside any ‘no added sugar’ wording. Tesco lists its Mars No Added Sugar milk drink at 6.5 g sugars and 2.2 g fat per 100 ml; the ingredients include sweeteners. | If I am choosing by fat content, a no-added-sugar label alone will not answer my question. I may also want to know whether the drink contains sweeteners. |
| Serving size | Compare the amount you plan to serve with the bottle or carton size. Sainsbury’s lists 312 kcal and 50 g protein for a whole 471 ml For Goodness Shakes Chocolate bottle. | For a small drink alongside dinner, I need to decide whether to pour a glass or serve a whole bottle. |
| Prepared mixes | Use the prepared-drink figures and follow the stated milk quantity. ASDA lists its Vanilla Milk Shake Mix, made with 200 ml semi-skimmed milk as directed, at 1.7 g fat and 9.4 g sugars per 100 ml of prepared drink. | A mix lets me make drinks for several people, but I want to judge what ends up in each glass, not the dry powder alone. |
| Guests and storage | Check current allergen and ingredient labels, then follow each pack’s instructions after opening. Sainsbury’s lists the lactose-free For Goodness Shakes drink as milk-based; its Pro Mlk Vanilla carton says to keep it chilled and use it within three days of opening. | If I am serving guests or opening a large carton, I need to account for milk ingredients and how the remaining drink must be stored. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘lower fat’
The two descriptions concern different nutrients. Tesco lists 2.2 g fat per 100 ml for Mars Chocolate Flavoured Milk Drink No Added Sugar.
If fat is the deciding factor, read the fat figure separately; then check sugars and sweeteners for the serving you intend to offer.
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Comparing a whole bottle with a small glass
Sainsbury’s lists 312 kcal and 50 g protein for the full 471 ml For Goodness Shakes Chocolate bottle. That is a different serving quantity from a small glass at dinner.
Decide how much you intend to serve before comparing bottle-level figures with those of other drinks.
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Judging a mix by its dry-powder figures
The milk used to make a shake contributes to the finished drink. ASDA lists 1.7 g fat per 100 ml for its Vanilla Milk Shake Mix prepared as directed with semi-skimmed milk.
Compare prepared-drink values for the milk and quantities you will actually use.
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Treating lactose-free as milk-free
The lactose-free For Goodness Shakes product listed by Sainsbury’s is made with milk. A lactose-free description does not replace an allergen check.
For a guest with a milk allergy, check the current ingredient and allergen information before selecting a drink.
Relevant product lines
These examples illustrate different drink formats and labels; the figures apply to the specified products, not every drink sold under each name.
Yazoo
Yazoo Chocolate is a flavoured milk drink available in a 1 L format.
- Tesco lists 1.4 g fat and 8.6 g sugars per 100 ml for Yazoo Chocolate.
- Tesco says to refrigerate it after opening and drink it within three days; check the milk ingredients when serving guests.
Müller FRijj
FRijj Favourites Chocolate is a 330 ml chocolate milkshake.
- Müller UK & Ireland lists 1.3 g fat per 100 ml for this drink.
- The same manufacturer lists 11.4 g sugars per 100 ml; consider the whole 330 ml bottle when planning servings.
Mars
Mars Chocolate Flavoured Milk Drink No Added Sugar is a chocolate, malt and caramel flavoured milk drink.
- Tesco lists it as no added sugar and gives 6.5 g sugars per 100 ml.
- Tesco also lists 2.2 g fat per 100 ml and ingredients including milk, barley and sweeteners.
Pro Mlk
Pro Mlk Vanilla is a chilled, multi-serve protein drink in a 1 L carton.
- Sainsbury’s lists less than 0.5 g fat and 7.7 g protein per 100 ml for this Vanilla product.
- It contains milk and sweeteners; follow the carton’s chilling and post-opening instructions.
For Goodness Shakes
The Chocolate product listed by Sainsbury’s is a 471 ml, milk-based protein shake labelled lactose-free.
- Sainsbury’s lists 1.4 g fat and 50 g protein for the full bottle.
- The full bottle also contains 312 kcal; lactose-free does not mean free from milk ingredients.
Joybuy product options
These milkshake-style yoghurt drinks offer a choice between a single 220 ml bottle and a pack of three for serving guests. Check the current pack if you need a particular fat figure or ingredient profile.
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LIGHT UP Zero Control Avocado Kale Chia Seed Milkshake Yogurt Drink, 3 × 220 ml
Three individual 220 ml bottles can be served to different guests. This is a yoghurt drink rather than a conventional chocolate milkshake; check the current fat-per-100-ml figure, milk allergen information and any no-added-sugar wording against the ingredients before serving.
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LIGHT UP Zero Control Avocado Kale Chia Seed Milkshake Yogurt Drink, 220 ml
The 220 ml bottle provides an individual milkshake-style yoghurt drink. If lower fat is the reason for choosing it, check the current fat-per-100-ml figure; also check the milk allergen information and any no-added-sugar wording against the ingredients.
Common questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean a milkshake has less fat?
No. Tesco lists 2.2 g fat and 6.5 g sugars per 100 ml for Mars Chocolate Flavoured Milk Drink No Added Sugar. Read the fat line separately if that is your priority.
Can a standard chocolate milkshake be a lower-fat option?
Compare the specific products rather than the category name. Tesco lists 1.4 g fat per 100 ml for Yazoo Chocolate, while Müller UK & Ireland lists 1.3 g per 100 ml for FRijj Favourites Chocolate. Their sugars and serving sizes still need separate consideration.
How should I compare milkshake powder with a ready-to-drink bottle?
Compare the finished drinks per 100 ml, using the milk and quantities you plan to use. ASDA lists its Vanilla Milk Shake Mix at 1.7 g fat per 100 ml when prepared as directed with semi-skimmed milk.
Is a lactose-free shake suitable for a guest with a milk allergy?
Do not use ‘lactose-free’ as a substitute for checking milk ingredients. The For Goodness Shakes Chocolate product listed by Sainsbury’s is lactose-free but milk-based; check the current allergen label before serving a guest with a milk allergy.
Can I open a large milkshake carton before Christmas dinner?
Follow that carton’s storage and use-by instructions after opening. Tesco says to refrigerate its listed Yazoo Chocolate drink and consume it within three days of opening; Sainsbury’s gives chilled storage and a three-day post-opening period for the listed Pro Mlk Vanilla carton.