Who might pack a milkshake?

People who want a sweet drink with lunch

A ready-to-drink UHT milkshake is one way to add a dairy drink to a desk lunch. Check the serving count: Tesco lists its 400ml Yazoo chocolate bottle as two servings, not one.

People choosing a smaller portion

A single carton makes the amount you are packing clear. ASDA lists the 200ml Yazoo no-added-sugar chocolate carton as one serving; its lactose-reduced wording does not mean it is dairy-free.

Commuters comparing protein per drink

If protein content matters for a drink alongside lunch, compare the amount per bottle rather than relying on the word “protein” in the name. Tesco lists 20g per 250ml bottle for the Arla Protein chocolate shake.

What should you check?

Start with the amount you will actually drink, then check the nutrition, ingredients and storage instructions for that pack.

Priority What to check Your needs
Portion and sugars Compare pack volume, servings per pack and sugars per 100ml. If you plan to finish the pack, check its full-pack figure too: Tesco lists the 400ml Yazoo chocolate bottle as two 200ml servings, each with 17.2g sugars; ASDA lists 9.4g sugars in the one-serving 200ml no-added-sugar carton. I would rather choose the amount I mean to drink than mistake a two-serving bottle for one portion.
Protein and purpose Read protein per serving and the number of servings you expect to drink. Tesco lists 20g protein per 250ml Arla Protein bottle and 6.4g per 200ml serving of the standard Yazoo chocolate drink; those figures describe different serving sizes. If I specifically want protein from my drink, I can compare the labelled amount per bottle. Otherwise, flavour and portion size may matter more to my choice.
Milk and lactose Check the exact pack’s ingredient list and milk allergen statement. ASDA’s lactose-reduced Yazoo carton contains milk; Tesco’s lactose-free Arla Protein shake is also milk-based. I need to know whether the drink contains milk. Lactose wording alone will not answer that question.
Packing and storage Read both unopened-pack and after-opening directions. Tesco says to refrigerate its FRijj chocolate shake and Arla Protein shake after opening; East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust advises using a cool bag and ice pack to keep a packed lunch cool. I want a drink that fits my journey and access to a fridge, especially if I might not finish it at lunch.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming the bottle is one serving

    Tesco lists the 400ml Yazoo chocolate bottle as two 200ml servings, so its per-serving nutrition figures do not describe the whole bottle.

    Check servings per pack and compare nutrition for the amount you expect to drink.

  • Treating lactose-free as dairy-free

    ASDA’s lactose-reduced Yazoo carton contains milk, as does the lactose-free Arla Protein shake listed by Tesco. This distinction matters if you must avoid milk.

    Read the milk allergen statement and ingredients on the exact pack rather than choosing by its lactose wording.

  • Choosing a protein shake without comparing the portion

    A protein-focused label does not tell you whether the bottle size or its full-bottle nutrition suits your lunch.

    Compare protein, sugars and volume for the amount you intend to drink, then decide whether protein content is a priority for you.

  • Saving an opened shake in a desk drawer

    Tesco’s directions for the FRijj chocolate shake and Arla Protein shake call for refrigeration after opening. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust also recommends keeping packed lunches cool.

    Keep the drink sealed until needed where practical, and follow its own label if you save any after opening.

Brands and product lines to compare

Yazoo

The chocolate drinks listed by Tesco and ASDA illustrate a choice between a 400ml bottle and a one-serving 200ml no-added-sugar carton.

  • ASDA lists 9.4g sugars and 6.6g protein in the 200ml carton.
  • The lactose-reduced carton still contains milk; Tesco lists the 400ml bottle as two servings.

FRijj

Tesco lists the Müller FRijj chocolate drink as a 330ml UHT, long-life milkshake.

  • The listed chocolate variant offers a different bottle size from the 200ml and 400ml Yazoo examples.
  • Its Tesco nutrition listing gives 11.4g sugars per 100ml; check the amount you intend to drink.

Arla Protein

Tesco lists the chocolate shake as a 250ml, no-added-sugar, lactose-free milk drink with 20g protein per bottle.

  • Protein is stated for the full bottle, making that particular portion straightforward to compare.
  • Lactose-free does not mean milk-free; check the ingredients and allergen information.

Mars

Tesco’s chocolate-milkshake category lists a Mars no-added-sugar chocolate milk drink in a 400ml bottle.

  • The listed pack size gives you a 400ml option to assess.
  • Check the exact bottle’s nutrition, ingredients, allergens and storage directions before comparing it with the other drinks.

Joybuy protein shakes for packed lunches

These Joybuy options are protein-shake multipacks for someone considering a drink alongside an office lunch. Compare each bottle or can with the portion you want, and check its storage directions before packing it.

REP vanilla protein shake, eight 250ml cans

REP Protein Shakes Vanilla Flavour, 8 × 250ml

The 250ml cans offer a smaller individual portion for a protein-shake accompaniment to lunch. The drink contains milk; check the exact pack’s storage directions before taking a can to work.

View on Joybuy
Applied Nutrition Strawberries & Cream protein shake, eight 330ml bottles

Applied Nutrition Protein Nutrition Shake Strawberries & Cream, 8 × 330ml

Each bottle is 330ml, so compare the full-bottle nutrition with the portion you want alongside lunch. It contains milk; follow the pack’s storage directions before and after opening.

View on Joybuy
Applied Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream protein shake, eight 500ml bottles

Applied Nutrition Protein Nutrition Shake Vanilla Ice Cream, 8 × 500ml

The 500ml bottle suits someone deliberately choosing a larger drink; check its full-bottle nutrition rather than comparing it only by serving claims. It contains milk, and the exact pack’s storage instructions matter for a packed lunch.

View on Joybuy

Office lunch questions

Can a standard milkshake replace my whole office lunch?

A standard milkshake is better treated as a drink alongside lunch, not as all of it. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s packed-lunch guidance advises including protein foods and fruit and vegetables; a milkshake does not replace those different parts of a lunch.

Is a lactose-reduced or lactose-free milkshake dairy-free?

No, not necessarily. ASDA lists milk in its lactose-reduced Yazoo carton, and Tesco’s lactose-free Arla Protein shake is milk-based. If you need to avoid milk, check the exact product’s ingredients and allergen statement.

Does an unopened UHT milkshake need a fridge in my lunch bag?

Follow the unopened-pack storage directions for the drink you choose: ASDA lists ambient storage for its 200ml Yazoo carton, while Tesco describes the 330ml FRijj shake as UHT and long life. Tesco directs buyers to refrigerate the FRijj shake after opening. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust recommends a cool bag and ice pack to keep packed lunches cool.

How can I compare sugars in different bottle sizes?

Check sugars per 100ml, then work from the servings and amount you expect to drink. Tesco lists its 400ml Yazoo chocolate bottle as two 200ml servings, whereas ASDA lists the 200ml no-added-sugar Yazoo carton as one serving.

Does “no added sugar” mean a milkshake contains no sugars?

No. Tesco lists 4.5g sugars per 100ml for its no-added-sugar Arla Protein chocolate shake, and ASDA lists 9.4g sugars in a 200ml no-added-sugar Yazoo carton. Read the nutrition panel as well as the front-of-pack wording.