Gym-goers comparing protein amounts
If protein is part of your snack decision, compare the amount stated for a whole bottle rather than relying on the word ‘milkshake’.
Who is this for?
People carrying a drink without a cool bag
If your drink will wait in an uncooled gym bag, its before-opening storage instructions are as important as its flavour or bottle size.
Shoppers choosing a conventional milkshake
If you want a flavoured milk drink, compare portions, protein, sugars and storage instructions with those of dedicated protein shakes.
What matters when choosing?
Start with how you will carry the drink, then compare nutrition for the portion you intend to drink and check the exact product label.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per bottle | Compare protein for the complete bottle, not just per 100ml. UFIT states 25g per 330ml for its named shake; Shaken Udder lists 20g per 330ml for Chocolate Protein Milkshake. | If protein matters to my snack choice, I want to know what the portion I will actually drink contains. |
| Storage | Check whether the exact product permits ambient storage before opening or requires refrigeration. GOV.UK advises keeping dairy products in the fridge; Shaken Udder distinguishes its ambient milkshakes from chilled products. | My drink may sit in a gym bag, so I need one labelled for unrefrigerated storage or a way to keep a chilled drink cold. |
| Sugars and energy | Read both the per-100ml and per-serving figures, noting the serving size. Shaken Udder lists 32g sugars per 330ml Chocolate Protein Milkshake; Yazoo lists 8.6g sugars per 100ml Chocolate Milk Drink. | I want to compare the whole drink, not assume that ‘protein’ or ‘no added sugar’ describes its total sugars. |
| Portion size | Check the bottle volume and how many individual drinks are in a pack. Compare nutrition using the same portion basis before drawing conclusions from two labels. | A single drink needs to fit my bag and the portion I plan to have; a larger bottle may serve a different occasion. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen statement for the specific flavour. Do not assume two products from one brand have identical recipes. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I need the label on the drink I am buying, not a general description of its range. |
What should you avoid assuming?
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Every milkshake contains a similar amount of protein
The figures use different products and sometimes different serving bases. UFIT states 25g per 330ml for its named shake, Shaken Udder lists 20g per 330ml for Chocolate Protein Milkshake, and Yazoo lists 3.3g per 100ml for Chocolate Milk Drink.
Compare the amount for the complete bottle and check the flavour you intend to buy.
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A sealed bottle can always stay in an uncooled bag
Storage instructions differ between ambient and chilled milkshakes. GOV.UK advises storing dairy products in the fridge, while Shaken Udder identifies selected products specifically for ambient storage.
Choose a drink labelled for ambient storage before opening, or keep a chilled drink cold and follow its pack instructions.
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‘No added sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’
A no-added-sugar statement does not tell you the drink’s total sugars. Milk-based drinks can contain naturally occurring sugars.
Read the sugars figure in the nutrition table for the portion you will drink.
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A larger bottle suits a single gym-bag snack
Bottle sizes differ, so a larger format may be more than the portion you planned to carry or drink at once.
Check the volume of each bottle and follow the label’s instructions if you do not finish it when opened.
Brand and product-range references
These examples illustrate differences between named ranges; a brand name alone does not establish a drink’s nutrition or storage requirements.
UFIT
UFIT has a ready-to-drink 25g protein shake range in 330ml bottles.
- UFIT states 25g protein and 149kcal for its named 330ml Chocolate shake.
- Its statements about no added sugar and fat free apply to that named product, not automatically to every UFIT drink.
Shaken Udder
Shaken Udder sells protein milkshakes as well as selected ambient milkshakes and chilled products.
- Shaken Udder lists 20g protein and 32g sugars per 330ml Chocolate Protein Milkshake.
- Ambient storage applies to selected products; its Chocolush range carries refrigeration instructions.
Yazoo
Yazoo offers conventional flavoured milk drinks and separate smaller children’s cartons.
- Yazoo lists 3.3g protein and 8.6g sugars per 100ml for Chocolate Milk Drink.
- Yazoo’s no-added-sugar statement for its 200ml children’s cartons should not be applied to Chocolate Milk Drink.
Müller Frijj
Tesco lists Müller Frijj Chocolate Milkshake in a 330ml format among its flavoured milk drinks.
- The listed 330ml bottle provides a single-drink format to compare with other portions.
- Check the chosen flavour’s current nutrition, ingredients and storage instructions on its pack.
Mars
Tesco lists a Mars Chocolate Flavoured Milk Drink No Added Sugar in a 400ml bottle.
- The named listing identifies the bottle size and no-added-sugar variant.
- Check the bottle for total sugars, allergens and storage directions; the variant name does not establish those details.
Joybuy protein shake options
These ready-to-drink protein shakes are options for comparing gym-bag portions and flavours. Check each pack’s storage instructions before carrying it without refrigeration.
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Grenade Salted Caramel Protein Shake, 8 × 330ml
This pack contains eight 330ml drinks, a portion size to consider if you carry one to the gym. Check the bottle’s nutrition, allergen and storage instructions before use.
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REP Only 5 Ingredients Vanilla Protein Shake, 8 × 250ml
The 250ml format offers a smaller individual portion than the 330ml and 500ml options shown here. Read the current ingredients, nutrition and storage directions on the pack before taking it in an uncooled bag.
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Applied Nutrition Protein Nutrition Shake, Strawberries & Cream, 8 × 330ml
This flavour comes in eight 330ml bottles. Compare the nutrition for one bottle with your intended portion, and check its storage and allergen instructions.
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Applied Nutrition Protein Nutrition Shake, Vanilla Ice Cream, 8 × 500ml
At 500ml per bottle, this is a larger portion than the other drinks shown here. Consider how much you plan to carry and drink, and follow the bottle’s storage instructions.
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Applied Nutrition Protein Nutrition Shake, White Chocolate, 8 × 330ml
The eight-pack contains 330ml bottles for individual portions. Check the nutrition for the whole bottle, along with the exact flavour’s allergen and before-opening storage directions.
Common questions
Can I leave a chilled milkshake in my gym bag until after a workout?
Keep a chilled milkshake cold and follow its bottle instructions rather than leaving it in an uncooled bag. GOV.UK advises refrigerating dairy products and keeping the time chilled food spends out of the fridge as short as possible.
What if I cannot carry a cool bag?
Choose a drink whose own label permits ambient storage before opening. Shaken Udder identifies selected ambient milkshakes, but it also sells products with refrigeration instructions, so check the exact bottle.
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean a milkshake contains no sugar?
No. A milk-based drink can still contain naturally occurring sugars. Read the total sugars in the nutrition table; a claim on one product also does not apply to every drink from that brand.
How do I compare a protein shake with ordinary flavoured milk?
Compare protein for the amount you will drink, using the bottle size as well as the nutrition figures. UFIT states 25g per 330ml for its named shake and Shaken Udder lists 20g per 330ml for Chocolate Protein Milkshake, while Yazoo lists 3.3g per 100ml for Chocolate Milk Drink.
Should I check allergens if I already know the brand?
Yes. Check the current ingredients and allergen statement for the specific flavour and pack you are buying; products within one brand can have different recipes.