If you want the drink to contribute protein to a post-exercise snack, compare protein per 100ml before choosing a pack: Alpro High Protein Plain and Sainsbury's Sweetened High Protein each list 5g per 100ml, while Alpro No Sugars lists 3.3g. Individual 250ml cartons are easier to pack, but their size does not tell you their protein or sugar content. For intense or prolonged exercise, the UK Sports Institute recommends a carbohydrate- and protein-rich snack with fluids, followed by a meal.
The useful pack size and label details depend on whether you will drink it after training, carry it to work or use it regularly at home.
Compare protein in the amount you will actually drink and consider what food will accompany it. The UK Sports Institute's guidance for intense or prolonged exercise discusses carbohydrate, protein and fluids together, rather than a drink on its own.
Individual cartons can go into a lunchbox without pouring from a larger pack. Check the protein and sugars per carton as well as the intended user: ASDA lists one Alpro 3 x 250ml Growing Up pack specifically for children aged 1–3+.
A bundle of 1L cartons serves a different purpose from a single-serve multipack. For Alpro No Sugars long-life drink, check that an opened carton can be refrigerated and used within its stated five-day period.
Start with the portion you expect to drink, then compare its nutrition label with the pack format and storage instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per portion | Compare protein per 100ml, then use the volume you plan to drink. Alpro UK lists 5g per 100ml for High Protein Plain and 3.3g for No Sugars; Sainsbury's lists 5g per 100ml and 12.5g per 250ml serving for its Sweetened High Protein drink. | I want to know how much protein my actual serving contributes, not assume that every soya drink or carton size is equivalent. |
| Sugars and the rest of the snack | Read sugars per 100ml and per carton where shown. Alpro UK lists 0g per 100ml for No Sugars, while Tesco lists 19g per 250ml carton for Alpro Chocolate. The UK Sports Institute recommends carbohydrate-containing food alongside protein and fluids after intense or prolonged exercise. | If I am choosing a flavoured carton, its sugar figure matters to me. For a demanding session, I also want to consider the food and fluids I will have with it. |
| Fortification | Check calcium, iodine and vitamins on the exact variant rather than assuming all soya drinks contain the same added nutrients. Sainsbury's lists calcium, iodine, vitamin D and B12 for its Sweetened High Protein drink; the UK SACN/COT assessment says plant-based drinks vary considerably in nutrient content. | I use soya drink regularly instead of dairy milk, so I want to compare the nutrients stated on each carton. |
| Carton size and storage | Distinguish individual 250ml cartons from 1L cartons and an 8 x 1L household bundle. Check each product's instructions after opening: Alpro No Sugars specifies refrigeration between +1°C and +7°C and use within five days. | A single carton is convenient to pack for work; at home, I may prefer a larger carton that I can finish within its stated storage period. |
| Allergens and intended user | Read the current ingredients and allergy declaration. The Food Standards Agency identifies soya as an allergen. Also check age labelling: ASDA describes Alpro Growing Up 3 x 250ml as a drink for children aged 1–3+. | I need a pack suitable for the person drinking it, rather than choosing a children's multipack solely because its cartons are portable. |
ASDA lists 2g protein per 100ml for Just Essentials Unsweetened; Alpro UK and Sainsbury's each list 5g per 100ml for the high-protein variants named above. Equal-sized servings can therefore contain different amounts of protein.
Compare the protein figure per 100ml and calculate it for the portion you intend to drink.
Tesco lists 19g sugars per 250ml carton for its Alpro Chocolate 3 x 250ml multipack. Carton size alone does not describe its nutrition.
Check sugars and protein per carton, and confirm current availability before planning to take a particular multipack to work.
ASDA describes the Alpro Growing Up 3 x 250ml drink as suitable for children aged 1–3+. Its portable format does not change its intended age group.
Read the age information before choosing a pack for an adult post-training snack.
Soya is an allergen identified by the Food Standards Agency, and the UK SACN/COT assessment notes that the nutrient content of plant-based drinks varies considerably.
Anyone with a soya allergy should avoid soya drinks. For other purchases, check the current allergy declaration and the fortification shown on the exact carton.
These examples illustrate differences between named products and ranges; a brand name alone cannot establish the nutrition or format of every variant.
Alpro UK lists both high-protein and no-sugars soya drinks, alongside differently sized packs at retailers.
Tesco lists own-label unsweetened soya drink alongside Alpro options.
Sainsbury's lists sweetened high-protein and unsweetened long-life own-label soya drinks.
ASDA lists an own-label unsweetened drink and an Alpro children's multipack.
M&S Plant Kitchen lists a soya drink with stated nutrition, fortification and after-opening instructions.
Waitrose lists Essential Unsweetened Soya Drink as well as Alpro soya drinks.
These Joybuy options are six-packs of individual 250ml soya drinks for taking a carton to work or packing one with food. Compare the current nutrition and ingredient labels if protein, sugars or allergens affect your choice.
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Individual cartons suit a lunchbox or a drink taken alongside food after training. Check sugars per 100ml on the current pack rather than relying on the Low-Sugar wording, and read its allergy declaration before buying.
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The six individual cartons offer a portion to carry with a post-training snack. For this malted variant, compare protein and sugars on the current carton and check its full ingredient and allergy declarations.
Do not assume a drink alone covers the food and fluid you want after an intense or prolonged session. The UK Sports Institute recommends a carbohydrate- and protein-rich snack with plenty of fluids as soon as possible afterwards, followed by a meal; consider the drink as part of that snack.
Compare protein per 100ml, then calculate it for the amount you intend to drink. Alpro UK lists 5g per 100ml for High Protein Plain and 3.3g for No Sugars; Sainsbury's lists 5g per 100ml and 12.5g per stated 250ml serving for its Sweetened High Protein drink.
An adult-oriented option listed by Tesco is Alpro Chocolate Soya Drink in a 3 x 250ml pack; check its current availability and its stated 19g sugars per carton before choosing it. Do not substitute Alpro Growing Up solely for its matching carton size: ASDA describes that product as intended for children aged 1–3+.
Follow the instructions for the exact drink. Alpro No Sugars specifies refrigeration between +1°C and +7°C and use within five days of opening, while M&S Plant Kitchen Soya Drink specifies refrigeration and use within three days.
No. The Food Standards Agency identifies soya as an allergen that can pose a risk to someone allergic to it. Avoid soya drinks in that case, and check the current pack's ingredients and allergy declaration when choosing food or drink.