12 Protein Shakes Similar To Optavia

Are you looking for shakes that are similar to Optavia? You’re in luck!

Whenever you run out of Fuelings or simply looking for a cheaper alternative, I put together a list of 12 ready-to-drink protein shakes.

These shakes have the same (or sometimes better) nutritional values, yet are budget-friendly and suitable for busy people, particularly if you’re on the go.

My experience with Optavia shakes alternatives

After a year of living the Optavia lifestyle (and losing over 40 pounds), I was in search of products to replace Medifast that would still help me lose weight without having to spend too much money.

Although I don’t mind protein powders, I wanted to find something that is ready to drink.

I quickly discovered that there are plenty of options out there that allowed me to do Optavia on my own, without having to blend anything or pay high prices.

As someone who has seen great results with this program, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend similar alternatives if you’re looking for a more cost-efficient way to lose weight without having to sacrifice taste or quality.

12 Protein Shakes Similar To Optavia

Finding the right shake doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you know what factors to consider when making your choice.

Shakes offered by Optavia are hearty and filling but still low in calories.

Every product on the list below contains 100 – 160 calories per serving, has little to no carbs, and it’s packed with proteins.

1. Premier Protein Shake

I often have Costco Premier Protein Shake instead of Optavia shakes becasue it has twice more proteins and costs less than $2 per bottle.

Here’s a photo of my favorite Premier Protein Shake flavor.

I like the Chocolate and Chocolate Peanut Butter flavors, which remind me of the Optavia Creamy Chocolate Shake Mix.

Optavia has 8 shakes and 4 of them are based on soy protein. They give me this horrible earthy aftertaste (similar to pea protein powders) or other unflavored plant-based proteins.

Premier Protein shakes are made from whey. (So you have more creamer and milky flavor.)

Sure, Premier protein has 60 calories more than Optavia, but it has only 5 grams of carbs and 1 gram of sugar.

If you want to get fewer calories, drink only half of the bottle and leave the rest in the refrigerator. (Half of the Premier Protein shake still gives you more proteins than the Optavia shake.)

2. Premier Protein Clear Drink

One of the reasons why I choose Premier Protein Clear Drink instead of Optavia is becasue it has zero carbs.

This is a lighter, keto-friendly version of the previously mentioned Premier Protein. It has less than 100 calories, around 20 grams of whey protein, and no artificial flavors.

Sure, the price is 30 cents more than Premer Orignal, but it’s still not as expensive as Optavia shakes ($3.36 per serving).

Here’s a photo of the Premier Protein Clear Drink tropical punch flavor.

Although I’m not the biggest fan of tropical flavors, I like their Tropical punch much more than Optavia Tropical Fruit Smoothie Mix.

3. Quest Protein Shake

I don’t drink Quest Protein Shakes every day. This one is a little bit more pricey than Premier ($9.29 for 4 bottles), but it tastes significantly better.

Quest protein shakes are made from milk protein concentrate, so it has a little sweet aromatic, and milky flavor.

Here’s my favorite Quest Protein Shake – Salted Caramel.

Salted Caramel is my go-to post-workout treat.

I like it iced cold so, after my gym, I often mixed it up with an iced doppio that I order from my local Starbucks in Coral Gables.

I also may use Caffè Americano or other low-calorie Optavia-approved Starbucks options.

I like it becasue it has 30 grams of protein. It doesn’t have a lot of carbs, but it has 60 calories more than Optavia Caramel Macchiato Shake Mix.

4. Atkins Gluten Free Protein-Rich Shake

Here’s a photo of my Atkins Protein Shake.

I always keep 1 or 2 bottles available in my fridge in my office.

I use this one not only as an alternative to Optavia shake but also as a coffee creamer. (It works like a charm.)

Instead, I mix my morning Americano cup with a coffee mate or turbo creamer, I add a half serving of Atkins French Vanilla Protein Shake.

The second reason why I like Atkins Protein Shakes is becasue they are budget-friendly. It’s not uncommon to find them on offer for $13 for 12 packs (which equals to $1.15 per shake).

When it comes to macros, this one is the same product as Optavia shakes. Both have 15 grams of proteins, but Atkins has 60 calories more, and a little extra fat.

If you are concerned about calories, you can mix half of an Atkins protein shake with black iced coffee (this may help to satisfy your sweet tooth). 

5. Muscle Milk Protein Shake

Muscle milk protein shakes are good Optavia alternatives, especially for people who have sensitive GI or experience some stomach issues and discomfort after consuming shakes.

Muscle milk protein shakes are made of milk protein isolate, not milk concentrate. (They have also lower lactose content.)

According to the article published in the Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition Journal, “whey isolates are higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than concentrates becasue whey isolate undergoes more processing.”

Muscle Milk comes in many versions.

Here’s a photo of one that I found in Costco.

It has zero sugar, 20 grams of protein, and only 100 calories per bottle.

I also like the Muscle Milk pro series (it has 32 grams of protein but 170 calories).

So I would only drink it during or after your workout.

I often find deals in Walmart for Muscle Milk. The regular price is $6.98 per 4 shakes, which goes down to $1.75 per shake.

6. Pure Protein Shake

I’ve been drinking Pure Protein Shakes almost every day for the past few months, and I can honestly say they are one of my favorite drink choices.

What’s not to love? For starters, each 11-ounce serving packs 30 grams of protein with only 140 calories and less than 1 gram of sugar.

The shakes come in a variety of flavors, from strawberry, banana, and vanilla to chocolate.

Here’s my all-time best vanilla milkshake.

It has a rich vanilla flavor and I often mix it with my coffee.

And let’s not forget about how affordable these shakes are – you can buy them at pretty much any store or gas station.

This is a great alternative if you’re looking for something that has low calories, great taste, and mixes well with other beverages.

7. Ripple Coffee Vegan Protein Shake

Unlike Optavia shakes, Ripple Coffee Vegan protein shakes are dairy free. (My wife is lactose intolerant so she cannot drink too many dairy products.)

Eliminating dairy helped her not only settle down her stomach issues but also drastically improved her skin condition.

One thing to keep in mind is that Ripple Vegan Protein Shakes has 20 grams of plant-based protein from peas. It has this chalky aftertaste it doesn’t feel bitter.

(I guess it has some sweeteners to cover the bitterness from plant-based proteins.)

Perfect fueling alternative as a breakfast shake, post-workout snack, or light meal replacement. 

8. Evolve Plant-Based Protein Shake

Evolve is another gluten-free and dairy-free protein shake that my wife likes and one serving has 10 grams of fiber.

According to the American Heart Association, “you should be consuming 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day.”

(My wife is obsessed with this one.)

Here’s the photo that she sent me of her favorite double chocolate flavor.

I appreciate that it is low in calories and has no added sugar, but what I don’t like is the taste. (It does not taste like whey.)

For me, whey isolate tastes slightly sweet, almost like light powdered milk, whereas pea protein is tasteless.

According to the article published in the Nutrients Journal, “pea protein has more arginine, phenylalanine, and glycine, compared to whey isolate, which results in bitter taste”

9. SlimFast Advanced Energy

SlimFast protein shakes are low calorie, tasty, and low cost – making them an ideal fuelings replacement.

I don’t buy SlimFast Original. Sure, it only costs $1.50 per bottle (sometimes even cheaper) but it has only 10 grams of proteins and 180 calories per serving.

(Not mentioning 24 grams of carbs.)

I prefer to choose a little more pricey, but healthier version – SlimFast Advanced Energy. This one has the same number of calories, but it comes with twice more proteins and 6 to 9 grams of carbs (depending on the flavor).

My favorite SlimFast shake is the Mocha Cappuccino flavor (with extra added caffeine), very similar to Optavia Frothy Cappuccino Drink Mix.

10. Fairlife Core Power 

Fairlife Core Power protein shakes have been on my radar for a while. They’re packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and protein to help me recover after a tough workout, and the flavor is spot on.

In particular, I can’t get enough of their Strawberry Banana shake.

Here’s a photo.

Not too sweet but still full of flavor.

Remarkably, I’ve found it tastes just like the strawberry milkshake from my local Five Guys restaurant.

Keep in mind these are not lactose-free protein shakes. Sure, they claim on their product label, but my wife tried to drink one and she bloated as she would just have a glass of regular milk. 

11. Proti Fit Smoothie Bottle

Proti Foods is the unsung hero in the world of protein shakes. A lesser-known alternative to Medifast, so to speak.

They offer protein shakes similar to Optavia but with more protein and fewer calories per serving.

According to their website, “the company is recognized as a leader in high protein supplements for weight loss by health professionals”.

Proti Foods primarily offers powder form shakes from sachets, but also has ready-to-drink bottled smoothies available.

One of the pros is their price.

A bottle costs $2.50, which is cheaper than Optavia, but there’s no discount for buying a case of 48.

The only way to receive a discount is to sign up for their monthly subscription plan.

12. Skinny Girl Protein Shake

Have you heard of the Skinny Girl protein shake?

I recently discovered that this brand sells more than just syrups and low-calorie salad dressings – they also offer protein shakes!

It’s similar to Optavia shakes, but it’s more affordable at just $2.58 per bottle.

The best part?

They taste surprisingly delicious and are quite satisfying, especially the Rich Chocolate Brownie flavor.

(See photo below.)

Not only that, but it also contains more protein and fewer calories.

Help! I can’t find the shake I like

Okay, you went through the list, and you struggled to find a shake that you liked?

No worries.

Next time when you are shopping for shakes ensures to follow these guidelines:

• Read the label. Look up the nutritional label on the back and read what’s on it. See how many calories, proteins, and fats each shakes has.

• Choose low-calorie options. Skip shakes that have high fat or sugar content.

• Choose high-protein products. Most of the shakes say they have proteins, but in reality, only a few have more than 10 grams. Choose the shakes that are higher in proteins.

• Check the protein source. I like to use animal-based proteins like whey becasue they taste good and have a higher essential amino acid profile per serving, compared to plant-based proteins.

• Make your own shakes. If you struggle to find your favorite Optavia alternative shake, consider making your DIY Optavia fuelings at home from scratch.