Reddit mentions of Core Power Protein Shakes (26g), Chocolate, No Artificial Sweeteners, Ready To Drink for Workout Recovery, 11.5 Fl Oz (Pack of 12)

Just got my box in, here's my review:

1. Love the chewiness. If you're doing a mostly liquid diet, having something to chew (Soylent Square, Vite-Ramen, etc.) is surprisingly nice.
   
2. I'm with you on the oil; you have to pinch the wrapper as you eat it not to get on your hands. It's like that cheap dollar-store hand lotion that never comes off, haha.
   
3. The caramel was my favorite flavor. Someone said the chocolate one has hints of Tootsie Roll, I can see that. The citrus one is like, vaguely Starburst-ish, like that artificial sweetness is there in the background, like when you drink water after eating Skittles.
   
4. The yellow color on the citrus threw me off a little, lol.
   
5. I thought the citrus one was a little too salty, but I also ate all 3 of them together, so I'll have to try them separately to check haha
   
6. Price vs. performance...I mean, they're small, but they're really chewy, so you feel like you're getting something out of them. For 99 cents a pop or whatever, they're not bad. They can live in my desk drawer when I need a snack hit, and are chewy enough to work on for a minute to get rid of the urge to eat, I guess. They're probably better for you than a 100-calorie Snickers, at any rate, especially with the probiotics!
   
   Will I order another box? Maybe...to be determined. Pretty much, I tried them just to try them. I have 90 packets right now (one 30-pack box of each flavor, minus what I've eaten so far), so I guess I'll see in a month or so how I feel about them. I mean, the enriched-snack market is getting pretty saturated. Just a few picks off Amazon: (prices are sometimes vastly cheaper locally at B&M stores, FYI)
   
   

• "That's It!" probitioc fruit bars
  
• Prebiotic & Protein vegan gummies
  
• Snickers Protein bars
  
• Epic bison & bacon meat bar
  
• Fairlife protein chocolate milk
  
• Shrewd protein cheese puffs
  
  Also, at 100 calories, it's not hard to make your own bite-size snack bars. With a DIY 'lent, it's a little more work because you have to get a lot of ingredients, but for a 100-calorie snack with a bit of protein & some probiotics, there are a variety of options for quickly & easily making a large, inexpensive batch of macro & micronutrient-laced snacks in your kitchen at home. For example, I make a new recipe off ProteinPOW on just about a weekly basis, which are dessert & snack recipes based off protein powder. I also make a variety of energy-bites, bliss-balls, and fat-bombs, which you can do in everything from a classic granola bar flavor to a pumpkin-pie flavor, as well as different kinds of energy & snack bars (knockoff Clif's bars, Lara bars, homemade granola bars, etc.). The Soylent Squares seem to have 4 primary benefits:
  
  

1. 99 cents a pop
   
2. Designed for healthy snacking (probiotics & protein)
   
3. Probably a long shelf life
   
4. Really chewy, which is nice if you're on a majority-liquid diet & want something to work your jaw

So for both whey and casein, I prefer Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard or Dymatize Elite / Iso 100. My favorite flavors are:

Whey:

• Optimum's Cake Batter -- 5lb tub for under $60.
  
  
• Dymatize Iso 100's Birthday Cake -- 5lbs for under $65 more expensive than Optimum because it is Iso 100
  
  Casein:
  
  
• Dymatize Elite's Cinnamon Bun -- looks like Amazon is out of the 4lb tub, but I can usually get a 4lb tub for less than $50 and it is tasty AF.
  
  
• Optimum's Chocolate Peanut Butter -- slightly more expensive than Dymatize, but still a 4lb tub for $55.
  
  One thing to keep in mind with respect to whey and casein protein powder tubs is that although $45-65 seems like a lot of money, gram for gram it is still generally a way cheaper protein source than even chicken breast. It is just a larger cost up front.
  
  With respect to pre-made protein shakes, I love Core Power and Muscle Milk:
  
  
• Core Power with 26g protein and 26g carbs -- I like this mostly for when I am drinking only this as a pre or post-workout thing.
  
  
• Core Power with 42g protein and 13g carbs -- I prefer this as a pre- or post-workout when I am mixing with another carb source (like pouring it over sugary cereal).
  
  
• Muscle Milk Protein Smoothie -- I love the creamy texture of this, and macros are pretty good at 25g protein and 25g carbs for 230 cals.
  
  Premade protein shakes are definitely more expensive gram for gram than chicken breast, etc. But you pay for the convenience.

I've got my issues with lactose as well. Found these at CVS/Walgreens/etc and they've been a (expensive) blessing. Also, I'd recommend keeping a couple snack packs of peanuts on you. I'm particular to Planters honey roasted. A 1oz package is only a few handfuls and a quick 160 calories. Over the course of a day I try to have two or three, plus one or two shakes.