So there's no doubt about it: protein shakes are a processed food; but do they have a place in a Freed Animal's diet? I think so, but in a very limited way. I'll have one about twice per week, usually on the morning after a previous day's workout for a real nice boost of good quality whey protein. Chris at Zen to Fitness lays out a lot of the nutritional benefits. For me, sometimes it's by itself, and other times, along with something like maybe a few slices of bacon, a small 2-egger plain omelet, and/or a little fruit. The shake alone really appeals to me when I'm hungry but really feel like a very light meal -- not so much in terms of calories, as just bulk. As far as the flavorings and sweeteners go, it's so infrequent, I don't do diet sodas or other artificially sweetened things, so it's one of those convenience flexibilities for me. But as with all things, I just can't mix them like the package says (1 scoop in a cup of water). Yuko! Here's how it goes. 2 eggs 1 scoop of whey protein (chocolate or vanilla - I use Gold Standard) (if...