In this Drink Wholesome review, we’ll take at gut friendly protein powders and meal replacements. The calling card for their suite of products is that everything is all natural, and made from very simple and easy to digest ingredients. In fact, no product offer contains more than six total ingredients!

This is rather shocking, when some of the best meal replacement shakes, like Ka’chava boast to have over 75 natural ingredients.

However, sometimes the simplicity is the key to success, and trying to add too many ingredients might backfire.

We’ll take a close look at their meal replacement powder, their protein powder and their hydration mix.

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Protein Powder Flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Mocha, Matcha, Unflavored

Meal Replacement Flavors: Vanilla & Chocolate

Hydration Mix Flavors: Strawberry & Blueberry

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Simplicity is something I’ve coveted for a very long time, and only in recent years, after many missteps, do I feel I somewhat have found. Trying to actively do things to simplify is no match for doing less to simplify.

With that point, its interesting what Drink Wholesome did here. We’re always looking at did a company add this, or did they add that and how much, but they have kept things basic as can be with only ingredients that you know what they are, and largely what they do.

I’m glad more companies are looking to egg protein as a source too. I feel it walks the line of those looking avoid dairy/whey, but can’t have nuts either.

The Highs

1. Simplicity. Contains nothing anyone would disapprove of.

2. Samples. Hallelujah…a company that still sees the value of offering samples.

3. Refunds for upset stomach. They must be really confident in this claim

The Lows

1. Blender only. Only mixed well when blended. Even a shaker bottle did a poor job.

2. Wish there was a tree nut free meal replacement. Unlike the protein powder, all contain almonds.

3. Low on micros. Only nutrients come from the six ingredients.

4. Milk only. Not to be mixed with water. This changes total calories, and is less convenient overall.

5. Kinda pricey. Over $4 per serving, and its not that filling.

Priority number one for Drink Wholesome is to be “gut friendly”. That cornerstone goal is reflected in it’s ingredient choices, especially the ones they opted against. Gut friendliness is a real focus of many companies now a days, and probiotics, digestive enzymes, and green powders are some of the most popular supplements to take. However, we shall not forget that we can get a lot of nutrients from our meals.

The meal replacements are dairy free, but not vegan as it contains eggs, so that would make it vegetarian. Their protein powders have formulas that use eggs, and a vegan version that is almond based.

I’ve used a column format for you to compare side by side.

Micronutrients

Drink Wholesome products only contains four micronutrients being, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium. Each are also not in very high amounts, so you will have to supplement those elsewhere.

Allergens

The meal replacements all contain tree nuts and will be inaccessible to those with that allergy. Most of the protein powders can be enjoyed by all, outside of the peanut butter flavor.

We have a bit of everything, so I’ll try what I can. We have 2 samples of the egg based protein shake, 1 vegan protein shake, 2 meal replacements and the blueberry hydration mix.

Protein Powder

I’ll dive into the protein powder first. Seems to be quite bit of powder for one serving which says to blend with 1-2 cups of milk.

Vanilla has a very smooth texture, and you can see the vanilla beans in it. The taste is pretty mild, but I had to remember there are no extras in it bring out the flavor. Its mostly coconut flavored, with a vanilla undertone. It certainly was not bad, and I’d have it again.

Broke the rules with chocolate and opted to shake instead of blending. Big mistake! It just would not combine. With no emulsifying agents, the only way to mix it is with a blender. Anyway, I feel it could use more cocoa, as it wasn’t very chocolatey. Drinkable? Yes, just not my first choice.

Also, I was informed that vegan, almond based shake was largely the same as my assessment.

Drink Wholesome Meal Replacement Taste Test

Had to outsource the tasting of this due to the almonds.

Was told that it tasted mostly like bland coconut milk, and that the vanilla and chocolate didn’t differ too much. She said she’d only drink it if she had to.

Hydration Mix

I have reservations about this one, I HATE coconut water! I’ve tried it many forms, and it always tastes like swamp water, but I’ll be big boy and try.

Honestly, this may be the unequivocally most refreshing beverage I’ve ever had. Those real ingredients are really working together in this. The brightness of the blueberries, the synergy of the sea salt and maple sugar gives it a subtle and very natural sweetness. This really surprised me, and it probably wont make it til the end of the week lol.

In 2020, Jack Schrupp began Drink Wholesome, selling his protein powder mixes online, while still working a full-time job as a teacher at a boarding school. Yet the pandemic changed things for him; he could no longer do the in-person tastings he was planning on to get the word out about the company.

So he focused on digital, primarily his website. While sales were slow at first, within a few months, the wholesome ingredients caught the eye of customers looking for gut-friendly options that were easier to digest. As word started to spread that his concoctions were lighter on the system, and thus, a better option for those battling conditions which limited their food options, he saw an uptick in sales. “At that point, I was just selling to family and friends and then I started getting orders from strangers and it sounds weird, but that was the best thing, people who didn’t know me were buying it.

I don’t have any chronic gut issues, but when I would have a protein shake, I just didn’t feel good afterwards. I tried both vegan and non-vegan options…and still got stomach aches or felt really bloated.

Jack Schrupp

Pricing

Drink Wholesome can be ordered from their webpage, or Amazon.

The subscription discount is 15% and the product is shipping at intervals of every 2, 4 or 8 weeks.

Product	Total Price Non-Sub/Sub	Serving Price Non-Sub/Sub
Protein Powder (14 servings)	$40/$34	$2.86/$2.43
Protein Powder (28 servings)	$60/$51	$2.14/1.82
Meal Replacement (14 servings)	$60/$51	$4.29/$3.64
Hydration Mix (21 servings)	$30/$25.50	$1.43/$1.21

Shipping

Drink Wholesome offers free shipping for all US orders. Free shipping orders will arrive in 4-6 days, whereas expedited shipping will run you $10 and arrive in 1-3 days.

The company also ships to Australia, Canada and our friends across the pond in the UK.

Drink Wholesome Reviews from Customers

Drink Wholesome has been highly recommended by those who have purchased the products. Many haven enjoyed the taste, it being easy on their system and the fact it has no additives. Others have lamented the price, that it mixes poorly and how they are not full afterwards.

Best mix I’ve tried thus far.

My stomach is very sensitive to many powders and pre-made shakes. I searched and searched for something that was simple and wouldn’t make my stomach hurt. Even though it’s expensive, I will be purchasing again. I’m not fond of the coconut taste but after adding a banana it’s quite tasty. I feel full throughout the day and feel better after drinking this. A natural energy and meal replacement that my body had been craving.

April, verified buyer, 5-stars

Delicious and easy to digest.

Been drinking this for a quick breakfast this week. Super tasty. None of the “chemical” flavor of some other brands I’ve tried. Easy to digest too and keeps me full until lunch.

No Truffle Flavor, 5-stars

Not very filling, no additional nutrients. Meh.

It has been challenging to find a meal replacement shake that would not have sucralose as its sweetener.

I had super high hopes with this product, but it was disappointing. It has a very strong coconut taste which is lightly masked with vanilla and it does not offer any additional nutrients either than the basic nutrition facts ones.

It’s also not filling, so even at 250 calories/serving with 25% saturated fat, you will still feel hungry. It was definitely not an ideal meal replacement for me. I can’t return it so I will see if maybe a neighbor would appreciate it or it will just end up in the trash.

Lastly, it doesn’t come with a scoop so make sure you have a 1/2 measuring cup.

Maria, 3-stars

Drink Wholesome opts for natural, real food based meal replacement shakes. In that market, Ka’chava and Lyfefuel are our favorites, and the market leaders.

However, I will compare Drink Wholesome to another meal replacement shake Proganics. We took a look at Proganics awhile back, and it turns out that it was perfect product for comparing and contrasting.

Head to Head

The Results

When I chose Proganics, I knew they were somewhat similar, but had no idea that they’d share so much in common. Price, calories, protein, flavors….they are almost interchangeable.

But there are a few differences, with the biggest being that Proganics is vegan and certified organic. That means alot to some, so DW wouldn’t be suitable for those who’ve made those particular diet choices. Another is the carb count. While both are pretty low overall, Proganics may be better when it comes to weight loss, where DW would be more for someone a bit more active.

Drink Wholesome however, practices what it preaches in having fewer overall ingredients. Proganics contains a gum, as well as add digestive enzymes, which I think speaks to the point that DW is trying to make…if you offer a completely clean product, you shouldn’t need to add anything else. Your body has everything it needs to process the shake, without discomfort.

Drink Wholesome Protein vs Other Options

As previously mentioned, there are not many egg-white based protein powders. So in that regard it’s fairly unique.

However, if you are looking for a clean, no additives, gut-friendly protein powder, I would recommend trying out Naked Nutrition Whey. It’s the purest and cleanest whey protein, without any synthetic additives.

As for plant based proteins, I would look at Lyfefuel Recovery, which is packed with micronutrients as well that improve your recovery and muscle building.

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Verdict – Drink Wholesome Review

I mean, what is there to say really? Drink Wholesome 100% is what it is, and that’s the whole point.

Is it missing some useful additions? Yes. Could it be better in certain areas? Yes. But it does a pretty good job of letting you know all of that upfront. No scrutinizing labels, no googling what X added ingredient is and is it good for you. And I think there is definitely value in that.

One thing that I’d like to see is some consolidation. The meal replacement and protein powder are so close to being the same, they could really be just one product line. Instead of segmenting two products that are 90% the same, maybe just one line, with varying tiers of protein, and protein source.

For us, the best meal replacements need to contain all essential nutrients and should elevate your nutrition, not only by helping your gut, but by providing nutrients that you will otherwise not have.

The hydration mix is an absolute winner! I hope to see more fruit flavors to round out the product line.

Could also be a bit cheaper, funny how products with less junk to have to buy and add…always somehow cost more.

Bottom Line: Drink Wholesome has the cleanest and simplest products on offer, and would be good for weight loss.