The Holy Grail Protein Powder That Turned Me Into A Believer

I’ve spent years (decades, even) writing about wellness. I’ve worked at women’s magazines trying the newest lifestyle meditation app and workout regimen before “wellness” was really even a thing in publishing. I later became the deputy editor at a major wellness website, testing everything and anything and assigning tons of features all about the state of health and wellness, and I’m now a freelance journalist who regularly tests products and talks to health experts like doctors for my job. That said, I’ve tried more protein powders than I can count: plant-based, whey-based, budget tubs, prestige tubs, viral TikTok favorites promising silky textures that somehow still gave “here’s a potion!” handed to you by your niece (spoiler: It’s dirt and water). I’ve stirred powders into oatmeal, baked them into banana bread, whisked them into overnight chia pudding, and blended countless smoothies in the name of research and taste-testing.

And yet, despite all that testing, I never became a protein-powder person. The flavors were always too weird or artificial, the textures too chalky, and the overall experience was something I powered through rather than enjoyed. Add to that the fact that I waffle between being fully committed to a fitness regimen and ignoring my gym membership altogether, and the whole category just never clicked for me. Protein powder was always a “should,” never a “want.”

That is, until I tried Clean Simple Eats Protein Powder — the first I’ve ever actually finished, recommended to friends, and will be reordering without hesitation. 

Here’s the truth: I’m not a breakfast person. I never have been. And as a freelancer constantly juggling deadlines and travel — I’m currently on flight number 93 of the year — my eating schedule tends to be creatively flexible. Some days I forget to eat until 2 p.m. because I’m on calls or running between interviews. Other days I’m in an airport before people even wake up, sprinting for a connection with no time for anything beyond coffee.

But the older I’ve gotten, and the more I’ve learned through reporting, the more I know how crucial protein is for stable energy, focus, and staying satiated — especially for my ADHD brain, which performs significantly better when I’m not spiking and crashing. The issue wasn’t understanding the need; it was finding a product I actually liked enough to use consistently. And, I can’t scream this from the rooftops enough, Clean Simple Eats became that product for me almost immediately.

What caught me off guard wasn’t the ingredient list — though it checks every box that I know is so important to many: 20 grams of grass-fed whey protein isolate per serving, zero added sugar, nothing artificial, third-party tested, and non-GMO and soy-free. These are all things I like to see but they’re not necessarily dealbreakers for me. (What good is all that if I’m not actually eating it?)

So what really blew me away? The flavor. 

I started with the brand’s Protein Powder Variety Pack, which let me test ten different options without the commitment of a full-size bag. (Love that.) The Chocolate Brownie Batter flavor was my first try, mostly because any brand that claims something tastes like licking brownie batter off the spoon must be challenged. 

A lot of the times, I’ve found that protein powder doesn’t perform on its own in terms of making a delicious drink — you have to mix it in a smoothie or at the very least, mix it with something milky. And don’t get me started about getting a proper protein shaker or frother. So I did my due diligence. In my first taste test, I used only water, and I shook it in a mason jar with a lid. Yes, really. 

And honestly? Brownie batter for real. It’s silky, rich, and blends beautifully, even into just water, even with just a good shake. It dissolves, people! Like, it doesn’t just float on top and expect you to be okay with that. I was floored. 

The Simply Vanilla quickly became my base for smoothies — not cloyingly sweet, not fake-tasting, just clean and creamy, like melted vanilla ice cream. And the seasonal White Chocolate Peppermint is the rare festive flavor that tastes balanced rather than overpowering.

Across the board, the textures are smooth, not gritty; the flavors are nuanced, not overwhelming. For the first time in my entire career testing powders, I wasn’t tolerating the experience, I was enjoying it. 

This is where the protein truly became a game-changer for me. Because my schedule is unpredictable, I need things that are consistent for me—even when I’m not. Having a travel-friendly, great-tasting protein I can shake with almond milk in my hotel room or blend quickly before heading out the door has completely stabilized my mornings. 

Instead of skipping breakfast by accident, I now get something that fuels me with very little effort. On writing days, I create smoothies from the powder in the big bags, and it keeps me focused; on travel days, I grab and pack the one-serving-size pouches from the variety pack, and one holds me over without feeling heavy. (Plus, I love that I can always taste something new.) And when I am in a fitness groove, the 20 grams of protein help me feel more supported going into (and recovering from) workouts.

Most importantly, it simplified something that always felt complicated. There are no elaborate recipes required, no chalky consistency to work around, no flavor fatigue. Just a packet or scoop, a blender or shaker bottle, and a flavor I’m genuinely excited to drink.

I’ve spent my entire career covering wellness trends with a healthy dose of skepticism. Protein powders always felt overhyped — a product category with more marketing than satisfaction. But Clean Simple Eats is different in a way that feels almost disarming: it tastes good, it sits well, it fits seamlessly into my lifestyle, and it makes getting protein incredibly simple.

I’ve always lived with the ethos that “wellness” doesn’t have to be as complicated as people make it out to be. Especially today. Sometimes it’s just finding a habit that works for you — one that’s clean, easy, and actually enjoyable. For me, this was that missing link. For the first time, I’m no longer forcing myself to be “a protein powder person.” I’ve actually become one.