The supplement industry is one that is currently saturated with a multitude of brands without much innovation. Walk into the pre workout or protein section of any supplement store and you will see products that feature the same basic ingredients.
In an article outlining the alternatives to whey protein, it was important to explain that choosing a protein source other than whey does not necessarily mean it is of inferior quality. There are many protein sources that have similar bioavailability (absorption) and amino acid profiles to whey.
Thus, protein sources besides whey have the same ability to build muscle and aid in recovery from workouts.
The one issue is that these products are not as prevalent. Every major supplement company has a whey protein product, but few have any alternatives. Your options may be limited if you do not tolerate whey protein very well.
Enter Redcon1’s MRE protein shake. Redcon1 has a huge product line in general, which is great for anyone looking to find a specific supplement to fit their needs.
This review focuses on Redcon1’s MRE ready-to-drink (RTD) shake. RTDs are premixed, prepackaged protein shakes found in a carton, bottle, or can.
In addition to the RTDs, Redcon1 makes a full blown meal replacement loaded with carbohydrates and a lighter version that is leaner. They are similar to the RTD in terms of protein sources, sans for one or two minor differences.
The main benefit of an RTD is convenience. They require no preparation and this one in particular requires no refrigeration since it does not contain milk. However, most would agree these products taste better chilled.
Taste
Redcon1’s MRE RTD comes in five flavors; vanilla milkshake, milk chocolate, blueberry cobbler, strawberry shortcake, and salted caramel.
They’re all good, but one that stands out above the rest for me is blueberry cobbler. They nailed this flavor and you’ll be amazed how much it tastes like its namesake.
Blueberry cobbler seems to be a polarizing flavor judging from other reviews online; some people love it and some don’t. But if I’m at a store or gym and see this flavor on the shelf, I’m grabbing it immediately.
With that said, I understand that some people like to stick to the basics. Rest assured that you can’t go wrong with vanilla or chocolate.
They have five flavors at the moment, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they come out with more if the product takes off. If you like to switch up flavors often this is a nice product to choose. As mentioned they all taste good and there is enough variety to keep you satisfied in the long term.
Taste 9/10
Nutrition Profile
Redcon1’s MRE features a blend of proteins derived from real food under the premise that nothing beats… real food.
As someone who does not tolerate whey protein well anymore, this is a lifesaver. The blend features beef protein, pea protein, brown rice protein, and egg white protein. In fact, the powder versions of this product contain chicken and salmon protein!
As strange as it may sound, you certainly don’t taste the beef or chicken or salmon. These are all high quality proteins, even brown rice protein has a decent amino acid profile despite not being a meat or fish.
The macronutrients make this easy to fit in any diet. One carton contains 6 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbs, and 40 grams of protein. The supplement facts panel lists the macros for a half carton and full carton, although I don’t know anyone who is only drinking half of this thing.
Among the flavors there are no major differences in macronutrients or micronutrients aside from slight variations in sodium and saturated fat content. It is likely nothing to concern yourself over as the differences are minute.
MRE contains medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) as one of the fat sources. MCTs are different from typical fats since the chain of bonds is shorter than a triglyceride, thus it digests more quickly and can be used for energy.
This is something Redcon1 harps on in the marketing for the product, but since the overall fat content of the product is so low it doesn’t make much of a difference either way.
The only thing you should look for when buying any RTD is trans fat, which this product does not contain. Trans fats are typically listed as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.
From a nutritional perspective, it’s hard to find any negatives. It’s a nice blend of proteins with a manageable amount of carbs and fats. It is best used as a post workout shake rather than a meal replacement; the difference between the two is explained here.
Nutritional Profile: 9/10
Price
After scouring the internet, the price remains the same no matter where you purchase it from. It’s $39.99 for a pack of 12, which comes to $3.33 per bottle.
This is standard around the industry when looking at similar products like Labrada’s RTD or MetRx’s RTD. You can probably find lower quality protein RTDs like Muscle Milk and Premier Protein a bit cheaper, but personally I would rather pay a few extra dollars for a better product.
Price: 7/10
Summary
Finding an RTD protein that satisfies my needs has been a problem. It can be hard to get sufficient protein in a diet without the use of supplements. Many of the RTDs on the market feature lower quality protein sources like calcium caseinate, but Redcon1 did a great job with this blend.
Overall the company seems to be doing well, which is illustrated by their huge product line and team of sponsored athletes. They’ve even branched out into the world of professional wrestling.
Their products are formulated properly with no proprietary blends, so you know what you’re getting. As mentioned, innovation is lacking in the industry but they seem to be pushing for creativity judging by other supplements in their product line.
Protein should be a staple in anyone’s supplement arsenal, and this is one that I continue to have on a regular basis.
Overall: 9/10