Is There Anything Better Than Ensure? Exploring Top Alternatives

November 15, 2025 •

3 min read

According to research, many commercial nutritional shakes like Ensure contain significant amounts of added sugar, prompting many consumers to wonder, "is there anything better than Ensure?". While a convenient source of balanced nutrition, Ensure may not be the optimal choice for everyone, especially those with specific dietary restrictions or health goals.

Quick Summary

This guide compares Ensure to other popular nutritional shakes, including those with higher protein, lower sugar, and plant-based ingredients. It also provides recipes for homemade alternatives, allowing for full control over ingredients and nutrients.

Key Points

High-Protein, Low-Sugar: Options like Premier Protein provide significantly more protein and far less sugar than standard Ensure, making them ideal for muscle support and weight management goals.
Plant-Based & Organic: Brands such as Orgain and Kate Farms offer vegan, dairy-free, and organic alternatives to Ensure, catering to dietary preferences and allergies.
Customizable Homemade Options: Making your own shakes gives you full control over the ingredients, avoiding artificial flavors, preservatives, and excessive added sugar.
Targeted Formulas: Competitors like Boost offer specialized product lines for specific needs, such as glucose control, which may be a better fit for certain medical conditions.
Whole Foods First: Relying on whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean proteins is often more beneficial than any processed supplement, as they provide a wider range of nutrients and fiber.

Why Search for an Alternative to Ensure?

Ensure has become a well-known name for liquid nutritional supplements, but its formulation may not be ideal for all users. Many standard Ensure products contain corn syrup, sugar, and soy oil, which some people may want to avoid. Health-conscious consumers are often seeking options with less added sugar, higher protein concentrations, or more natural, whole-food-based ingredients.

For those managing specific health conditions, such as diabetes or a sensitive digestive system, specialized formulas are often required. Additionally, individuals with allergies or dietary preferences, like lactose intolerance or a vegan diet, need different options entirely. Homemade shakes and whole foods can offer more customizable and often more nutrient-dense alternatives.

Commercial Alternatives to Ensure

Several commercial nutritional shakes have emerged as strong contenders to Ensure, each with a slightly different focus. The best choice depends on your specific nutritional requirements.

Boost

Boost is a direct competitor to Ensure, and like Ensure, it offers a wide range of products tailored to different needs, such as high protein and glucose control. A key difference is Boost's varying nutrient concentrations; some versions may offer more protein or different micronutrient profiles than Ensure's equivalent products. For example, Boost Max offers 30g of protein, comparable to Ensure Max Protein, but other versions have slight caloric or sugar differences.

Orgain

For those seeking an organic, plant-based option, Orgain is a popular choice. The brand focuses on using cleaner, less processed ingredients derived from sources like pea and brown rice protein. Many Orgain shakes are vegan, gluten-free, and do not contain soy, aligning with specific dietary preferences and common allergy concerns. Orgain's products generally contain a balanced mix of protein and other nutrients, but it is important to check the sugar content, as some versions can be higher.

Kate Farms

Kate Farms specializes in organic, plant-based, and dairy-free nutritional formulas. Often recommended in medical settings for those with sensitivities, its products use organic yellow pea protein and are free from common allergens. Kate Farms also offers higher-calorie options for individuals needing to gain weight or requiring a meal replacement. While beneficial for those with specific medical needs, some of its formulas are higher in sugar due to the use of agave and brown rice syrups.

Premier Protein

If your primary goal is a very high protein count with minimal sugar, Premier Protein shakes are a leading option. Each shake provides 30g of protein and just 1g of sugar, making it an excellent choice for muscle building and satiety. However, this is a protein shake, not a complete meal replacement, so it may lack the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and calories found in Ensure's meal-replacement lines.

Comparison of Ensure vs. Alternatives


Feature	Ensure Original (Retail Bottle)	Boost Original (Ready-to-Drink)	Orgain Organic Plant-Based	Premier Protein
Protein (g)	9g	10g	16g	30g
Calories	220	240	240	150
Total Sugars	10g	13g	10g (10g added)	1g
Protein Source	Milk, Soy	Milk	Pea, Brown Rice, Chia	Milk
Dairy-Free?	No	No	Yes	No
Best For	General nutrition, meal supplement	General nutrition, meal supplement	Plant-based, organic, allergen-friendly	High protein, low sugar

Natural, Homemade Alternatives

For maximum control over ingredients, making your own nutritional shakes at home is the best route. You can avoid artificial flavors, high sugar content, and preservatives entirely.

High-Calorie Weight-Gain Shake: Combine 2 cups of whole milk or a plant-based alternative with 2 bananas, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and a scoop of protein powder. This provides a calorie and nutrient-dense shake for those needing to gain weight.
Customizable Smoothie: Blend unsweetened almond or oat milk with frozen berries, spinach, and a scoop of unflavored protein powder. Add a tablespoon of ground flaxseeds or chia seeds for extra omega-3s and fiber.
Creamy Greek Yogurt Shake: For a dairy-based option, mix Greek yogurt with milk, a handful of fruit, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. This offers probiotics, high protein, and a smooth texture.

Conclusion

While Ensure is a convenient and widely used nutritional supplement, there are many alternatives that may be better suited for specific dietary goals and restrictions. For those seeking higher protein with less sugar, products like Premier Protein are an excellent choice. Individuals on a vegan or organic diet can find better options in brands like Orgain and Kate Farms. Finally, for those wanting total control over ingredients, making a homemade shake or prioritizing whole foods offers the most natural path to complete nutrition. Ultimately, consulting a healthcare professional is the best way to determine the ideal nutritional strategy for your unique needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost varies greatly between brands and types. Some high-protein or organic alternatives can be more expensive per serving than standard Ensure, while homemade options are often the most budget-friendly.

Some shakes, like Kate Farms and Ensure's complete nutrition lines, are formulated as meal replacements. Others, such as Premier Protein, are best used as supplements to boost protein intake rather than replacing a full meal.

For those with lactose intolerance, excellent alternatives include plant-based options from brands like Orgain, Kate Farms, and OWYN, which are specifically formulated to be dairy-free.

Homemade shakes can be highly nutritious, as they use whole-food ingredients. You have complete control over protein, fiber, and sugar content, allowing for a personalized and often healthier shake than commercial versions.

For most people, switching is safe. However, if you have a medical condition, it's essential to consult a doctor or registered dietitian before making a change to ensure your nutritional needs are still met.

Yes, some alternatives do. Ensure Original contains Omega-3s, but so do many plant-based options, like those from OWYN, which use flax oil. Homemade shakes can also be fortified with chia or flax seeds for a natural source.

Yes, Boost offers 'Glucose Control' shakes specifically designed to help manage blood sugar, which can be a targeted alternative for individuals with diabetes. It is still vital to consult a healthcare provider for the best recommendation.