What is a Good Substitute for Ensure Drink? Your Guide to Better Nutrition

December 9, 2025 •

4 min read

According to nutrition experts, relying solely on commercial drinks like Ensure might not always be the best long-term solution due to ingredients like added sugars. Finding a high-quality, customized option is key, so what is a good substitute for Ensure drink that better suits your dietary goals?

Quick Summary

This guide compares commercial and homemade alternatives to Ensure, focusing on factors like nutritional content, cost, and specific health needs such as managing blood sugar or gaining weight, to help you find a suitable replacement.

Key Points

Consider Your Needs: The best alternative depends on your specific goals, such as weight management, diabetic control, or dietary restrictions like dairy intolerance.
Commercial Options Vary: Brands like Boost offer general nutrition while Glucerna is specifically formulated for managing blood sugar in diabetic individuals.
Homemade is Customizable: DIY shakes allow full control over ingredients, enabling you to tailor protein, calories, and sugar content while avoiding artificial additives.
Cost-Effective Alternatives: Making shakes at home with ingredients like yogurt, bananas, and protein powder can be significantly cheaper than buying pre-made nutritional drinks.
Check Ingredients Carefully: Many commercial nutritional shakes, including some Ensure products, can be high in added sugars, so always read labels to ensure they meet your health requirements.
Prioritize Whole Foods: While supplements are convenient, a balanced diet rich in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds provides superior nutrition.

Why Look for an Alternative to Ensure?

Ensure has long been a popular nutritional supplement, offering a convenient way to get a boost of protein, vitamins, and calories. However, reasons for seeking a substitute can vary widely. Some individuals find the taste or texture unappealing, while others are concerned about the high sugar content in many Ensure products. For those with specific health conditions, such as diabetes, a specialized formula is necessary. By exploring different options, both store-bought and homemade, you can find a nutritional solution that better aligns with your specific health goals and preferences.

Understanding Your Nutritional Needs

Before selecting a substitute, it's crucial to identify your primary dietary needs. For example, the best choice for someone needing to gain weight is different from the best choice for someone managing diabetes. Consider factors like desired protein level, calorie density, sugar content, and any dietary restrictions (e.g., dairy-free, low-carb). Consulting with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian is always recommended to ensure the best fit for your health.

Top Commercial Nutritional Drink Alternatives

Boost: A Direct Competitor

Produced by Nestlé, Boost is one of the most direct competitors to Ensure. It offers a range of products with different nutritional focuses, including High Protein, Glucose Control, and Very High Protein varieties. The Boost Glucose Control, for example, is formulated with a specific carbohydrate blend to help minimize blood sugar spikes. Comparing nutritional labels is important, as some Boost products can have higher protein levels or different vitamin profiles than their Ensure counterparts.

Glucerna: Specifically for Diabetes

For individuals with diabetes, Glucerna is often recommended as a superior alternative to regular Ensure. Produced by the same parent company, Abbott Nutrition, Glucerna is scientifically designed with slow-release carbohydrates to help manage blood glucose levels. This makes it a much safer and more appropriate choice for those managing their sugar intake, especially when used as part of a diabetes management plan.

Premier Protein: High-Protein, Low-Sugar Option

If your main goal is a high-protein intake with minimal sugar, Premier Protein shakes are a popular choice. They typically offer 30 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar per serving. This makes them an excellent option for muscle support, satiety, and active lifestyles. While they may not contain the same comprehensive vitamin and mineral profile as a complete meal replacement, they are a powerful protein supplement.

Plant-Based Shakes: Dairy-Free Choices

For those with dairy allergies, lactose intolerance, or who follow a vegan diet, there are several plant-based alternatives. Brands like Kate Farms, OWYN, and Orgain offer shakes made from organic pea protein and other plant-based ingredients. These shakes are often free from common allergens and use natural, whole-food ingredients, which can appeal to those who prefer less processed products.

The Versatility of Homemade DIY Shakes

Making your own nutritional shake at home gives you complete control over the ingredients, allowing for customization based on your exact needs and taste preferences. A homemade shake can be more affordable and free from artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives often found in commercial products.

Simple Homemade Shake Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk, almond milk, or soy milk
1 ripe banana or 1/2 cup frozen berries
1/2 cup Greek yogurt (dairy or dairy-free)
1 tbsp almond butter or peanut butter
1 tbsp chia or flax seeds

Instructions: Blend all ingredients until smooth. For extra calories, use whole milk and a higher-calorie nut butter. For a diabetes-friendly version, reduce the fruit and add more protein powder.

Ingredients to Customize Your Shake

For more protein: Add a scoop of whey, casein, or plant-based protein powder.
For weight gain: Blend in oats, avocado, whole milk, or extra nut butter.
For more fiber: Add a spoonful of ground flaxseed, chia seeds, or psyllium husk.
For added greens: Incorporate a handful of spinach or kale; the flavor is barely noticeable.

Comparison of Popular Nutritional Drinks


Feature	Ensure Original	Boost Original	Glucerna	Homemade Shake
Calories (approx.)	220-250	240	180-200	Customizable (typically 250-600)
Protein (g)	8-13	10	10-15	Customizable (8g+)
Carbohydrates	Standard	Standard	Slow-Release	Customizable (low-carb options)
Target Audience	General nutrition	General nutrition	Diabetes management	Specific needs, cost-conscious
Sugar Content	Moderate	Moderate	Low	Customizable (control sugar sources)
Added Fiber	Often added	Often added	Yes	Optional, add seeds

How to Choose the Right Substitute

Your choice should be guided by your specific dietary needs. If convenience is the top priority and your needs are general, a commercial product like Boost might suffice. If blood sugar control is a primary concern, Glucerna is the appropriate commercial choice. If budget, control over ingredients, or specific dietary modifications are important, a homemade shake is the best route. Remember that no single product is a magic bullet for health. A varied, whole-food-based diet remains the gold standard for nutrition. Always discuss major dietary changes with your healthcare provider.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Fuel for You

Finding a good substitute for Ensure drink requires evaluating your personal needs, budget, and taste. Whether you opt for a commercially available drink like Boost or Glucerna, or decide to create your own tailored nutritional shakes at home, a suitable alternative exists. The key is to make an informed decision that supports your long-term health goals and provides balanced nutrition from quality sources. For many, integrating both commercial options for convenience and homemade shakes for customization can be the ideal approach to maintaining optimal health and energy levels.

Learn more about supplemental nutrition drinks from a trusted source: Harvard Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Making your own homemade nutritional shake is often the most cost-effective alternative to Ensure. Ingredients like milk, Greek yogurt, oats, and bananas are affordable and allow you to control the cost and nutritional content.

Boost and Ensure have similar nutritional profiles, but some Boost products, like the High Protein version, may offer slightly more protein per serving. The best choice depends on the senior's specific needs, and Boost's Glucose Control option is better for managing blood sugar.

Regular Ensure is not recommended for people with diabetes due to its high carbohydrate and sugar content, which can cause blood sugar spikes. A more appropriate alternative is Glucerna, which is specifically formulated with slow-release carbs to help manage blood glucose levels.

Excellent plant-based alternatives include ready-to-drink shakes from brands like Kate Farms and OWYN, which use ingredients such as pea protein. You can also create a homemade shake using a base of almond or soy milk and vegan protein powder.

To create a high-calorie homemade shake for weight gain, blend whole milk, a large banana, a scoop of whey protein powder, a generous serving of peanut or almond butter, and a tablespoon of flax or chia seeds. This combination provides a balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fats.

For most healthy individuals with no dietary issues, supplemental drinks like Ensure are not necessary. They are best used under medical supervision for those recovering from illness, experiencing malnutrition, or having difficulty chewing or swallowing solid food.

Yes, many protein powders can be used to create an Ensure-like drink. Using whey, casein, or a plant-based powder blended with milk, fruit, and other ingredients can provide a comprehensive nutritional supplement with more control over the sugar content.