These are not your drive-in shakes. They’re grainier and may not taste as good – or perhaps they are an acquired taste – but protein shakes are great sources for, well, protein! And the long-term benefits can do more for your body than any $3-$4 high calorie serving at your local Sonic can do.

So without any further ado, let’s take a look at…

The 4 Best Shake Ideas for the Homemade High Protein Drink Mixer

4. Peanut Butter and Jelly Shake

Start things off by pouring eight ounces of milk into a power blender. Next, dump in a tablespoon of peanut butter. Third, go with a teaspoon of your favorite jelly or jam. (I prefer grape.) And last but not least, dust in another two tablespoons of dried egg white powder, which is the equivalent of around 23 grams of pure protein. Blend at medium speed, and tip it up.

3. Vanilla Shake

Confession time: I usually like to double my doses, so if you’re not into that, just cut the active ingredients in two, and enjoy. For vanilla shakes, start with another eight ounces of milk. Add in 1/3 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and a tablespoon of either honey or sugar. Careful on artificial sweeteners, a little bit tends to go a lot further than the real thing. Top off with another two tablespoons of dried egg white powder, and voila!

2. Peanut Butter Cup Shake

I prefer 2% milk for its lower fat content and taste preservation. If calories are your concern, better go to the skim. Whatever you decide – this even works for water – dump eight ounces of it into a blender with three ice cubes, a tablespoon of natural peanut butter (doesn’t matter if it’s creamy or chunky), and two scoops of chocolate protein powder. Blend at medium speed in a power blender.

Strawberry Cheesecake Shake

Pour 20 ounces of milk into your power blender. (Why 20 ounces? When you taste this, you’re going to fight the urge of upping it to 40. This protein shake is one that you hate to see go, and unfortunately, it will rather quickly once you get a taste.) Add in four eggs, a minimum of two scoops strawberry cheesecake ice cream, three tablespoons of evaporated milk, and one cup of frozen strawberries. Mix the lumps right on out of that bad boy, and you’ve got yourself the best protein shake ever made.

A Word of Encouragement to the Homemade High Protein Drink Mixer

Recipes are made to be broken. In fact, that’s sometimes the only way new discoveries can be made. So please, I encourage you to experiment. Protein shakes need not be the drinking chore they’re often made out to be. You shouldn’t rather have a swig of Old Crow Whiskey than a drink that can restore and rebuild your muscles after a workout. So relax. If you have to take care of yourself, you might as well enjoy it. Feel free to add your own recipes in the comments section. Who knows? Maybe there is a homemade high protein drink mixer inside all of you.