Comparing Ensure vs Boost is so important for caregiving. Both brands are promoted to seniors as ways to improve health. While the shakes are processed, they do have benefits (and disadvantages).
- They’re a convenient source of nutrients and require no preparation.
- The bottles don’t need to be refrigerated. They often have a long shelf life. This also means they can be taken on the go.
- Shakes can often be purchased in bulk. Doctor’s offices and other locations sometimes offer coupons that can further decrease the price per
shake . - There is a variety of products to choose from, with different nutritional angles. This means that you can choose the most relevant item for your family member’s needs (or your own).
- The shakes can be especially relevant when seniors refuse to eat and in cases where solid food is a challenge.
- The shakes often taste good, making it easy to encourage eating. Some of them even taste like a milkshake and seniors may view them as an enjoyable treat.
- Using shakes may help to meet senior nutrition needs, especially those related to protein intake.
In this post, we’re just focusing on the prepared drinks that the two brands offer. There are protein powders too, but that’s a conversation for another time.
What Boost Offers
Boost has a range of different products to choose from, each with a different emphasis. Details and key nutrition facts* are below (*nutritional details are up-to-date at the time of publication, but may change from one flavor to the next and may be altered over time).
Boost High Protein (for very high protein)
- Flavors: Rich Chocolate, Creamy Strawberry, Very Vanilla, Cafe Mocha
- Nutrition Facts: 240 calories, 6g fat, 20g protein, 15g sugar.
- Reviews: Largely positive. Many people love the flavor.
- Personal Perspective: With 15g of sugar per serving, it’s easy to see why this shake is so popular. The 20g of protein would make it filling too. Still, 15g of sugar would be too much for many situations.
Other Boost High Protein Products:
- Boost High Protein with Fiber: 240 calories, 20g protein, 3g of fiber
Boost Original (for everyday nutrition)
- Flavors: Rich Chocolate, Creamy Strawberry, Very Vanilla, Peaches and Creme
- Nutrition Facts: 240 calories, 4g fat, 10g protein, 20g sugar.
- Reviews: Most reviews are positive, especially for the flavor. A few people mention that the shake tastes too sweet or has a somewhat artificial flavor.
- Personal Perspective: The balance of protein to sugar is concerning. The high protein version is healthier, especially as the calories are the same either way. Boost Original would be best for cases where seniors are very resistant to eating (in which case, any nutrition is better than none).
Boost Plus (for extra calories)
- Flavors: Rich Chocolate, Creamy Strawberry, Very Vanilla
- Nutrition Facts: 360 calories, 14g fat, 14g protein, 24g sugars.
- Reviews: There are fewer reviews for this version, but once again, people enjoy the flavor.
- Personal Perspective: This shake has the most sugar yet, but it is meant to be high in calories. I like the fact that only some of the extra calories come from sugar. The fat and protein levels are higher than Boost Original as well.
Boost Glucose Control (for diabetes nutrition)
- Flavors: Chocolate Sensation, Strawberry Bliss, Vanilla Delight
- Nutrition Facts: 190 calories, 7g fat, 16g protein, 4g sugars.
- Reviews: Responses about flavor are mixed, which isn’t surprising due to the low sugar content. Some people mention a chalky flavor.
- Personal Perspective: While this might not be an everyday product for diabetics, the appeal is easy to see. The sugar content is low enough that it would be appealing. Some versions have less sugar than this too.
Other Boost Glucose Control Products:
- Boost Glucose Control Max: 160 calories, 2g fat, 30g protein, 1g sugars.
- Boost Glucose Control High Protein: 120 calories, 2g fat, 22g protein, 1g sugars.
Boost Calorie Smart (for less sugar/fewer calories)
- Flavors: Rich Chocolate, Very Vanilla
- Nutrition Facts: 180 calories, 7g fat, 15g protein, 4g sugars
- Reviews: Some people find that the flavor here is very good, while others don’t like it. Your view is likely to depend on what you expect. After all, the sugar content is low, which will affect the flavor.
- Personal Perspective: The nutrient balance is appealing for weight loss. The shake doesn’t have too much sugar and the calories are kept low as well. 15g of protein is also a decent amount. Some products have more, but 15g is a good level for seniors. Higher protein products can often be difficult to consume and digest.
Boost Max Nutritional Shake (for very high protein)
- Flavors: Rich Chocolate, Creamy Vanilla
- Nutrition Facts: 160 calories, 2g fat, 30g protein, 1g sugars.
- Reviews: These tend to be positive, especially for the chocolate flavor. However, some people can taste the sweeteners used, which isn’t appealing.
- Personal Perspective: This shake is high in protein, while still being low in sugar and fat. The combination is appealing for health. The main limitation is the use of artificial flavors and sucralose as a sweetener.
Other Boost Max Products:
- Boost Max Women: Same nutrition as Boost Max, but has a different balance of vitamins and minerals to meet women’s needs.
- Boost Max Men: Same nutrition as the Boost Max, but this time the vitamins and minerals are balanced for men.
Boost Very High Calorie
- Flavors: Very Vanilla, Creamy Strawberry
- Nutrition Facts: 520 calories, 26g fat, 22g protein, 13g sugars
- Reviews: The shakes gets a decent number of positive reviews, with the biggest complaints relating to the price. Some reviewers mention that the shake is on the thick side and may need to be diluted. However, this thickness could also be helpful in some situations.
- Personal Perspective: The calorie content is very high for this drink, but then again, that is the point. The combination of fat and calories would make this a useful choice for anyone who needs to gain or maintain weight, particularly seniors with low appetites. There are also 26 vitamins and minerals present, which should help as well.
Other Boost Products
We’ve already covered a lot of Boost products, including the main ones that you’ll see in local stores. But, we still haven’t got to the end – as Boost likes to produce new products. In fact, the some of the entries above and all of the ones in the list below weren’t advertised on the Boost site when we initially wrote this piece in 2018.
- Boost Women: 180 calories, 7g fat, 15g protein, 4g sugars, along with a broad selection of nutrients and targeted nutrients for your thyroid, bones, skin, and hair.
- Boost Men: 220 calories, 6g fat, 18g protein, 12g sugars, plus various nutrients, with a focus on energy metabolism, heart health, and muscle development.
- Boost Mobility: 180 calories, 4g fat, 20g protein, 4g sugars. This time the nutrients and other ingredients are targeted at joint health. Collagen is even used as an ingredient to help in this area.
- Boost Soothe: 300 calories, 0g fat, 10g protein, 15g sugars. This is mostly designed as a source of energy, as there aren’t any added nutrients. The flavor is subtle and the drink is clear, rather than being milk-based (although whey is the source of protein that’s used).
- Boost Breeze: 250 calories, 0g fat, 9g protein, 34g sugars. This is another clear drink, but it does contain plenty of nutrients. The sugar content is also very high, which could make it a poor choice for many.
What Ensure Offers
Ensure has many similarities to Boost. Their drinks are roughly the same size, with a similar balance of vitamins and minerals.
They also offer a variety of different products. These are targeted at individual populations and/or needs.
Ensure Original
- Flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Dark Chocolate, Butter Pecan, Coffee Latte, Banana Nut
- Nutrition Facts: 220 calories, 6g fat, 9g protein, 15g sugar.
- Reviews: Many people love the shakes and drink them daily.
- Personal Perspective: With just 9g of protein, these shakes will never be very filling. Still, the flavor is a major advantage.
- Note: Some versions have extra fiber (giving you 3 or 4 grams of fiber per serving), while others don’t.
Ensure Plus
- Flavors: Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Dark Chocolate, Butter Pecan
- Nutrition Facts: 350 calories, 11g fat, 16g protein, 22g sugar.
- Reviews: Reviews for this product are almost always positive, which is unusual.
- Personal Perspective: This shake is targeted at weight gain, so the nutrient balance is reasonable. Still, 22g of sugar is pretty high for such a small product.
Ensure Enlive Nutrition Shake
- Flavors: Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry
- Nutrition Facts: 350 calories, 11g fat, 20g protein, 22g sugar.
- Reviews: Most reviews are positive. However, some people mention that the taste is okay, not amazing. The shake can also be hard to find and expensive at stores.
- Personal Perspective: 22g of sugar isn’t appealing and is a major limitation of the product. The higher protein content helps balance this somewhat.
Ensure Max Protein
- Flavors: Milk Chocolate, Cafe Mocha, Milk Chocolate with Caffeine, Mixed Berry, French Vanilla, Creamy Strawberry
- Nutrition Facts: 150 calories, 1.5g fat, 30g protein, 1g sugar.
- Reviews: Flavor reviews aren’t as good as for other products. Even so, opinions on flavor are decent for the nutritional profile.
- Personal Perspective: This is one of the best choices for nutrition, especially for seniors who need more protein. However, it is considerably more expensive. The high protein and low sugar may also mean that some seniors don’t enjoy the drink.
Ensure High Protein
- Flavors: Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry
- Nutrition Facts: 160 calories, 2g fat, 4g sugar, 16g protein.
- Reviews: This version isn’t as widely available as other types of Ensure products. But, reviews still tend to be positive.
- Personal Perspective: The balance of nutrition would be perfect for many seniors. The protein content is still decent, while the sugar would help make sure the shake tastes good. The limitation is finding the product to begin with.
Ensure Light Nutrition Shake
- Flavors: Milk Chocolate, Vanilla
- Nutrition Facts: 80 calories, 2g fat, 0g sugar, 12g protein
- Reviews: Reviews aren’t amazing. Many people say that it tastes good, but not nearly as good as the original. Others mention that the drink is an acquired taste.
- Personal Perspective: The nutritional profile could make this a very good snack or simply a source of nutrients. However, it’s likely that some seniors will enjoy the drink and others won’t.
Ensure Compact
- Flavors: Milk Chocolate, Vanilla
- Nutrition Facts: 220 calories, 6g fat, 10g sugar, 9g protein.
- Reviews: Reviews are mixed, with some people concerned about the high amount of sugar. The shake is also fairly dense.
- Personal Perspective: The notable thing about this drink is the size. It is only 4 fl. oz, making it very easy to consume. It may be especially relevant to people who resist any form of nutrition.
Ensure Surgery Immunonutrition Shake
- Flavors: Vanilla
- Nutrition Facts: 330 calories, 9g fat, 19g sugar, 18g protein.
- Reviews: There aren’t enough reviews to get a sense of how this product is received. Then again, this shake is designed for a very specific situation.
- Personal Perspective: This is another shake that contains a lot of sugar. Still, it does have some interesting components, including omega-3 fatty acids and arginine. The design may be relevant for the intended purpose.
Ensure Complete
- Flavors: Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry
- Nutrition Facts: 350 calories, 8g fat, 15g sugar, 30g protein.
- Reviews: This is a new product in Ensure’s range, so the reviews are limited. Most, however, do say that the shakes taste good and do what they claim to.
- Personal Perspective: This shake has a decent amount of protein, more than most other Ensure products. But, there’s also 15 grams of sugar, which is far too much.
Ensure Plant-Based Protein
- Flavors: Chocolate and Vanilla
- Nutrition Facts: 180 calories, 6g fat, 7g sugar, 20g protein. The protein comes from fava beans and peas. The shake is also free from GMOs, artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners, and doesn’t use dairy or soy.
- Reviews: This is a popular product, both for its flavor and the choice of ingredients. Some people mention an unappealing aftertaste but, even then, the shake seems better than many alternatives.
- Personal Perspective: The balance of 20 grams of protein and 7 grams sugar isn’t too bad. You’re getting enough sugar to make the drink palatable, without overdoing it. The focus on plant-based protein would be perfect for many people.
Ensure vs Boost – Which One Is Better?
Both brands have one key advantage – choice. They offer many different products, each targeted at a different set of needs. In many ways, the Ensure vs Boost comparison comes down to finding a product that meets your needs, regardless of the brand.
Ensure has a wider range of flavors, while Boost makes the differences between products clearer.
The selection is fantastic, but there are some limitations too.
- Most stores won’t carry all of the products. For example, Boost High Protein and Boost Original are easy to find, while other versions may be more difficult.
- The choice can be overwhelming. With this many products to choose from, making a decision can be tough. It can help if you do the research before you hit the grocery store. A good starting point is to consider what your family member needs.
- The products are often similar. The differences between products are often subtle. For example, Boost has three different shakes that focus on high protein, as well as a diabetic high protein shake.
As for which product is better. Honestly… there’s no clear winner. The shakes aren’t that different. Both brands rely on sugar or alternative sweeteners to make their shakes taste good. Each of those approaches has its own issues. And, most of the products have additives to give them the flavor, texture, and stability that they need.
If the products meet your needs, then Ensure and Boost can both be good choices. But, please pay attention to the amount of sugar and calories that the shakes contain. It’s very easy to underestimate the calorie content of the shakes.
Alternative Options
Of course, Ensure and Boost aren’t the only brands out there. The protein shake market is huge. You’ll see dozens of brands at your grocery store alone – even more if you shop online.
Honestly, there is no best brand.
But, some are better than others. It’s a matter of looking at the ingredient’s labels. Focus on products that have short ingredients lists, ones with relatively few artificial ingredients.
Check out these options:
Consider the nutrients too. Does the shake have a large amount of extra sugar? That’s not a good choice in most situations. Even if the senior needs more calories, sugar isn’t a great source of them.
What About Protein Powders?
This post has only focused on pre-prepared protein drinks.
These aren’t your only choice. You’ll also see protein powders. With these, you’ll be making the shake yourself, by adding some type of liquid and possibly other ingredients.
- Some of these are designed as meal replacements. They contain a variety of extra nutrients (much like the shakes in this list).
- Others just emphasize the protein. This can sometimes be better, giving you precise control over the final nutrient profile.
Once again, you should pay close attention to the product. Look for powders that have few artificial ingredients and match your family member’s needs.
Here are a few interesting products to consider:
- Orgain Oraganic Plant Based Protein Powder
- Pure Protein Powder
- KOS Organic Plant Based Protein Powder
George Steele says
Ensure Max Protein has been my go-to for protein supplementation post-op. More than adequately sweet, despite having only 1 gram of sugar, it is delicious, satisfying, and has 60% of my daily protein need in one serving. I have taken to drinking one for breakfast, which gives me a protein base at the start of the day. The mocha, having both coffee flavor and a bit of caffeine, scores highly in this regard, but the chocolate also provides a decadent, satisfying start to the day. Reading this, it sounds like an ad – I must be brainwashed at this point in my life. I routinely made my own when I was actively exercising at the gym, using whey protein and Creatine monohydrate, the combination of which provided a remarkable boost in muscle mass; my son found the same thing when he started weight lifting and Nautilus equipment routines. I might try adding Creatine to the Ensure just for the heck of it, in fact. I really like that it has almost no carbs/sugar, whereas others are loaded with them/it. Wish there were more flavors than mocha and chocolate; that would make for a nice variety. Strawberry, vanilla, lemon, orange, etc – or a plain, with flavor packets you could add to “roll your own.” I’m sold on it, and counting on it to boost my recovery; it has had a measurable boost effect on my albumin levels (blood tests weekly), which is positive for healing. Good to have around.
Angelica says
It’s great that you’ve found something that works well for you. It often seems like there isn’t a single best type of protein shake. Instead, the best option heavily depends on the person and their needs. People are so different to one another ather all.
Patricia says
I’m 57 years old, I decided to try this, I needed energy. I found I’d go in my kitchen then turn around and go sit on the computer instead of cleaning the kitchen, this became somewhat of a routine for me. Before when I was younger in my 20’s, all the way to my mid 40’s as that is when I started slowing down, I use to be active, walking, cleaning, you name it. My kids use to force me to sit down to watch a show with them or play a card game, I loved to cook and bake. Since I started using Boost (Diabetic) chocolate, btw I’m not diabetic, it just has more of what I need for my body, I have energy again, I’m cleaning, cooking again, walking etc. I genuinely feel better over all. I use to think of energy drinks as nothing more than a quick fix, have a bottle and then crash when it was over. This isn’t the case. I have one and I have energy all day long right up to the time I go to bed, the stamina I get slowly dies down over time usually about an hour or two before I go to bed so that I’m just sleepy. There should be a warning on the label not to drink any of these after 5pm. I had one at about 6 or 7pm, the only one I had all day, I knew I couldn’t get a supper into me and I had a lot of running around to do that evening so I slugged one back and off to the races so to speak I went. I couldn’t get to sleep till 4am, I was so energized. I have nothing but good to say about these drinks. They do say meal replacement, but they really are not a meal replacement, it just ties you over till you can get a meal of some sort into you. I was told my doctor and pharmacist to take it but make sure I keep eating, if I don’t I could have complications from it as it would be an over load on my system and could cause issues such as simple gas issues to heart issues. These are not a drink to take for granted.
Angelica says
Thanks for your comment.
I know what you mean about the meal replacement aspect. A lot of shakes say that they replace a meal, but they don’t manage to at all. It’s fantastic to see that the drinks work well for you anyway.