OWYN Shakes Review: Plant-Based Nutrition Made Simple
If you‘re looking for a delicious and nutritious plant-based protein shake, OWYN (Only What You Need) is a brand worth checking out. With a focus on simple, clean ingredients and great taste, OWYN has become a popular choice for health-conscious consumers following a vegan or allergen-free diet.
In this comprehensive review, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about OWYN shakes, from the key ingredients and nutritional facts to the flavor options, pros and cons, and how they compare to other top vegan protein shake brands. Let‘s dive in!
About OWYN
OWYN was founded in 2017 with a mission to create convenient, complete plant-based nutrition products for people with dietary restrictions or who simply want cleaner ingredient options. The brand is dedicated to using high-quality, non-GMO ingredients and avoiding major food allergens like dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts.
All OWYN products are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and free from artificial colors, sweeteners, and flavors. The company also partners with food banks and nonprofits to fight food insecurity and support sustainability initiatives.
OWYN Shakes Ingredients
So what exactly is in OWYN protein shakes? The core ingredient is OWYN‘s proprietary protein blend which features:
- Pea protein
- Organic pumpkin seed protein
- Organic flax oil
This blend provides a complete amino acid profile including all 9 essential amino acids that the body can‘t produce on its own. Pea and pumpkin seed are considered easily digestible, hypoallergenic protein sources.
In addition, OWYN shakes include several superfood ingredients such as:
- Organic kale
- Organic spinach
- Organic broccoli sprouts
- Organic spirulina
- Organic rosehip extract
These greens and superfoods provide bonus antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Other key ingredients are organic cane sugar, sunflower oil, and natural flavors, which vary by shake flavor.
Overall, OWYN shakes have an impressive ingredient list that‘s vegan-friendly and carefully avoids major allergens. Those with severe allergies will appreciate the transparency and commitment to an allergen-free product.
Flavors and Taste
Currently OWYN offers 4 ready-to-drink protein shake flavors:
- Dark Chocolate
- Smooth Vanilla
- Cold Brew Coffee
- Cookie N‘ Cream
In terms of taste and texture, OWYN shakes have a rich, smooth, creamy consistency and are not too thick or chalky like some other vegan protein shakes can be. The flavors taste natural, not overly sweetened or artificial tasting.
The Dark Chocolate is a popular choice with a rich cocoa flavor that‘s not too bitter or sugary. Smooth Vanilla is another crowd-pleaser with a subtle vanilla bean taste that blends well with other ingredients.
For coffee lovers, the Cold Brew Coffee combines the rich flavors of cold brew with 20g of protein. Many customers say it‘s one of the best-tasting coffee protein shakes out there.
The newest addition is Cookie N‘ Cream which features real cocoa and vanilla extracts for an indulgent cookies and cream flavor without dairy or gluten.
Nutritional Breakdown
Each 11 oz bottle of OWYN protein shake provides:
- Calories: 180-200
- Protein: 20 grams
- Net carbs: 9-12 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
- Total fat: 7-10 grams
- Sugars: 4-8 grams
In addition, all flavors are fortified with 20+ vitamins and minerals providing about 20-30% of the recommended daily value for nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, iron, potassium and B vitamins.
With 20 grams of complete protein and only 4-8g of sugar per bottle, OWYN shakes are higher in protein and lower in sugar compared to many other vegan protein shakes and meal replacements. The 4-5g of fiber also helps balance blood sugar and promotes healthy digestion.
Health Benefits
OWYN shakes provide several benefits for health and fitness-minded consumers:
- High quality plant-based protein to support muscle growth and recovery
- Fiber and healthy fats for appetite control and balanced nutrition
- Greens and superfood extracts for bonus antioxidants and phytonutrients
- Free of top allergens and suitable for many special diets
- Vegan-friendly with no animal products or byproducts
- Soy-free for those avoiding soy
- Gluten-free and celiac-safe
- Non-GMO and no artificial ingredients
- Convenient and portable for on-the-go nutrition
Whether using them as a post-workout recovery aid, an easy breakfast or light meal, or a midday snack, OWYN shakes are a simple way to get 20 grams of high-quality plant protein and a good balance of fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Being free of major allergens also makes them accessible to a wide range of people including those with allergies, vegans/vegetarians, and people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
What Customers Are Saying
So what do real customers think of OWYN shakes? The vast majority of reviews are positive, with the shakes receiving 4-5 star ratings on the official website, Amazon, and other retailers. Here are some common pieces of feedback:
Pros:
- Great taste and texture for a vegan protein shake
- Love the ingredient quality and allergen-friendly aspect
- Keeps you full for several hours
- Mixes well with other ingredients in smoothies
- Convenient for busy mornings or after a workout
- Feel good about supporting an eco and socially-conscious brand
Cons:
- Pricier than some other protein shake options
- Some found the taste too sweet or didn‘t like stevia aftertaste
- Can be hard to find in stores (may need to order online)
Many reviewers rave about how OWYN shakes are the best-tasting vegan protein shakes they‘ve tried, and they appreciate the short, clean ingredient list. For people with multiple food allergies, OWYN is a go-to because the shakes are reliably free of allergens.
The cons mainly come down to personal taste preference as well as the higher price point compared to other vegan and non-vegan protein shakes.
How OWYN Compares to Other Brands
There are dozens of vegan protein shake options on the market, so how does OWYN stack up? Here are a few key points of comparison:
- Vega, Garden of Life, and Orgain are other leading vegan protein shake brands, but their shakes are not completely allergen-free like OWYN
- OWYN is higher in protein per serving (20g) than many competitors which have closer to 15-16g
- OWYN also tends to be lower in sugar with 4-8g per shake compared to 8-12g+ for other brands
- Ingredients like flax oil, rosehip extract, and broccoli sprouts help OWYN stand out
- At $29-$35 per 12-pack ($2.40-$2.90 per shake), OWYN is at the higher end of the vegan protein shake price range
- However, OWYN offers a subscribe and save option for 10% off + free shipping
Overall, OWYN shakes are most similar to other premium vegan protein shakes with an emphasis on superfood ingredients and great taste – the key differentiating factor is being completely free of major allergens.
Potential Cons to Consider
While OWYN has a lot going for it, there are a few potential downsides to consider:
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Price: At nearly $3 per shake, OWYN is notably more expensive than budget-friendly options like Vega or Silk. However, many would argue the ingredient quality and allergen-free manufacturing is worth it.
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Added sugar: With 4-8g of organic cane sugar per bottle, OWYN is lower in sugar than many competitor shakes and meal replacements but still not ideal for very low sugar diets. The Cold Brew Coffee flavor is the highest at 8g sugar.
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Not a full meal replacement: With 180-200 calories per bottle, OWYN shakes work well as a substantial snack or light meal but don‘t provide quite enough calories, fat or carbohydrates to be a complete meal replacement shake.
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Limited flavor options: Currently OWYN only has 4 ready-to-drink flavors (versus 5-10+ for brands like Vega or Garden of Life), so you don‘t have as much variety to choose from. Hopefully they‘ll continue expanding!
The Bottom Line
After thoroughly evaluating the ingredients, nutrition facts, flavors, customer reviews, and brand values, I can confidently recommend OWYN protein shakes as a top choice for plant-based protein, especially if you have food allergies or sensitivities.
The shakes provide a solid 20 grams of complete vegan protein from a blend of high-quality pea, pumpkin, and flax, plus a good balance of fiber, healthy fats, greens, superfoods, and essential vitamins and minerals. All with only 4-8g of sugar and 180-200 calories per serving.
Considering the premium ingredient quality, allergen-friendly manufacturing, great taste, and environmentally and socially responsible business practices, I believe OWYN is worth the price for most consumers.
That said, if you are on a tight budget, need a lower sugar option, or strongly dislike the taste of stevia, OWYN may not be the right fit for you. And if you‘re looking for a heartier vegan meal replacement, you may want to opt for something with closer to 300-400 calories per serving.
But if your goal is getting more plant-based protein and superfood nutrients in a delicious, allergen-free, grab-and-go package, OWYN shakes are an excellent choice and one of the best products in their category.
You can buy OWYN shakes online at liveowyn.com, Amazon, and select natural retailers. A 12 bottle case costs $34.99 on the OWYN website ($2.91/bottle), or $29.74 with subscribe & save.
For a well-rounded, vegan-friendly protein shake that checks all the boxes for ingredient quality, nutrition, taste, and allergen safety, OWYN gets my seal of approval.
OWYN Shakes Pros
- 20g complete plant-based protein
- Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and free of major allergens
- 4-5g fiber and only 4-8g sugar per serving
- Superfood extracts like kale, broccoli sprouts, flax oil
- Smooth, creamy texture and delicious flavors
- 20-30% DV for key vitamins and minerals
- Eco-friendly and socially responsible brand
OWYN Shakes Cons
- On the pricier side at $2.50-$3 per shake
- Contains some organic cane sugar (4-8g per bottle)
- Not a full meal replacement at 200 calories per shake
- Limited to 4 flavors currently
