Ensure is a nutritional drink that provides protein, vitamins, and minerals in a liquid form. It is commonly used by people who need extra nutrition or have trouble eating solid foods, such as the elderly or those recovering from an illness. While Ensure comes in pre-made liquid bottles, some people wonder if there is a powder version that can be mixed with water or other liquids.
What is Ensure?
Ensure is a brand name for nutritional shakes and drinks manufactured by Abbott Nutrition. It was introduced in 1973 to help people maintain healthy nutrition and energy levels. The drinks provide a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Ensure comes in a variety of flavors and formulations to meet different nutritional needs.
The standard Ensure drink contains:
- 250 calories
- 13 grams of protein
- 7-10 grams of fat
- 34 grams of carbohydrates
- 24 essential vitamins and minerals
Some of the key ingredients in Ensure include milk protein concentrate, corn maltodextrin, sugar, soybean oil, and calcium and sodium caseinates.
In addition to the regular Ensure, there are products like Ensure Plus, Ensure High Protein, Ensure Clear, and Ensure Enlive for more specialized nutritional needs. For example, Ensure High Protein provides 20 grams of protein per serving.
Ensure can help people who are at risk of malnutrition or need extra calories and nutrients. It is commonly prescribed for seniors, hospital patients, or those recovering from an illness or surgery. The liquids are easier to swallow than solid foods, making Ensure a good nutrition source for those with swallowing difficulties.
Benefits of Ensure
Drinking Ensure offers several benefits:
- Provides balanced nutrition – Ensure delivers carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals in each serving.
- Supports weight gain – The extra calories and protein can help people gain or maintain a healthy weight.
- Builds strength – Ensure can help rebuild and preserve muscle mass with its high-quality protein.
- Improves recovery – The nutrition supports healing for those recovering from illness or injury.
- Easy to swallow – The liquid formula is easy to consume even for those with difficulty swallowing.
- Good taste – Ensure comes in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, coffee and more to make drinking nutrition enjoyable.
By providing convenient, balanced nutrition, Ensure can help many types of patients get the additional calories and nutrients their bodies need.
Is There a Powder Version of Ensure?
Ensure does come in powder form, which offers more flexibility in how the nutrition drink can be prepared and consumed. The Ensure Powder is designed to be mixed with water, juice or soft foods to provide the same balanced nutrition as the ready-to-drink shakes.
Benefits of Ensure Powder
The Ensure Powder offers a few advantages over the ready-made shakes:
- More flavor options – The powder comes in more flavors like apple cinnamon, strawberry banana, mocha, and peanut butter.
- Versatility – The powder can be mixed into water, milk, pudding, mashed potatoes, smoothies, and more.
- Customizable consistency – Users can control the thickness by adjusting liquid amounts.
- Portable – The powder is easier to transport and requires no refrigeration before mixing.
- Cost-effective – Buying larger canisters of powder may be cheaper long-term than ready-to-drink options.
The Ensure Powder allows people to get the same nutrition available in pre-made shakes but with more flexibility and customization. It can be a great option for active seniors, busy professionals, or those with specific dietary needs.
Nutrition Facts of Ensure Powder
The Ensure Powder contains the same balanced nutrition profile as the ready-to-drink shakes. One serving or 8 fl oz of mixed Ensure Powder provides:
- 250 calories
- 9 grams of protein
- 6 grams of fat
- 40 grams of carbohydrates
- 24 vitamins and minerals
The powder is made up of ingredients like maltodextrin, milk protein concentrate, sucrose, soybean oil, and a blend of vitamins and minerals. It comes in 8 oz individual packets as well as larger 16 oz and 32 oz resealable containers.
To prepare, you simply mix the powder with 8 oz of fluid. This can be water, milk, juice, soup broth, applesauce, or other liquids or soft foods depending on your dietary needs and preferences. Be sure to use a blender or shake well to incorporate the powder smoothly. Then drink immediately or store in the refrigerator.
Purchasing Ensure Powder
The Ensure Powder can be purchased at many major retailers that sell supplements and nutritional products. Here are some places you can find Ensure Powder:
- Grocery stores – Ensure Powder is stocked with other nutritional shakes and drinks in the pharmacy sections of most major grocery store chains.
- Drugstores – Stores like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid carry Ensure products including the Ensure Powder options.
- Online – Ensure Powder can be purchased directly from the Ensure website or online retailers like Amazon.
- Warehouse clubs – Retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club sell Ensure Powder in larger bulk containers for discounts.
- Hospitals and care facilities – Ensure is commonly prescribed and available for purchase in hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities.
Ensure Powder typically costs between $1-$3 per 8 oz packet or $10-$30 for a large 16-32 oz container depending on where you shop. Purchasing larger containers usually provides the best value. Compare deals online and in stores to find the lowest prices.
You can also set up subscriptions and save orders on the Ensure website or Amazon Subscribe & Save if you need Ensure Powder regularly. This can help you save up to 30%. Some health insurance plans may even cover Ensure if medically prescribed, so check with your provider.
Compare Ensure Powder Products
When purchasing Ensure Powder, you’ll find there are a few different products and size options:
- Ensure Original Powder – 8 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz – Available in vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan
- Ensure Plus Powder – 8 oz, 16 oz – Higher protein and calories for weight gain
- Ensure High Protein Powder – 16 oz – Contains 20g protein per serving
- Ensure Compact Powder – Box of 10 packets – Portable on-the-go packets
Look at the nutrition labels and ingredient lists to compare and determine which Ensure Powder will best meet your nutritional needs. The Original Powder is ideal for most people needing extra calories and balanced nutrition. Ensure Plus provides even more protein and calories. Meanwhile, the High Protein version focuses specifically on protein intake.
Consider factors like calories, protein content, fat and carbs, flavor, and mixing versatility when selecting an Ensure Powder product. Consult a doctor to help determine the right formula to fit your health and dietary goals.
Using Ensure Powder
Ensure Powder is designed to be quick and easy to mix, drink, and digest. Here are some tips for effectively using Ensure Powder:
Mixing Tips
- Use 8 oz of liquid for each 8 oz packet or serving size.
- Liquids can include water, milk, juice, or soft foods like applesauce or pudding.
- Use a blender or shake container with lid to mix powder smoothly.
- Let sit for 2-3 minutes after mixing to thicken.
- Stir or re-shake before drinking if it sits too long.
- Refrigerate unused portions.
Flavoring Ideas
- Mix flavors together like chocolate and vanilla or strawberry and banana.
- Blend fruit like berries or banana into shakes.
- Stir in extracts like almond, vanilla, coconut, peppermint.
- Spice it up with cinnamon, nutmeg, cocoa powder, espresso powder.
- Sweeten with honey, maple syrup, or sugar if needed.
Drinking Tips
- Drink Ensure chilled for best flavor.
- Sip slowly – don’t gulp it down too quickly.
- Rinse mouth with water to clear flavor between sips.
- Drink during or right after meals if it causes an upset stomach.
- Talk to your doctor if you have persistent gastrointestinal issues.
Following these simple mixing, flavoring, and drinking tips can help you enjoy drinking Ensure Powder and get the most nutrition benefits. But always talk to a healthcare provider with any concerns or questions.
Ensure Powder Recipes
One great advantage of Ensure Powder is that it can be easily incorporated into many different recipes and foods for a nutrition boost. Here are some recipe ideas to try with Ensure Powder:
Ensure Smoothies
| Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 packet Ensure Powder | Blend all ingredients together until smooth. |
| 1 cup milk or yogurt | Pour into a tall glass and serve chilled. |
| 1 banana or 1 cup frozen fruit | Get creative with your own fruit smoothie combinations! |
Ensure Overnight Oats
| Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 packet Ensure Powder | Mix all ingredients together in a container. |
| 1/2 cup milk or yogurt | Refrigerate overnight or at least 2-3 hours. |
| 1/2 cup rolled oats | Top with extra fruit, nuts, or seeds before eating. |
Ensure Protein Pudding
| Ingredients | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 packet Ensure Powder | Whisk pudding mix and Ensure Powder together. |
| 1 box (3.4 oz) instant pudding mix | Slowly whisk in milk until fully combined. |
| 2 cups milk | Divide into 4 servings and refrigerate until set, 2+ hours. |
Experiment blending Ensure Powder into your favorite smoothie recipes, oatmeal combinations, milkshakes, pancakes, and more. Get creative with mixing the powder into foods you already enjoy to boost your daily nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people considering Ensure Powder have some common questions, including:
Does Ensure Powder need to be refrigerated?
Ensure Powder does not need to be refrigerated until after mixing with liquid. The powder can be stored at room temperature unopened. Once mixed into a drink, it should be refrigerated and consumed within 24 hours.
Where can I buy Ensure Powder for the cheapest price?
Ensure Powder is generally cheapest when purchased online or from warehouse retailers in larger container sizes. Buying a 32 oz tub instead of individual 8 oz packets can help save up to 30%. Compare prices on Amazon, Costco, Sam’s Club, and the Ensure website.
Can I use hot liquids like coffee or tea to mix Ensure Powder?
It’s best to mix Ensure Powder with only cold or room temperature ingredients and liquids. Hot liquids can cause the proteins in the powder to break down or clump together. Allow any hot liquids to fully cool first before mixing.
Does Ensure Powder expire?
Like most supplements and powders, Ensure does have an expiration date printed on the packaging. Unopened containers are typically good for 12-18 months. Write the date opened on packages and try to use within a month or two once opened.
Is Ensure covered by food stamps?
In most states, Ensure and nutritional supplement drinks are eligible for purchase with SNAP/food stamp benefits if medically necessary. A doctor’s note may be required. Contact your local benefits office to confirm coverage details in your state.
Conclusion
In summary, Ensure Powder provides the same complete, balanced nutritional supplement as the ready-to-drink Ensure shakes but with more versatility. The powder can be mixed into water, juice, soft foods, or recipes for a nutrition boost any time of day.
The key benefits of Ensure Powder include added protein, calories, vitamins and minerals in a portable, affordable form. It comes in a variety of flavors and formulas to suit different needs. Look for Ensure Powder at major retailers or online and explore creative ways to mix it into your foods and beverages.
Drinking Ensure Powder as directed can help provide supplemental nutrition for seniors, hospital patients, people with dietary needs, or highly active individuals. Just be sure to first consult a doctor to recommend the best Ensure products and dosage for your individual health status and goals. With its ease of use and nutritional benefits, Ensure Powder can be a valuable addition to your pantry.