#1 When was the last time I went to the desert with my shake?

Did you ever ask yourself this question? Okay, maybe not this one in particular, but if you ever experienced a gritty texture, here’s what you should know. Plant-based proteins are generally less refined and processed so they tend to have more of a real taste and texture to them. This is actually great as the less something is processed, the more nutrients it will retain. There are many things that can cause a gritty texture, but there are also many ways to reduce it. Most of the time you just have to shake your shake a bit longer. If you got an extra minute; use a blender. We’re not cavemen anymore, so why not use a nifty tool? Blenders can definitely smooth out any grittiness.

If shaking and blending won’t do the job, you probably added too little liquid. Make sure to first add 400ml of cold water before adding two scoops of your desired Plenny Shake flavour (100g/400kcal). You could also try a creamier base. Adding water to your shake is a good base, but if you prefer a smoother texture plant milks like oat milk, soymilk or rice milk are great! 

#2 Whoops… I overwatered my shake.

Same as with plants, shakes can be overwatered too. Blending with frozen fruits like berries or mango will most likely help create a thicker texture. It will also boost the flavour! 

#3 My shake turned into warm quicksand. 

You thought; “hey, why not stay in bed a little bit longer and take my shake to work?”  At work you’re casually catching up on some emails and totally lose track of time. After a few hours you remember that shake is still in your bag. Only now it looks sludgy and even worse; it’s warm. Well done, you turned your shake into quicksand… Goodbye meal? No! 

In this case, we recommend giving it a refresh by adding something very cold to your shake and giving it a quick blend. Of course, it’s most of the time best to enjoy your smoothie or shake as fresh as possible, so blend and enjoy. Obviously, you can refrigerate your shake, let it sit for an hour or two, or blend it at night to enjoy in the morning. But it’s best to give your shake that extra fresh sparkle by adding ice-cubes or putting some cold berries on top of your shake before enjoying.

#4 Help, my shake is suffering from an overdose of love!

You remember that day you wanted your shake to be flavorful, so you added some juice and fruits, but instead ended up with a smoothie that was way too sweet? This is the first sign of overdosing your shake with too much love. If you like to neutralize the sweetness of your shake. Add some spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, anise or add some cacao powder or instant coffee. Another symptom of too much love is overcomplicating things by for example adding too many unnecessary things like almond milk, chia seeds, linseed oil and fresh acerola cherries. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with adding a little extra love to your Plenny shake, play your part!

Only, keep in mind that it can easily whack up the calorie count for no extra benefit. Remember; our meals already have the right amount of protein, essential fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals! Another way to show too much affection to your shakes is by literally going two scoops too far. There’s no need to step up your scoop-game if you’re not a professional athlete. It will only provide more calories that expand your waistline, so it’s best to stick to the recipe. For the record: 1 scoop= 200 kcal (same as an avocado). 2 scoops = 400 kcal (same as poached eggs with smashed avocado & tomatoes).

We wisely advise to stay away from overdosing with love by adding extra scoops or (sweet) ingredients. Like laying in a field surrounded by puppies, while watching a video of a Slow Loris eating a rice ball, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing… 

(Before: We wisely advise to stay away from overdosing, even with sweetness and love. Because there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, like laying in a field surrounded by puppies while watching a video of a slow loris eating a rice ball… So if your shake is too sweet, neutralize it by adding some spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, anise or add some cocoa powder or instant coffee.)

 #5 Oh sh*t I forgot to save the planet…

You did what?! You used milk instead of water? Oh no… 

We always suggest going for the option with the least impact on our environment. That’s why we recommend blending our powders with water in the first place. If you like adding more ‘smoothness’ to your shakes, chilled tea or plant-based beverages such as oat, soy, coconut or rice milk are good options too. In short, plants just require way less land and water than dairy products which makes them a more environmentally friendly option. Also, the CO2 emissions of plants are lower compared to milk. Or course it’s still up to you, but next time challenge yourself to consider an alternative base that’s more friendly towards our precious earth. <3

Have you ever experienced a complete shake fail? Tell us about it! Did you fix it? How? Also, here are some tips from our community.

1. The Student-Style Blender: When you pour water on the powder, don’t put on a lid and start shaking, first use a regular knife to mix the water and powder- like you would stir tea and sugar. Also it’s really easy to get the powder in the corners. -Raiko O.
2. Have it hot?: Have the water be tap-water hot, this really brings out the flavour. -Andreas G.
3. Let it rest in The Arctic: Boost the taste by leaving the shake in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.  -Noby T.
4. Get creative: Mix the flavors if you are bored by the range of tastes after some time. - Philip S.
5. The “CLICK”: Make sure the lid is really closed with a “click” sound before you shake…  -Lorna R.