Blog

6

1

Has anyone tasted Mark Sisson's Primal Fuel?

I did. My friend and I had an "official" taste test with the sample packs Mark sent out for $5.95.

The results?

Not good.

My initial thought was, "Wow, this is $99 protein. I bet it tastes AWESOME!" Alas, it wasn't awesome. It wasn't the worst protein I've ever tasted, but it definitely wasn't good. I wouldn't want to drink that as a "meal replacement" every day.

The vanilla didn't really taste of vanilla, it just tasted like [weak] coconut powder. The dark chocolate wasn't too bad, but again, the coconut taste overpowered the "dark" chocolate taste. Also, if you follow the recommendation of 8-10 oz of water mixed with the powder, it tastes pretty watery and flavorless.

Any thoughts?

flag
...not to mention it left a really nasty aftertaste. On the plus side however, it did mix very well. – MikeD Nov 4 2010 at 14:24
For realsies. If you're looking for a protein shake that mixes well, and you have a lot of $$ to throw away, buy MDA's Primal Fuel! – Ben Nov 4 2010 at 14:44
the other MikeD didnt taste this... – MikeD Nov 4 2010 at 14:51
4 
 I find this rather disturbing that multiple accounts can share the same name... – MasterB Nov 5 2010 at 1:18
"Mark Sisson" - i just threw up in my mouth a little – Bill1102inf Sep 17 at 1:39

14 Answers

5

I thought it was fine as a quick meal for those times when you are running out of the house and just don't have time to make a decent meal. It is not a replacement for real food, but I thought it tasted fine, not too sweet. I don't add as much water as called for. You can also add almond milk. I thought it had a faint coconut flavor (the chocolate verson) which was not unpleasant. I use it maybe once every two or three weeks, so I think my canister will last for a long, long time.

link|flag
3

Why are you eating powder? What's in it that you can't get from actual food?

link|flag
2 
 Extended shelf life. Water solubility. Large plastic canisters. – Kamal♦ Nov 4 2010 at 20:26
I agree with Kamal and add that I can't seem to get enough food into me so I drink protein and almond milk. This is especially true in the summer months when cooking or eating nearly repulse me. – baconbitch Jun 14 2011 at 23:31
+6 for the name baconbitch – Bill1102inf Sep 17 at 1:41
2

So a replacement for real food doesn't taste real? What's next, tofurkey that doesn't taste like turkey? Come on, it's POWDER...

link|flag
1 
 Not sure what you're referring to. No one said they thought it would taste like real food. – Ben Nov 4 2010 at 15:37
Isn't vanilla real? – Mark Nov 4 2010 at 15:46
@Mark- Vanilla's real. In the context of this post nobody said they expected it to taste like real food. They only said they wouldn't enjoy it as a meal replacement. You're arguing poor semantics. – CFD Nov 4 2010 at 15:48
1 
 I agree that there is a semantic issue here because paleos tend to disagree on the limits of paleo. Some paleos eat butter because of it's beneficial fatty acid profile, even though butter by definition is a neolithic food. Some paleos eat protein powder, which is industrial, post-neolithic food. Maybe both of those foods are truly paleo. It's up to individuals to decide for themselves; I'm not the paleo truth detector. But to complain on a paleodiet forum that industrial vanilla powder doesn't taste vanilla enough is like saying watermelon candy doesn't taste enough like watermelon. – Mark Nov 4 2010 at 16:29
1 
 My problem was that it didn't taste good period. At that price point it should be the Lexus of powders meaning great nutrition profile, great taste, and easy usage. This one met only one of those criterion. I'd never expect a powder to mimick exactly the real flavor of dark choc or vanilla but it should taste good at least! So I'd say it's a fail. – MikeD Nov 4 2010 at 21:15
show 1 more comment
2

Tastes pretty damn good to me. It's also a good way to get my pill-and-greens-averse wife to take supplements (magnesium/D3/fish oil/C) and eat kale and other greens (just blend em all up).

link|flag
So you blend Primal Fuel into a shake w/ greens and supplements? – Ben Nov 4 2010 at 19:22
1 
 Yeah - for my wife. I use it a couple times a week, just with water or milk, but she's always been a big smoothie fan, so I cram as much healthy stuff in hers as possible. Ends up pretty tasty. – Erik Cisler Nov 5 2010 at 0:21
1

this looks very mixed and processed.

Its nots so clear what they put in there. it dont seem natural.

link|flag
1

I got free samples. Overpowering coconut flavor, have 3 packets still sitting on my counter...

link|flag
I was supposed to get some free samples via the MDA boards, but they never came. Maybe too much anti-"paleo" protein backlash? – Marisa Nov 4 2010 at 17:11
1

I put this in the same catagory as pemmican. Pemmican is not a tasty thing, but you can live off of the stuff. I don't think you can live off of Marks powder, but when you're just concentrating nutrients, the taste might not be the greatest. I like coconut though.When I make a protien shake, If I'm out of my raw goat milk, I use coconut milk mixed 2:1 with water. Add a couple of raw egg yolks and some cinnimon, and blend it up. Delicious! And lots of good fatty acids from the coconut milk. (I add some coconut oil too).

link|flag
1

I haven't tasted a supplement yet that I thought tasted all that great. The good ones just taste less bad.

link|flag
1

Try eWhey by evolved Natural Solutions (evolvedns.com). The whey is organic/pasture-access and all ingredients are 100% natural. It also contains probiotics,prebiotics, digestive enzymes, colostrum and is sweetened from coconut sugar, which is low-glycemic. The closest to paleo that whey protein can get. Both dark chocolate and vanilla bean are delicious...not too sweet and no aftertaste.

link|flag
0

you can get 100% grass fed whey from Swanson,Ori Hofmekler brand for like 20$ per pound...100$ jugs of protein are a joke

link|flag
0

As Eva implied, supplement powders need to be graded on a curve. So, using a curved grading scale, and setting aside all the other philosophical shortcomings, how does the taste measure up?

Thanks. :-)

link|flag
2 
 Having been a protein powder junkie pre paleo... It's not bad, but you have to not just like but love coconut flavor. It really should be relabeled, Chocolate coconut and coconut vanilla. – Stephen-Aegis Nov 5 2010 at 12:36
2 
 +1 To Stephen-Aegis. "Alas, it wasn't awesome. It wasn't the worst protein I've ever tasted, but it definitely wasn't good" I've tried a lot of supplements (in my past I was a gym junkie...'sigh'), and I have had some that were pretty tasty, but on the curved scale of protein drinks, this one was mediocre, at best. – Ben Nov 5 2010 at 12:53
0

It's processed. Look at the ingredients. Nothing primal or paleo about that stuff!

link|flag
That's quite ironic you realise... It's called Primal fuel, released as part of the Primal Blueprint range, from the guy who invent Primal ;) – Cave Man Mind Nov 8 2010 at 12:17
I agree. I've read his book twice. It doesn't seem to be in line with what he wrote. I'm not knocking Mark. His book is great and got me stated eating this way. – TheCommonSenseWarrior Nov 8 2010 at 15:38
0

I tasted Primal Fuel at an event and it tastes GREAT to me (especially when you add a half a banana!). It also leave me feeling full and satisfied. I'm not an expert on meal replacement powders so I can't speak re: the ingredients. Yes, it's expensive, but I have one every day and look forward to having it. That says a lot.

link|flag
I started having Stronger Faster Healthier brand, and it's great. Way better than MDA brand in my opinion. It's cheaper, and has more natural ingredient (including grass fed whey). – Ben Jun 14 2011 at 23:45
0

Does anyone know where to get the samples? I'd like to give it a try. Thanks!

link|flag
He was sending them out for a small fee via the MDA website. I'm not sure if they're available anymore. – Ben Jul 10 2011 at 17:34

Your Answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.