Question: Most protein shakes taste bland and chalky. What brand do you recommend?

Answer: If you judge your protein shakes by taste alone, you will not make a sound choice, nor reach your fitness goals. That's not to say taste isn't important, but some companies figure if their product doesn't taste as thick, creamy and as sweet as a real milkshake, the public won't buy it. This leads to practices such as hiding sugars and carbohydrates with tricky labeling and adding sugar to make the product taste better.

I have found that people who have truly committed to eating nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods low in sugar and saturated fats find it a lot easier to find a shake that suits them. This is because those committed to a lifetime of fitness and nutrition look first for the highest quality supplements they can find, then they consider taste.

I find it fairly easy to drink any proved high-quality shake because I am drinking it for its dietary protein that will aid my body in muscle tissue repair and growth. If I want a shake that is an absolute taste sensation, I use up my once-a-week "cheat food" option and go to the nearest ice cream shop.

When you are eating totally "clean," your tastes change. When you are consistently eating whole foods, such as lean proteins; lots of vegetables; quality carbohydrates and unsaturated, essential fats, it is easy to find any number of shake brands you find tasty. However, if you haven't turned the corner in terms of eliminating foods that keep you yearning for a sugar or fat fix, you are going to make poor choices in supplements.

Two companies - Carrillo Performance in Cincinnati and Beverly International in Northern Kentucky - produce some of the highest quality supplements in the world. And they taste great, too. Each has a different philosophy, so see which suits you best.

Contact certified personal trainer Dave Patania by e-mail: davpatania@aol.com.