Carnation Breakfast Essentials Ready-to-Drink, Classic French Vanilla, 8 fl oz (Pack of 24) (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

I've been stacking up on this purchases on subscribe and save for as long as I can remember.I originally picked this as having equivalent calories to the brand name ones, to help my kids gain weight. This product has become a staple in our home over the years, and we would buy five, sometimes 10, sometimes even 20 cases of these depending on the changing allowed amount on subscribe and save items.The taste is really equivalent to the brand name also. Although our pediatrician would say that any other brand other than the hospital recommended brand is not good enough for our kids, and of course we believe them for the first few kids, over the years, we find that is not true at all!So if you are able to find an equivalent brand that is much less expensive for product that you use very often, I would really recommend trying this 24 count Breakfast Essentials brand. The shelf staple is really good also, and this brand is actually Nestle, just not as popularly advertise as the kids drink.Here's a tip: actually really shake it well before opening it, or else it will be diluted really funny. Also, after opening, we refrigerate the leftover, but for some reasons, the kids only prefer newly opened bottles. Most of the time they would finish in one sitting, and sometimes ask for another, so for some reasons, this brand doesn't work very well but refrigeration probably because of taste. I mean, it tastes okay to me refrigerated, but apparently, my kids don't prefer that.

I love this product and I drink one everyday in the morning to help me get my protein in my body. Taste is really good. It keeps you full also until you have your next meal. Easy to store in the fridge. They are small and easy to hold. Good for your health. It’s just like having your chocolate milk in the morning. They are very affordable.

I grew up on Carnation Instant breakfast packets mixed with milk, which may be slightly healthier than the pre-mixed version, but my child is not quite ready for breakfast before we leave in the a.m. These are a more instant, instant breakfast. I do pour it into a toddler cup to avoid spills, and load it into her car seat cup holder before starting our commute. Started using it as soon as she started liking chocolate, at about 2 years old.Have tried mixing my own with the dry packets and whole milk, but that's generally too cold (as milk was refrigerated) and these bottles are room temp. Probably could use Organic Valley milk boxes at room temp, but pre-mixed would be awfully close or maybe even cheaper in price, plus the pre-mixed bottles are more efficient in the a.m.Thought about Go and Grow toddler formula, but they use artificial sweeteners, and the nutrition labels aren't a lot different from the Carnation version, which seems to run less expensive. I believe protein content was higher in Carnation, as well.At any rate, it's our instant breakfast of choice for the a.m. commute on weekdays, and half a bottle occasionally makes its way onto the table next to a more traditional breakfast option on weekends.

Trying to review the chocolate AND strawberry flavors separately didn't work..Anyway, the chocolate flavored one tastes exactly like some really good chocolate milk. No aftertaste, no funny smell..just yummy chocolate milk. Great price for the amount you get too!Now, the strawberries and cream flavored one..These are perfect..as long as you don't smell them. They have a chalky medicinal smell. Ruins the otherwise good taste. After I avoided breathing in the scent, all was well.Tastes like an off brand strawberry milk. Has a bit of an aftertaste that goes away rather fast.Had a perfect amount in the bottle..just enough for that full feeling.Bottle is easy to hold and easy to open.If the price stays nearly the same, I'll definitely buy more of these.

This milk chocolate version in a bottle is most likely leftover stock as Carnation discontinued the plastic bottle for a paper carton packaging. It's taste is fine and we'll settle for it because Amazon did not continue to carry the same "High Protein" milk chocolate variety since the packaging change. (They brought on a new High Protein with Fiber variety that has a different taste and texture). We do buy the good High Fiber version now from the regular grocery store because Amazon stopped carrying it. Don't expect this 24-pack to be around for too long though since the paper carton is now the only packaging that is going out from Carnation.

Love the flavor

Loved this order

Great breakfast or snacks