Back to Learn
    Protein Powder 5 min read

    Best Milk for Protein Shakes: A Complete Nutritional Comparison

    Bold Health

    10 Apr 2026

    Bold Health Protein Plus

    What's the best milk
    to mix your protein with?

    A complete nutritional comparison — water, dairy & plant milks

    1 scoop vs 2 scoops 10 liquid options Protein · Carbs · Fat · Fibre · Calcium

    The liquid you mix your protein powder with makes a bigger difference than most people realise. It can nearly double the calories, add up to 9 grams of extra protein, or contribute almost 350mg of calcium — before you've added anything else.

    We've done the numbers on Bold Health Protein Plus mixed with 10 different liquids — water, full cream milk, lite milk, skim milk, almond, oat, soy, coconut, macadamia, and rice milk — at both one scoop (half serve, 19g) and two scoops (full serve, 38g). Both tables are below.

    Bold Health Protein Plus is built on a plant-based pea and brown rice protein blend, with prebiotic inulin, digestive enzymes, MCT powder, turmeric extract, and key vitamins and minerals. The liquid you choose simply layers on top of that foundation — so it's worth choosing wisely.

    Full nutritional comparison

    1 scoop — half serve (19g)

    Mixed with Calories Protein Carbs Sugars Fat Fibre Calcium
    Bold Health Protein Plus only (no liquid)
    Bold only — dry powder19g / 1 scoop 71 10.5g 2.0g 0.2g 1.8g 2.6g 100mg
    Bold + liquid — total per serving
    Water250ml 71 low cal 10.5g lower protein 2.0g 0.2g 1.8g 2.6g 100mg
    Full cream milk250ml 234 19.3g 14.0g 12.2g 11.6g 2.6g 400mg
    Reduced fat (lite) milk250ml 187 20.2g 15.5g 13.7g 4.8g 2.6g 450mg
    Skim milk250ml 158 19.3g 14.5g 12.7g 2.3g 2.6g 410mg
    Almond milk250ml (unsweetened) 110 lower protein 12.0g lower protein 2.5g 0.5g 5.3g 3.1g 288mg
    Oat milk250ml (unsweetened) 184 13.5g 18.0g 5.2g 6.8g 4.4g 220mg
    Soy milk250ml (unsweetened) 176 19.0g 7.5g 3.2g 6.8g 3.1g 350mg
    Coconut milk (carton)250ml 146 11.0g lower protein 9.5g 5.7g 6.8g 2.6g 230mg
    Macadamia milk250ml (unsweetened) 126 11.5g lower protein 3.5g 0.7g 7.3g 2.6g 225mg
    Rice milk250ml 191 11.5g lower protein 27.0g 10.2g 4.3g 2.6g 220mg

    2 scoops — full serve (38g)

    Mixed with Calories Protein Carbs Sugars Fat Fibre Calcium
    Bold Health Protein Plus only (no liquid)
    Bold only — dry powder38g / 2 scoops 142 20.9g 3.9g 0.4g 3.6g 5.2g 200mg
    Bold + liquid — total per serving
    Water250ml 142 20.9g 3.9g 0.4g 3.6g 5.2g 200mg
    Full cream milk250ml 305 29.7g high protein 15.9g 12.4g 13.4g 5.2g 500mg
    Reduced fat (lite) milk250ml 258 30.6g high protein 17.4g 13.9g 6.6g 5.2g 550mg
    Skim milk250ml 229 29.7g high protein 16.4g 12.9g 4.1g 5.2g 510mg
    Almond milk250ml (unsweetened) 181 22.4g 4.4g 0.7g 7.1g 5.7g 388mg
    Oat milk250ml (unsweetened) 255 23.9g 19.9g 5.4g 8.6g 7.0g 320mg
    Soy milk250ml (unsweetened) 247 29.4g high protein 9.4g 3.4g 8.6g 5.7g 450mg
    Coconut milk (carton)250ml 217 21.4g 11.4g 5.9g 8.6g 5.2g 330mg
    Macadamia milk250ml (unsweetened) 197 21.9g 5.4g 0.9g 9.1g 5.2g 325mg
    Rice milk250ml 262 21.9g 28.9g 10.4g 6.1g 5.2g 320mg

    Key insights at a glance

    Lowest calorie
    Water — 71 cal (1 scoop)
    Still delivers 10.5g of protein with the full Bold micronutrient stack
    Highest protein
    Reduced fat milk + 2 scoops
    ~30.6g protein — comparable to a large chicken breast
    Best plant-based protein
    Soy milk
    8.5g per 250ml — the closest plant milk to dairy for protein
    Most calcium
    Reduced fat milk + 2 scoops
    ~550mg — over half your daily RDI in one drink
    Best for low carbs
    Almond or macadamia milk
    Under 2.5g carbs added per 250ml serving
    Watch out for
    Rice milk
    Adds the most carbs and sugars of any liquid option

    Breaking it down by liquid type

    Water is the simplest, most calorie-efficient option. At zero added calories, carbs, or sugar, it lets Bold do all the talking — you still get 20.9g of protein, 5.2g of prebiotic fibre, 200mg of calcium, and the full vitamin and enzyme stack per full serve.

    Dairy milks — full cream, lite, and skim — are the strongest choice if maximising protein and calcium is the goal. Reduced fat milk hits the best balance: 9.7g of protein and 350mg of calcium per 250ml, with moderate calories. Skim milk is the leanest if you want all the dairy nutrition without the fat.

    Soy milk is the standout in the plant-based category. At 8.5g of protein per 250ml, it's nearly on par with dairy, and most fortified versions add around 250mg of calcium. Carbs and fat stay moderate too, making it a smart all-round choice for plant-based drinkers.

    Almond and macadamia milks are ideal for keeping calories and carbs low. Both come in under 60 calories per 250ml and add less than 2g of carbs. The trade-off is minimal protein — just 1–1.5g per serve — but they blend smoothly and taste great.

    Oat milk contributes a useful 1.8g of extra fibre per 250ml, which pairs nicely with Bold's own 5.2g of prebiotic inulin per full serve. It does add more carbs than most plant milks (around 16g), so factor that in if you're keeping an eye on your intake.

    Coconut milk (carton variety, not tinned) sits at around 75 calories per 250ml, adds a subtle tropical note, and blends smoothly. It contributes minimal protein but keeps fat and sugar moderate.

    Rice milk is the one to approach with caution — it adds the most carbs (around 25g) and natural sugars of any option on this list. If carbs are a consideration, other plant milks are a better fit.

    Ready to try Bold Health Protein Plus?

    Mix it with whatever liquid suits your lifestyle — water, milk, or your favourite plant-based alternative. Every serve delivers 20.9g of plant-based protein, prebiotic fibre, digestive enzymes, and key vitamins and minerals.

    Shop Bold Health Protein Plus

    * Bold Health Protein Plus nutritional values are per the product nutrition panel: full serve = 38g (2 scoops), half serve = 19g (1 scoop). Milk values are per 250ml standard serving based on FSANZ Australian food composition data. Plant milk values reflect unsweetened varieties — sweetened versions will carry higher sugar and calorie counts. Fortified plant milks may vary in calcium content by brand. All figures are approximate and rounded to one decimal place. "Low cal" badge applied where total serve is 100 calories or under. "High protein" badge applied where total protein is 28g or above.

    #Protein Powder#Recipe

    Written by

    Bold Health

    Bold Health is an Australian wellness brand helping people age with strength and confidence. Our articles are written in-house and reviewed against current nutrition science.

    Keep reading