Beverages, ABBOTT, ENSURE, Nutritional Shake, Ready-to-Drink
Whole food · Beverages
Photo: Wikipedia
Ensure Nutritional Shake is a smooth, creamy, ready-to-drink beverage designed for convenient nutrition. Its mild, slightly sweet vanilla or chocolate flavor is balanced by a light, non-cloying texture. Nutritionally, it delivers a moderate calorie boost with a focus on carbohydrates for energy.
Calorie split: 14% protein · 64% carbs · 22% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People appreciate its reliability as a nutritional safety net, especially during recovery or busy periods. Its familiar, mild flavors make it an approachable option without a strong medicinal taste.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The sugar content (9.7g per 100g) can contribute to blood-sugar spikes if consumed alone or in large quantities. To counteract this, pair it with a source of fiber or protein, like a handful of nuts or a piece of fruit, and practice portion control.
Key benefits
- Provides quick, calorie-dense nutrition
- Offers balanced macronutrients in a drinkable form
- Convenient for on-the-go or meal supplementation
- Contains added vitamins and minerals
- Easy to digest for most adults
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Ensure was originally developed in the 1970s for hospital patients who couldn't eat solid food, making it a pioneer in the modern oral nutritional supplement market.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 76.2 g |
| Energy | 105 kcal |
| Energy | 441 kj |
| Protein | 3.8 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.5 g |
| Ash | 0.60 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 16.9 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 9.7 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 127 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.9 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 42.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 105 mg |
| Potassium, K | 156 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 84.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.6 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.21 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 7.4 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 12.7 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.16 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.18 mg |
| Niacin | 2.1 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.21 mg |
| Folate, total | 42.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 42.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 72.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 32.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.63 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.60 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 158 ug |
| Retinol | 158 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 527 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.4 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 1.3 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 42.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 1.1 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 8.4 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.42 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.26 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.08 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.84 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.78 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.3 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.48 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 1.2 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.05 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.13 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 2.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Beverages, carbonated, tonic water — USDA does not publish this profile for Beverages.
| Tryptophan | 0.00 g |
| Threonine | 0.00 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.00 g |
| Leucine | 0.00 g |
| Lysine | 0.00 g |
| Methionine | 0.00 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.00 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.00 g |
| Valine | 0.00 g |
| Arginine | 0.00 g |
| Histidine | 0.00 g |
| Alanine | 0.00 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.00 g |
| Glycine | 0.00 g |
| Proline | 0.00 g |
| Serine | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is Ensure a meal replacement?
It is designed as a nutritional supplement or partial meal replacement, not a complete substitute for all whole-food meals long-term. It can help bridge nutritional gaps.
Can I drink Ensure every day?
For most healthy adults, it's safe as a supplement. However, it's best used to complement a balanced diet of whole foods, not replace it entirely. Consult a doctor for personalized advice.
Is the sugar in Ensure bad for you?
The sugar provides quick energy, which can be beneficial in certain contexts. However, for those monitoring blood sugar, it's wise to consume it with fiber or fat and be mindful of total daily sugar intake.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.05 kcal/g · 14% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 9.7 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.54 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.