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Redcon1 MRE Lite Review [Best Protein Powder of 2024?]

Sure – it’s a flavor sensation… But will this protein powder keep my raging appetite at bay?

In today’s Redcon1 MRE LITE review, I am going deep inside this meal replacement protein powder and looking at its:

  • effects
  • ingredients
  • flavor, taste and color
  • consistency
  • convenience
  • cost

And more.

I’m also comparing it to Insane Labz Insane Whey.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation if you buy something. Read my full disclosure for more details.

TLDR: Redcon1 MRE Lite Review

🐂 Redcon1 MRE Lite is an animal-based meal replacement protein powder.

🐟 Its whole food protein blend includes protein from beef, salmon, chicken, egg albumin, brown rice and peas.

🥧 It comes in 14 indulgent flavors including Blueberry Cobbler, Banana Nut Bread, Smores and more.

🏆 In my opinion, it beats Insane Labz Insane Whey in flavor and consistency.

🥛 It’s not dairy free though.

➡️ TRY REDCON1 MRE LITE ⬅️

Fun fact: MRE is military lingo for Meal, Ready to Eat.

What is Redcon1 MRE Lite?

Redcon1 MRE Lite is an animal-based meal replacement protein powder that is low in carbohydrates.

It packs 24 grams of protein per serving sourced from:

✅ beef

✅ salmon

✅ chicken

✅ egg albumin

✅ brown rice

✅ peas

While it doesn’t contain any whey, MRE Lite does contain milk creamer.

So it’s not ideal for those trying to avoid dairy in their diet.

MRE Lite is also keto-friendly.

Large 1.92 pound 30-serving black tub of Redcon1 MRE Lite animal based protein powder with a black label reading blueberry cobbler

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review

Pros

  • Indulgent flavors
  • Animal-based protein
  • No whey

Cons

  • Contains dairy

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Effects

Now let me give you a play by play of my experience with MRE Lite.

Let me start of by saying that I fast until about 2:00PM every day.

Then I eat something under 200 calories.

2:15PM: I mix one scoop of Blueberry Cobbler MRE Lite with 6 ounces of water.

2:41PM: I’m officially full.

But I’m not weighed down.

With 130 calories, MRE Lite’s 24 grams of protein have subsided my hunger pangs.

I’m not fantasizing about eating everything in the fridge…

gif of mr bean man with short hair and suit and tie quickly biting chicken drummies in each hand while aggressively raising eyebrows

MRE Lite kept me full until 7PM dinner time.

In other words, I wasn’t hungry for about 5 hours.

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Dosage

Closeup of heaping scoop of Redcon1 MRE Lite protein powder sitting on a wooden block next to a black tub of the MRE Lite protein powder

Redcon1 suggests that you mix one scoop of MRE Lite with 4-6 ounces of your favorite beverage.

I find that it mixes nicely in a shaker with an agitator, or “mixing ball”:

Basically the agitator smooths out the clumps

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Ingredients

Let’s take a look at MRE Lite’s ingredients and nutrition facts.

Note that the ingredients and nutrition facts are for MRE Lite Blueberry Cobbler flavor and may not be the same for all varieties of MRE Lite.

nutrition facts for Redcon1 MRE Lite blueberry cobbler flavor including serving size, calories, vitamins, ingredients and more

It starts with a whole food protein blend consisting of:

🐂 beef protein isolate

🐟 salmon protein

🐔 chicken protein

🥚 egg albumin

🍚 brown rice protein

🌱 pea protein

It finishes off with natural and artificial flavors, milk creamer, cellulose gum, coconut water powder, ground cinnamon, MCT oil powder, maltodextrin, salt, sucralose and acesulfame-k.

Note: Because there is milk creamer, MRE Lite is not dairy free.

Redcon1 MRE Lite Nutrition Facts

Here’s what we’re looking at for MRE Lite Nutrition facts.

Amount% Daily Value
Calories130
Total Fat2g3%
Saturated Fat1g5%
Cholesterol0mg0%
Sodium85mg4%
Total Carbohydrate4g1%
Dietary Fiber1g4%
Total Sugars2g
Protein24g48%
Vitamin D0mcg0%
Calcium24mg2%
Iron2mg25%
Potassium125mg2%

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Flavor, Taste, Color and Consistency

Having never tried MRE Lite before, I decided to try the Blueberry Cobbler flavor.

I mixed one scoop with 6 ounces of water.

The consistency was creamy, but wasn’t too thick.

Pyrex glass pouring water into glass mixed with Redcon1 MRE Lite protein powder next to a giant black tub of MRE Lite protein powder

More like the consistency of a thinner milkshake.

(Now if I wanted something thicker, I could either use less water or mix it with milk instead of water.)

And the taste was…

Luscious.

It tasted just like blueberry cobbler.

I was worried there would be an unpleasant aftertaste like protein powders often have (especially whey ones).

But it didn’t.

MRE Lite Flavors

MRE Lite is available in multiple flavors including:

Blueberry CobblerBanana Nut BreadChocolate Banana
Caramel MacchiatoDutch Apple PieFudge Brownie
Oatmeal Chocolate ChipPeanut Butter CookieSmores
SnickerdoodleStrawberry ShortcakeVanilla Milkshake
Cookies & CreamCake Pop

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Convenience

Redcon1 MRE Lite comes in a large tub that weighs just under two pounds.

So it’s not exactly the best on-the-go container.

A premeasured scoop is included.

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Cost

A 30-serving tub of MRE Lite costs $44.99.

That breaks down to about $1.50 per serving.

But keep your eye out because Redcon1 is almost always having some kind of sale.

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Testimonials

Great breakfast. I drink it at 5am and I am good until 9am. Sometimes also use it as a low cal protein for before bed. Have tried several flavors, all are awesome.

Jerry S.

This is by far the best protein I’ve ever used. It’s much better than all the whey proteins I’ve taken over the years. This protein actually fills you up, no hunger pains after drinking…

Shane D.

Only protein that I will use after my workout.

Danielle B.

Redcon1 MRE Lite vs Insane Labz Insane Whey

Now let’s see how Redcon1 MRE Lite stacks up to Insane Labz Insane Whey protein powder.

sample serving of Insane Labz Insane Whey lean muscle building protein chocolate flavor in black tub with red lid

MRE Lite vs Insane Whey: At a Glance

Here are a few things I look at when considering a protein powder:

Redcon1 MRE LiteInsane Labz Insane Whey
Whey or animal-basedAnimal-basedWhey-based
Protein content24g25g
Flavors143
Cost$1.50 per serving$.83 per serving

MRE Lite vs Insane Whey: Effects

As I mentioned earlier, MRE Lite kept me full for about 5 hours.

I didn’t feel weighed down, and I just wasn’t hungry.

The effects were a little different with Insane Whey.

For starters, Insane Whey has over 34,000% percent of your daily value of Vitamin B12.

You read that right.

Over thirty four THOUSAND percent.

gif of white man with crazed eyes opening and gnashing his teeth and shaking his head

It’s insane… Guess maybe that’s why they call it Insane Whey.

So with that alone my body almost immediately “woke up.”

But I wasn’t necessarily filled up, you feel me?

In fact, I was hungry about 2 hours later, and ended up eating a full meal.

MRE Lite vs Insane Whey: Ingredients

Now I’m not going to get into every ingredient here in MRE Lite and Insane Whey.

Rather, I’ll look at some of the key differences.

As I mentioned earlier, the main ingredient in MRE Lite is a whole food protein blend.

This includes protein from beef, salmon, chicken, egg albumin, brown rice and peas.

On the other hand, Insane Whey’s main ingredient is a whey protein blend.

To clarify, whey is protein found in dairy products. You know, the stuff Little Miss Muffet ate?

Little Miss Muffet (Image courtesy of Tiddles’ Diary)

Insane Whey consists of whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate.

(Whey protein isolate is what you get when you reduce the fat and lactose content in whey. This leaves behind behind mostly protein.)

Supplement facts for insane labz insane whey protein powder in the chocolate flavor including calories, vitamins and more

But Insane Whey has added vitamins such as phosphorous, magnesium, zinc, and…

34,333% of your daily value of Vitamin B12.

Again, I think I found the insane component.

So if you’re looking for that added vitamin boost, Insane Whey may be your preferred protein powder.

MRE Lite vs Insane Whey: Dosage

Redcon1 recommends you mix 1 scoop of MRE Lite with 4-6 ounces of your favorite beverage.

Insane Labz recommends you mix 1 scoop of Insane Whey with 12-14 ounces of cold water.

closeup of scoop of insane labz insane whey chocolate flavor on a wooden block with a small canister of insane whey behind it and blurred out

MRE Lite vs Insane Whey: Taste, Color and Consistency

As I mentioned before, MRE Lite has the consistency of a thinner milkshake.

Admittedly, the color of the Blueberry Cobbler flavor is a little drab.

But that’s because Redcon1 doesn’t use any artificial colors.

In my opinion, MRE Lite tastes great.

It has a clean flavor that doesn’t linger in my mouth after drinking.

Plus, because it’s animal-based, there isn’t that whey aftertaste that I loathe.

Then we have Insane Whey.

I was worried it would have that overwhelming whey taste, so I slammed it down.

But I was pleasantly surprised… it wasn’t so bad!

I think that’s because Insane Labz uses a blend of whey protein and whey protein isolate in Insane Whey.

So that whey taste is less intense than some other whey protein powders that don’t use whey protein isolate.

The consistency was a little thin though.

glass with spoon sticking out filled with brown mixture of Insane Labs Insane Whey and water alongside a small black tub of insane whey with a red lid

And the chocolate flavor was a little lacking.

Overall, it looked like the water from Willy Wonka’s chocolate river.

So while the competition was close, I think MRE Lite comes out a little ahead in this category.

MRE Lite uses animal-based protein so doesn’t taste like whey, is a little thicker and tastes a little better. 🏆

MRE Lite vs Insane Whey: Cost

A 30-serving tub of MRE Lite costs $44.99.

That breaks down to $1.50 per serving.

A 60-serving tub of Insane Whey costs $49.49.

That ends up being about $.83 per serving.

MRE Lite vs Insane Whey: Verdict

In my opinion, Redcon1 MRE Lite is the superior protein powder. 🏆

It tastes better, has a better ingredient profile, and keeps me full for longer.

On the other hand, Insane Labz Insane Whey is whey-based.

So if you’re looking for a whey-based protein powder, you may want to try Insane Whey.

Redcon1 MRE Lite Review: Conclusion

So, is Redcon1 MRE Lite worth it?

I definitely think so.

Not only is it tasty, but it also keeps me full throughout the day.

It can be a little pricier than the competition.

But Redcon1 has sales almost all the time, so you can usually find a good deal.

Readers of this Redcon1 MRE Lite review are also reading:

What is Redcon1 MRE Lite?

Redcon1 MRE Lite is an animal-based protein powder that is low in carbohydrates. It packs 24 grams of protein sourced from beef, salmon, chicken, egg albumin, brown rice and peas. While it doesn’t contain any whey, MRE Lite does contain milk creamer. So it’s not ideal for those trying to avoid dairy. Redcon1 MRE Lite is also keto-friendly. Learn more about Redcon1 MRE Lite in today’s article.

Is MRE Lite dairy free?

No, Redcon1 MRE Lite is not dairy free. One of its ingredients is milk creamer. So MRE Lite may not be the best option for those looking to avoid dairy in their diet. Learn more about the ingredients in MRE Lite in today’s post.

What is animal-based protein?

Animal-based protein is protein that comes from animals. Animal-based protein can include protein from beef, salmon, chicken, egg and beyond. Learn more about the animal-based protein MRE Lite by Redcon1 in today’s post.

What are Redcon1 MRE Lite ingredients?

The main ingredients in MRE Lite include a whole food protein blend of protein from beef, salmon, chicken, egg albumin, brown rice and peas. MRE Lite ingredients also include natural and artificial flavors, milk creamer, cellulose gum, coconut water powder, ground cinnamon, MCT oil powder, maltodextrin, salt, sucralose and acesulfame-k. Learn more about what these MRE Lite ingredients are in today’s article.