Protein shakes and daily nutrient mixes are all the rage right now, and in this Ka’chava vs. Athletic Greens review, we’ll be looking at two different ways of getting your daily dose of vitamins and minerals from a single handy powder.
From ingredients to sustainability and packaging, and not forgetting that all-important taste test, we’ll be carefully reviewing both Ka’chava and Athletic Greens to help you figure out which brand offers the most bang (or nutrients) for your buck and lifestyle. And even if neither product is quite right for you, our Athletic Greens vs. Ka’chava review will help you decide if you need a complete meal replacement shake or if what you’re really after is a convenient boost to what you’re already eating.
Ka’chava vs Athletic Greens
When looking at Ka’chava vs. Athletic Greens, it’s important to realize we’re not comparing like for like.
Ka’chava protein powder is considered a complete meal replacement and, as such, will provide a proper balance of major macronutrients when consumed in place of a usual meal.
Athletic Greens is a supplementary drink that is designed to provide a large proportion of the vitamins and minerals you’re recommended to consume each day when enjoyed alongside a balanced diet.
If you’re finding it hard to fit three healthy meals into your day or you find yourself skipping breakfast three out of five workdays, then a complete meal replacement in your favorite flavor like Ka’Chava – Chocolate could be the solution for you.
Complete meal replacements are designed to fill you up and provide the same level of protein and carbs that you might find in a healthy meal in addition to the vitamins and minerals they are usually supplemented with. This means getting all the nourishment you need from a healthy breakfast at the start of the day is as simple as getting a tasty chocolate shake down you before you head out of the door!
If skipping meals isn’t your issue, but you suspect the healthiness and balance of what you’re eating might not be up to scratch, then the Athletic Greens AG1 powder is more likely to fit the bill as it represents a one-stop solution to getting your recommended vitamins and minerals for the day, without having to make major changes to your diet (or do what amounts to a math test before every meal to make sure it’s properly balanced).
More about the brand
Looking at the cost of these bags and powders, with Athletic Greens coming in at nearly $100, might have you asking, ‘Where’s my Athletic Greens promo code?!’ But bear in mind that you’re purchasing a bulk package, and you get more portions from each purchase.
Athletic Greens works out at about $3.30 per serving, or just over $23 a week if you have one serving a day. Despite the cheaper upfront price, Ka’chava comes in more expensive at about $4.60 per serving or nearly $33 a week at one serving a day. You are getting more for that extra money from Ka’chava though since it’s a fully balanced meal replacement with 25g of protein in each serving.
Pros and Cons for Ka’chava and Athletic Greens
Ka’Chava
- Fully balanced meal replacement.
- Available in five delicious flavors.
- More expensive than comparable products at nearly $5 per meal.
- Flavors can be hit and miss.
Athletic Greens
- No need to miss out on favorite foods.
- One-stop shop for vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Doesn’t provide much protein or other macronutrients.
- Only available in one variety with nothing added to improve the flavor or texture.
Ka’chava Powder vs Atheltic Greens Powder
Ka’chava ingredients and Athletic Greens ingredients are both available in full on their respective websites, but the main difference is that Ka’chava is made up of whole powdered foods which naturally provide each of the required vitamins and minerals and nearly all of the ingredients are organic.
Athletic Greens takes a more scientific approach, and some of the vitamins and minerals are provided by laboratory extractions and combinations. Athletic Greens don’t use any GMO ingredients, but not all of their suppliers are considered organic.
It’s worth noting that Athletic Greens supports the environment in a range of ways and offsets all its carbon production resulting in a net zero carbon footprint. They also rigorously test all ingredients and end products and have sometimes chosen non-organic suppliers due to higher or more consistent quality.
It’s up to you to weigh up which of these approaches fits better with your lifestyle and impact choices when choosing the right product for you.
Athletic Greens and Ka’chave nutrition facts look a little different because the products aren’t aiming to do the same thing.
A serving of Ka’chava will provide you with 240 calories and 25g of protein – about as much as a small to medium-sized meal. Athletic Greens nutrition facts claim it provides a similar vitamin and mineral profile at only 50 calories and a tiny 2g of protein.
The difference is by design, and the calorie and protein content is what the meal replacement designation boils down to – you can replace breakfast with a Ka’chava shake, but you’ll need more than a shot of Athletic Greens to fill you up and provide the energy you need for a busy morning.
Package and sustainability
If you’ve decided between Athletic Greens and Ka’chava, where to buy your preferred product and how the packaging and delivery work are probably your next questions.
The easiest way to buy both products is on their respective websites, but there are limited ranges of both available on Amazon. Purchasing through the websites also allows you to sign up for discounted and simplified subscription services.
As with most bulk supplements and shakes, the technology isn’t there yet to allow for completely recycled, recyclable packaging that stands up to the level of use and protection these products need.
It might seem like a step in the wrong direction to switch to something that comes in plastic packaging when we’re trying to cut down on impact, but it’s worth considering how many servings you get per container and how much packaging this might save on the type of products you normally consume.
Product types
Ka’chava provides one simple product – the Ka’chava meal replacement shake in five delicious flavors. You can purchase either individual bags containing fifteen meals each or sign up for the subscription service and save $10 on every bag.
Athletic Greens only comes in one flavor, but you can also purchase Athletic Greens vitamin D and omega 3 fish oil supplements to get all the goodness that might be missing from your usual diet.
The protein and calories provided by Ka’chava powder make it an easy decision to replace a less healthy or satisfying meal (or fill in for one we always miss out on). But seeing as Athletic Greens doesn’t actually offer a meal replacement product, you might be asking yourself, ‘is Athletic Greens worth it?’ when it doesn’t contain a meal’s worth of fuel for your body.
That depends on what you want to get out of your supplements and what you’re missing from the food you already eat – if you can replace three different vitamin pills and an expensive smoothie every morning with one handy powder, then it probably is!
Quality
When looking at Ka’chava vs. Athletic Greens, an important consideration for every customer will be the quality of the product and ingredients and what something so different from your usual diet might do to your body.
The protein in many meal replacement shakes comes from animal sources such as whey (from milk), but Ka’chava protein comes entirely from plant sources, so you don’t need to worry about any dairy allergies, intolerances, or conflicts with a plant-based lifestyle.
You might be wondering about Athletic Greens’ side effects when the ingredients are so different from your usual diet, and you should always consult a health professional if the diet change you are making is major. But there’s nothing dangerous in AG1 powder or any other Athletic Greens products.
Saying this, though, some customers do seem to have experienced quite alarming changes in the color or consistency of their stools and urine, so (once you’ve got the doctor’s go-ahead) you may want to start with a lower dose to minimize any sensitivities and help your body adjust to the extra nutrients you’re packing into your daily diet.
Ka’chava side effects really amount to the same thing, and you should carefully examine the ingredients for any sensitivities and consult a health professional if you’re ever unsure.
Customer review ratings
Customers are very split on both products, with many simply unable to stomach the flavor or texture of their chosen product and coming up with all sorts of creative descriptions of the taste.
We’ve seen Ka’chava described as tasting ‘like chapati dough’ and Athletic Greens as ‘leaves and dirt’, but this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to protein and supplement shake connoisseurs – there’s only so much you can do to disguise the flavor of such an ingredient-dense product!
The major customer complaint for both companies is the sheer price of their products, with neither coming in as saving on preparing something healthy from scratch, even if they do have convenience going for them.
Ka’chava vs Athletic Green: Editor’s Verdict
Ka’chava vs. Athletic Greens has been an easy editor’s verdict to come to since both products do fairly different things and cater to different needs.
If you’re looking for something to fill in for breakfast and fill you up for a busy morning, then a Ka’chava meal replacement shake is a great place to start.
If you’re not looking to replace any meals and just want a convenient way to add more vitamins and minerals to your diet, then Athletic Greens ticks more boxes.
These aren’t the only options out there in either market though, and if the price is putting you off what seems like a great concept, then it’s worth checking out some competitors when you’ve settled on the right type of powdered shake for you.
