Protein Shake options/help

I too like the Syntrax Nector!  They make a couple "natural" flavors also.

I liked the Unjury chocolate -- mixed it with a little bit of coffee and the res****er -- to make a mocha drink.  I think that the coffee flavor helped to 'kill' some of the yucky protein taste.

As far as not eating carbs alone, that is a GREAT tip -- and something that I did while I was losing weight.

If I wanted crackers, I had just 5 or 6 low-fat wheat thins with a piece of cheese instead of 20 crackers
If I wanted an apple, I had 1/2 an apple with a little peanut butter
when I have cereal -- it is with milk
chips (when I have them) with a greek yogurt based dip

Carbs (especially flour-based carbs) cause our blood sugar to rise -- and then fall pretty rapidly when they are eaten alone -- so, we get a little 'high' then a 'low' and go seeking more flour-y carbs -- vicious cycle.

When you add some protein and even a little fat to your meals, the carbs raise your blood sugar, but the protein helps to keep it level longer -- so you don't have the sharp spike and the quick crash.