The Men’s Health Sports Nutrition Awards 2025

A regular MH award-winner, Form remains the undisputed champ of plant-based protein. Made with a nutritionally complete blend of pea, pumpkin seed and brown rice, it’s gentle on digestion and offers 30g of the good stuff per 150 calorie serving.

With 20g of protein in every serving, minimal sugar and under 90 calories, this easy-drinker is perfectly palatable any time of day. We like Peach Tea but there are more than 15 fruity flavours to choose from, including Blood Orange and Strawberry Kiwi. The powder mixed well and is a fresh alternative to milky blends.

Your new fridge staple, this moreish, milkshake-like drink is plant-based, packs in 20g of protein and uses only real ingredients – or ‘no cr*p’, in Grounded’s own words. Both the Mint Choc and M*lk Chocolate are delicious. This ticks the sustainability boxes, too, thanks to 100% recyclable packaging.

The texture of this one won us over; the powder blends easily with water for a drink that packs in 20g of protein and 3.6g of BCAAs – a winner for vegans and dairy-drinkers alike. Blend with ice cubes for a zero-sugar slushy to start your post-gym recovery.

We’d expect nothing less than a podium finish from athlete, gym owner and former MH cover star Ollie Marchon’s brand. With 24g of protein, a solid amino acid profile and minimal carbs and fats, this mixed well with both water and milk. We’re fans of the Salted Caramel.

No brand beats Grenade for its flavour range. The Oreo collab is always an MH favourite – complete with a biscuit layer and a smooth chocolate coating, it offers the perfect level of sweetness and a satisfyingly crumbly texture. It’s also very low in sugar and dishes up 21g of protein for a modest 233 calories.

A favourite snack of the office vegans, Barebells bars taste more like confectionery than ‘protein’ (yes, protein does have a taste, and no, it’s not a good one). These bars are very low in sugar – not a given for plant-based brands – and tops up your macros with 15g of protein. Both the Salty Peanut and Hazelnut Nougat are winners.

If you’re a salty sweater and/or an endurance athlete, you’ll know water alone doesn’t always cut it – particularly when the temperature starts to rise. The pink grapefruit-flavoured sugar-free tabs from High5 are our favourites – they taste great and pack in 250mg of sodium per serve.

Look, obviously you should be aiming to get your five-a-day from food. But some days blanching batches of greens isn’t practical. Shreddy crams in over 30 veg, including kale, broccoli and everyone’s favourite, Brussels sprouts, for a fast nutritional top-up. It’s good for your gut, too, thanks to 5bn probiotic bacteria.

Some days you want something other than a chocolate bar. For on-the-go goodness, these date and cashew-based snacks contain 7g of plant protein per bag, along with 3g of fibre and vitamins B12, C and D3. They also come in at just under 200 calories per pack.

Tenzing is our go-to for a milder mid-morning pick-me-up. One can contains 160mg of caffeine from green tea and green coffee, along with vitamin C and electrolytes. There is a bit of sugar in this one, but at least you’ll be able pronounce most of what’s on the ingredients list.

These provide l-citrulline for delaying fatigue, as well as B vitamins and 30mg of caffeine per gummy – so you can dose it out according to how you feel. If you’re caffeine-sensitive, or like to train after work, they won’t leave your skin itching or eyeballs vibrating before bed.

Not keen on pills? The simple solution lies in this pocket-size peppermint-flavoured spray. Just one spritz on the inside of your cheek delivers a whopping 3,000iu of vitamin D to bolster your immune system during the darker months. It’s also formulated to deliver the D directly into the bloodstream.

CBA to scoop, shake or stir? C4’s refreshing energy drinks are ideal for guzzling en route to the gym (our team liked the Skittles flavour best). It delivers a decent dosage of caffeine – 200mg per can – as well as beta-alanine and B vitamins. Probably better for your training days than chugging at your desk.

It’s pricey, but this really is an all-in-one: it contains the omega-3 fats DHA and EPA – helpful if you don’t like taking multiple capsules – alongside 18 essential nutrients, such as iron, zinc, selenium vitamin A and C and the full B complex. Vitals+ is backed by reams of science plus each capsule is free from bulking agents.

For those who prefer solids to gels, Veloforte’s gummy sweets, which provide 44g of carbs and a hit of electrolytes, are a good bet. They have a subtle flavour, a melt-in-the-mouth texture and are made with natural ingredients: water, fruit juice, beetroot sugar, coconut, cinnamon and Himalayan salt.

If, like us, you find super-sweet gels a little overwhelming, you’ll appreciate the neutral flavour of this one. The thick consistency also means you’ll avoid a mid-race mess. Each sachet contains simple ingredients – water, sugars and minerals – with no unnecessary chemicals. Plus, if it’s good enough for Sir Mo Farah…

This potent pre-workout contains a long list of active ingredients that have been shown to aid performance. They include caffeine, beta-alanine, BCAAs and creatine, to assist with power output. It keeps the MH staffers pushing hard, even during the most demanding WODs. We like the zingy lemon flavour.

Co-founded by George Heaton of British clothing brand Represent, this packs 500mg of salt, along with potassium and magnesium, and is calorie-free. Citrus-flavoured and lightly carbonated, it tastes a bit like a margarita, but is much more socially acceptable to drink at your desk.

In addition to key electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, sodium), these tablets contain 18 essential vitamins and minerals to support overall wellbeing. They dissolved well and the mango flavour was a hit with our team. Make sure not to overdo it if you’re already taking a daily multivit.