Sprout Essential Shakes: A Parent's Guide to Toddler Nutrition Beyond Formula

Sprout Essential Shakes are plant-based nutrition supplements designed for children aged 12 months and older. Each serve delivers 10g of complete plant protein from a blend of organic fermented pea protein and organic brown rice protein, alongside 28+ essential vitamins and minerals, plant-based DHA, probiotics, and prebiotics.

The shakes are certified organic by Australian Certified Organic (Cert. No. SXC 25155), certified vegan, carbon neutral, and halal certified. They are free from dairy, soy, lactose, gluten, refined sugars, corn syrup, palm oil, and artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners.

Each 700g can contains roughly 25 servings. One serving is 25g of powder mixed with 200ml of water (or plant-based milk if you want a creamier texture).

The key thing to understand: these are supplements, not meal replacements and not infant formula. They are designed to bridge nutritional gaps in a toddler's diet — fill in the protein, iron, vitamin D, and B12 your child might be missing on a picky-eating day. They are not designed to replace breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

The two flavors share most of the same nutritional foundation but have a few meaningful differences worth knowing about.

Sprout Essential Shake — Vanilla contains a 52% plant protein blend (organic fermented pea protein and organic brown rice protein), organic rice starch, organic coconut MCT oil powder, organic inulin (a prebiotic fiber), Sprout's mineral and vitamin blends, organic guar gum and sunflower lecithin for texture, organic steviol glycosides for natural sweetness, algal DHA, and a Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic. Naturally flavored.

Sprout Essential Shake — Chocolate follows the same blueprint but with two key additions: 6% organic cocoa powder for the chocolate flavor, and the protein content sits at 46% (slightly lower than vanilla because the cocoa takes up some of the volume). Both deliver the same 10g of complete plant protein per serve.

Practically speaking:

This is the most common point of confusion for parents already in the Sprout ecosystem. Both products are designed for toddlers 12+ months. Both are plant-based, certified organic, and certified vegan. So which one do you need?

Sprout Organic Toddler Drink (12+ months) is a follow-on toddler formula. It is designed as a continued primary nutrition source for children transitioning out of infant formula, particularly when solid food intake is still developing. It is meant to be a major part of your child's daily nutrition — closer to "milk" in role.

Sprout Essential Shakes are designed as a daily supplement to a varied solid food diet. They fill nutritional gaps for toddlers who are eating solids as their primary food source but may be missing protein, iron, vitamin D, B12, or DHA on inconsistent eating days.

A simple way to think about it: if your toddler is still relying heavily on bottled drinks for nutrition (4–6 servings per day), Toddler Drink is the more appropriate product. If your toddler is mostly eating solid food and you want a once-daily nutritional safety net, Essential Shakes are the right fit.

For a deeper look at the full Sprout product range and how they fit together, read our 2026 Parent's Guide to Sprout Organic.

Essential Shakes are most useful in these scenarios:

Picky eating phases. Toddlers go through stages where they refuse entire food groups — sometimes for weeks at a time. A daily shake provides a baseline of protein, iron, calcium, vitamin D, and B12, so you can stop stressing about whether one bad eating day means nutritional deficiency.

Transitioning out of toddler formula. Some families step down gradually from toddler drink to a regular varied diet. Essential Shakes can fill the nutritional gap during this transition.

Plant-based and vegan families. For toddlers being raised plant-based, ensuring adequate iron, B12, vitamin D, and DHA can require more deliberate planning. A daily shake covers these specific nutrients in one serve.

On-the-go nutrition. Travel days, daycare drop-offs, busy mornings — situations where preparing a balanced meal is not realistic. The shake takes 30 seconds to prepare and provides a real nutritional contribution.

Toddlers with mild dairy or soy sensitivities. Most conventional toddler shakes are dairy-based or contain soy. Essential Shakes are free from both, making them an option for kids with mild sensitivities. (Note: not appropriate for diagnosed allergies — see below.)

Athletic or highly active toddlers. Some toddlers burn through calories faster than they eat. Essential Shakes provide a quick, nutritious calorie and protein boost.

If your toddler is fussy about new flavors or textures, here is a gradual approach:

Day 1–2: Mix half a scoop with 100ml of water or plant milk. Smaller portion, less commitment if they reject it.

Day 3–4: If accepted, move to a full scoop with 200ml. If rejected, try mixing into a smoothie with a familiar fruit (banana, strawberry, or whatever they normally accept).

Day 5+: Try the shake straight up if they have accepted it in smoothie form, or continue using it as a smoothie ingredient if that works better for your family.

If your toddler refuses outright: Try the chocolate flavor instead of vanilla, or use the powder as an ingredient in foods they already eat (oatmeal, pancakes, muffins). Some kids accept the nutrition more easily when it is part of food rather than presented as a drink.

Do not force it. If your toddler genuinely dislikes the taste, that is okay. The shakes are a tool, not a requirement. There are other ways to fill nutritional gaps — food variety, age-appropriate vitamins (with pediatrician guidance), and patience as picky phases pass.

Unopened cans: Store in a cool, dry place and use before the expiration date printed on the can. Jovie expiration dates follow the European format: DD/MM/YYYY.

Opened cans: Close the lid tightly and store in a cool, dry place. Use the contents within 4 weeks of opening.

Prepared formula: Use within 2 hours at room temperature. If refrigerated (at approximately 4°C), use within 24 hours. Do not reheat. Discard any shake left in the cup or bottle after a serving.