The Bee’s Knees Protein Bar is located inside of the LA Fitness Gym on 3827 Overland Avenue, so it’s not immediately obvious where it is if you’re not looking for it. But don’t be put off, if you’re not a gym customer. This writer prefers street running for exercise, rather than the indoor pressures and stifled vibes that he finds in a gym. Of course, that’s subjective.
But anyway, regardless of your feelings about gyms, the Bee’s Knees Protein Bar is worth dropping in for. The staff are warm, helpful and judgment-free.
“Here at the Bee’s Knees, we specialize in meal replacement shakes with a high dosage of protein along with fresh fruits and finished off with a selection of boosters, ranging from L-carnitine to aid in weight loss to Glucosamine for joint support,” they say online.
All of which means that Bee’s Knees care about more than the flavor. Their shakes aren’t just going to be syrup, milk, ice-cream and/or sugar. They use ingredients, some of which you might not be familiar with, with the intention of improving your health.
Glucosamine, for example, is a natural compound found in cartilage. Carnitine is a substance that helps the body turn fat into energy.
All of that said, the flavor does matter and Bee’s Knees knows this. A quick glance at their menu proves that a lot of care goes into the shakes. Names like Body Builder, Mr. Olympia, and the Recover’r are packed with a variety of fruits and various other health-based ingredients.
We opted for the Strawberry Colada, which lists strawberry, mango, glutamine and whey protein as its ingredients. We wanted to go the vegan route, and Bee’s Knees has options; they swapped the milk-based whey protein for a pea protein and it didn’t adversely affect the flavor at all.
In fact, the whole thing was delicious. Naturally (in every sense), the strawberry and mango blends beautifully into a sweet and vibrant fruity concoction that not only tastes like a delightful treat but makes you feel good afterwards.
The shake is filling – the “meal replacement” that they mentioned online. The protein helps with that. This isn’t a drink that you would normally have alongside your main meal. This is a lunch-on-the-go, for those not looking to deprive themselves of flavor but absolutely wanting to watch what they’re consuming.
It would work as an addition to an exercise regiment, or just as a tasty shake. Either way, you’ll feel better after it.
Bee’s Knees Protein Bar is located at 3827 Overland Ave., Culver City 90232. Contact 424-345-5530.