In your local gym you’ll likely hear people talking about protein supplements. The powders can be found everywhere: in the lockers, cabinets and even the refrigerators of professional lifters. Amidst the seas of chocolate, vanilla, and other flavors is unflavored protein powder. Some would call it a wallflower among protein powders. It is easy to find, thanks to its plain label.

Imagine you are standing in an aisle filled with supplements. The choices seem endless. Sometimes, just like in a fashionable boutique, a plain white shirt catches the eye. It promises simplicity, and has endless potential. Unflavored powdered protein is what you need to wear. It’s not loud with bright colors or bold flavors. Instead, it is patient because its versatility has much more to offer.

What’s the appeal of a plain option? To begin with, its adaptability comes first. Throw a scoop in your morning coffee to give it a powerful boost. Have you tried blending it into soup? This gives the soup a rich, creamy texture. Your imagination is your only real limit.

Of course, a tasteless product does not mean it is lacking in nutrition. With the same muscle-building qualities as its flavored equivalents, this supplement doesn’t fall behind in the health department. The main ingredients are highlighted. You’re no longer bound by the fate artificial sweeteners or Stevia. Instead, you can take charge of your culinary fate.

The argument is that less really is more. Many protein shakes are flavored and have ingredients that can be as long as a human arm. Some people like to know what they are eating. Simplicity is a great way to eat, as a fine glass water at the summit will show. Oft, the simplest of things are the best.

Jerry, let’s call him. Jerry would come up with these bizarre concoctions. “Today, it’s banana-apple-spinach-oatmeal,” he’d declare, all with a base of unflavored protein. His mixtures became legend. These blends may not have sounded appetizing but they did work. Jerry’s many experiments were a tribute to this multifaceted protein powder. “It feels a bit like cooking, without a recipe. You discover what works.”

It is the ability to please purists that makes unflavored protein so special. Imagine sipping an unflavored smoothie that bursts at the seams with berries’ natural sweetness. It lets raw flavors dance on your palette unhindered. Uncertain of the result, I tried it in an all-fruit blend. To my surprise I was pleasantly surprised by the harmonious balance of each fruit.

This introverted protein is not always part of the conversation about flavor and food. However, they provide a blank-canvas playground for dietary architect–those that appreciate a fresh start. Turning minimalism on its head, they have transformed it into a force. It’s a matter of freedom and not restriction.

What is the bottom line? Unflavored does NOT mean boring. This is more like a trail waiting to be explored by brave explorers. It might not dazzle like double fudge and raspberry chocolate but it does something better: shine a spotlight on your imagination. The quiet friend hiding in the corner is waiting to surprise you.