Disclosed are nutritional powders, including lactose-free powders or other oxidatively sensitive nutritional powders, comprising at least about 400 ppm by weight of ascorbyl palmitate, preferably in combination with at least about 300 ppm by weight of cystine, cysteine, or combinations thereof. It has been found that these powders, especially the lactose-free embodiments, have improved stability as measured by sensory performance and reduced vitamin A degradation during prolonged storage.