When it comes to getting protein on a plant-based diet, people tend to become concerned. “Will I eat enough protein-rich foods to get my daily requirement?” “Is it even possible to reach the ideal daily intake of protein without meat or dairy?” “What is the best way to get my protein?” These questions are all valid. While it is certainly possible to get enough protein by eating protein-rich foods like peas, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, legumes, nuts, and seeds, we know that not everyone always has the time to make nutritious meals every day. That’s where vegan protein powders come in handy.
For many years, whey protein powders reigned supreme in the protein powder sector, but this is no longer the case. Nowadays, there are protein blends made from pea protein, hemp, rice, vegetables, and fruits that pack just as much nutrition, protein, and amino acids as whey, if not more! Plus, since there’s no whey or dairy, there’s less of a chance that these powders will cause any pesky digestive problems. Not sure where to start on your vegan protein powder hunt? These 15 powders available online should help!
NutriBiotic Rice Protein Powder is a gluten-free protein powder made through an enzyme process which extracts rice protein from whole grain, sprouted brown rice. NutriBiotic also adds a bit of natural vanilla flavor. The powder is made without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and GMOs. Each serving (one heaping tablespoon) contains 12 grams of protein and 60 calories. Each tub contains 90 servings. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is easy to digest, low fat, provides long lasting energy, and is a good choice for allergy-prone customers. Reviewers have mixed this powder into smoothies and yogurts, and even into oatmeal, pancakes, and sweet baked goods.
Now Sports Pea Protein is a non-GMO vegetable protein that is made 100 percent from non-GMO pea protein isolate, from yellow peas. According to Now Foods, pea protein is high in branched chain amino acids and is considered to have the highest biological value of any protein source. Each serving of this powder (one level scoop) has 24 grams of protein and 120 calories. The reviews on this product are mixed. While almost all of the reviewers have said that this powder digests easily, people are pretty split on the product flavor and texture-wise. Some have found ways to mask the subtle pea taste adequately (or accept it), others feel that the flavor is too pronounced and that the texture is noticeably gritty. To see how you feel, you can get one two-pound tub for $19.
Orgain Organic Protein Powder is a gluten-free, soy-free, and non-GMO protein powder made from a blend of organic brown rice, hemp, chia, and pea proteins, as well as sunflower oil, cocoa, and a few other ingredients. Each serving (two rounded scoops) has 21 grams of protein and 150 calories. Reviewers are saying that this protein powder is “clean,” that it mixes wonderfully into smoothies, and curbs hunger. You can get one two-pound tub for about $20.
Plant Fusion Cookies N’ Creme is a soy-free and gluten-free protein powder made from fructose, cocoa, natural cookies and creme flavor, glycine, stevia, silica, and natural flavor. Plant fusion has also added amino acids and enzymes to the mix to make it easier to digest for customers. Each one-scoop serving has 21 grams of protein and 120 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is delicious, isn’t chalky or gritty like other brands on the market, and has a nice range of protein sources. You can get one two pound tub for a little more than $30.
Want to get a good dose of protein and probiotics in one fell swoop? If so, consider checking out Garden of Life Raw Organic Chocolate Protein Powder. It is made from raw natural chocolate flavor, raw organic cacao, raw organic stevia, and raw natural flavor. It is organic, non-GMO, kosher, gluten-free, and soy-free, and has four grams of branched amino acids, three billion live probiotics, and 13 enzymes. Reviewers are reporting that this powder blends nicely into smoothies, is high quality, and that even the unflavored variety is tasty. You can get one 23-ounce tub for $30.
Paradise Maca Up combines the power of pea protein isolate and organic brown rice protein concentrate with the superfood benefits of organic maca root powder. It also contains heart-healthy oat bran fiber, natural vanilla flavor, enzyme flour, and luo han guo, a sugar alternative native to Southern China and Northern Thailand. Each scoop has 21 grams of protein and 121 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is clean, energizing because of the maca, tastes good, and improves digestion because of the oat bran fiber. You can get one 14.82 ounce tub for $20.50.
Sneak some veggies into your diet with Vega Protein and Greens. This protein powder is made from a blend of proteins – pea, saviseed, hemp, and brown rice – natural French vanilla flavors, alfalfa grass powder, spinach powder, broccoli powder, and kale powder. Each one scoop serving has 20 grams of protein and 110 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is rich in flavor, nutrient-dense, and expensive but high-quality. You can get one 26.8-ounce tub for about $27.
Mix some protein-rich ancient grains into your smoothies with Blenditup Protein+ Smoothie Mix. This powder is made with the following organic ingredients: soybeans, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, chia, a blend of vitamins, natural flavor, and dried stevia leaves. Each serving contains 14 grams of protein and 120 calories. Blenditup shares that this powder is flavorless and therefore blends seamlessly into breakfast bowls, smoothies, yogurt, and juices. Reviewers are reporting that this powder adds a creaminess and sweetness to smoothies and is energizing. You can get one 24-ounce tub for a little over $30.
Sun Warrior Warrior Blend is a soy-free blend of protein from sources like hemp, pea, and goji berry. This blend has no artificial flavors or colors and has a full amino acid profile. Each serving has 19 grams of protein and 100 calories. Reviewers report that this powder tastes good, blends well into smoothies, and provides a hefty amount of nutrition for the price. However, there are a few things worth noting. The pea protein used in this powder is imported from China, a few reviewers have found that the stevia flavor in this powder is too pronounced and takes a lot to mask and that the texture can sometimes be chalky. If you’d still like to try it, you can get one 2.2-pound tub for $45.
Nature’s Sunshine Love and Peas is a protein-rich meal replacement made primarily from a blend of powders: pea, adzuki beans, rice, black bean, garbanzo. Each serving has 20 grams of protein and 180 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is filling and blends wonderfully in smoothies, non-dairy milks, and even a glass of water. Some reviewers have also shared that this powder can help alleviate symptoms of IBS. You can get one eight-ounce package for about $24.
MRM Veggie Protein is a low-glycemic powder made from a blend of proteins – pea, hemp, chia, brown rice – flax seed, chia seeds, alkaline processed cocoa, xylitol, and a blend of fruits and veggies. Each serving has 22 grams of protein and 130 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder has a good level of sweetness, blends well into drinks and even baked goods with no chalky residue, and is energizing. You can get one 20.1-ounce tub for about $15.
Naturade Vegan Smart is a nutritional shake powder made from a blend of proteins – pea, hemp, chia, potato, chlorella – 18 different amino acids, a whole food veggie and fruit blend, a fiber and omega blend, a digestive enzyme blend, prebiotics, as well as cocoa powder and some sweeteners like organic cane sugar and stevia. Each two-scoop serving of this powder has 20 grams of protein and 170 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is easy to digest, has a good flavor with no aftertaste, and is good for recuperating after a workout. You can get one 24.3-ounce tub of Chocolate, Vanilla, or Chai, for about $24.
Daily Burn Fuel 6 is a soy-free and gluten-free protein powder made from sprouted whole grain rice protein, pea protein isolate, hemp protein, quinoa protein, artichoke protein, and sacha inchi protein, and is sweetened with cocoa, organic dried cane syrup, and organic stevia leaf. Each serving has 24 grams of protein and 170 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is delicious, filling, and is not gritty at all when mixed into smoothies and drinks. You can get one 28-ounce tub for $30.
Sprout Living Epic Protein is a multi-source plant protein powder made from sprouted brown rice, yellow pea, sacha inchi, cranberry seed, lucuma fruit, cinnamon, ginger, and a few other ingredients, and is sweetened with stevia leaf. Each serving has 19 grams of protein and 120 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder is great for a raw vegan who wants a bit more protein in their diet, is not overly sweet, and has a nice variety of protein sources. You can get one 16-ounce package for about $30.
Healthy Skoop is a gluten-free and soy-free protein powder and meal replacement made out of hemp, pea, and brown rice proteins, four cups of fruits and veggies per serving, one billion probiotic organisms, plus one gram of prebiotic fiber. It is sweetened with coconut sugar and stevia leaf. Each serving has 20 grams of protein and 140 calories. Reviewers are reporting that this powder creates creamy drinks, is energizing, and has a clean profile of proteins. You can get one 13.8-ounce tub for about $36.
Lead image source: Mango Lassi Blueberry Smoothie