My Naturopath recently suggested that I increase my protein intake at breakfast after looking at my daily food log and finding that I was coming up short on occasion. Breakfast is usually my meal that’s lowest in protein (lunch and dinner are fine) and he thought that an increase in breakfast protein could help with my energy levels and workout recovery. Knowing that I’m a vegan, he suggested using protein powder as an easy way to sneak in more protein.
I’ve tried all kinds of protein powders and tend to go through phases with them. Sometimes I use them every day for a week and other times I fall off the wagon or just forget to buy it when I run out. I think part of the problem is that I’ve never been able to find one that meets all of my needs. I’m really picky with protein powders! Sometimes they have sneaky artificial sweeteners, too much sugar, taste like dirt, or they just don’t have as much protein per serving as I’m looking for. If I’m going to fork money over for powder, it better be high in protein!
I said I would give his protein-boosting breakfast challenge a try and set out to find the perfect protein powder once again. I remembered Ashley saying that she was really happy with the Garden of Life Raw Protein Powder, so I thought I would give it a try since she gave it rave reviews.
The specs of this protein powder:
- 17 grams of protein per serving (per 1/4 cup scoop)
- Only 80 calories per serving
- Less than 1 gram of sugar per serving
- No fillers, artificial flavours, or synthetics
- USDA Organic
- Probiotic and enzyme blend
- Recyclable container
That is a lot of protein per serving for very few calories!
Ingredient list:
The nutritional profile:
One thing I really like about this protein powder is that there’s no added sugar. I like to be able to control my own sweetener in my smoothies (hello, frozen bananas), so this is a nice change.
What about the taste?
Well, let me just say that it’s pretty earthy, but certainly not the worst protein powder I have tasted (hemp, I’m looking at you).
Don’t expect to add this protein powder into a smoothie without any fruit/sweetener and enjoy the taste. That’s to be expected because there’s no sugar to cover up the taste like in other powders. I would say it’s quite easy to mask the taste with a frozen banana or other fun ingredients. Once I added my normal smoothie ingredients, it was fine!
What I don’t like about this protein powder:
- I’m sure there is iron in this powder, but they don’t report it. As a vegan, this is crucial info for me to know.
- It’s expensive to buy from a natural food store ($40-45), but I found it online from Iherb for $27.97 and you can probably find it cheaper.
- Very slightly chalky and earthy tasting, but again, I don’t think this is a deal breaker for me. It’s much less chalky than some powders I have tried.
I also picked up this Heartland Gold Brown Rice Protein Powder to compare it to the Garden of Life Brand. Compared to Garden of Life, this gives me much more bang for my buck. It has 40 servings per container vs. Garden Of Life’s 28 servings. It’s also about $8 cheaper too.
At less than $1 per 16 grams of protein, I’d say this is a cheap source of protein!
This protein powder has just one ingredient: Organic Compliant, Sprouted, Non-GMO, Brown Rice Protein Concentrate! It’s vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free. I think this would be comparable to the popular Sun Warrior Protein Powder as it’s 100% sprouted brown rice.
It’s 80 calories per scoop and 16 grams of protein. It also has 40% of the RDA for iron which is good for me to know as a vegan.
I also love that it’s a Canadian company based out of Toronto. I was not able to find a website for them though! Suspicious…
The cons?
It’s a bit more chalky than the Garden of Life protein powder, but only slightly more chalky. This was me comparing them side by side, mind you. The flavour is still earthy (remember- it’s unsweetened), but it’s less earthy tasting than the Garden Of Life powder. Unlike GOL, it’s not a complete protein source, but as long as I get a balance of protein sources over the day, it shouldn’t be an issue.
I still have yet to find my perfect protein powder, but I think these are two decent options weighing the pros and cons. I will definitely buy them again.
With one scoop of powder you now have a high protein smoothie base of 17 grams of protein. Add some chia seeds and other smoothie ingredients and you have yourself a smoothie that’s 24-25 grams of protein per serving.
As for my energy levels? I’ve noticed that I don’t get as hungry before lunch as I used to and I seem to be more focused and alert in the morning. I think it’s probably a better balance of carbs/protein/fat for my body’s needs.
Are you a protein powder fan? Which ones have you tried and loved or tried and hated?
Have you tried putting any of these powders in to your oatmeal recipes? Or would that be gross? I’m very inexperienced with protein powders, but looking to increase protein in my breakfast (mostly I eat oatmeal – a lot of your recipes!)…
Hi Amy,
I use about half a scoop of Proteins+ vanilla whey powder by Genuine Health in my overnight oats. It’s only a bit of added protein, but every little scoop helps and I find that amount works with the flavour of the oats for my taste. You could get away with more powder depending on your taste buds or amount of oats.
I use GOL daily but I HATE IT. I think its so gross. I take it only for the protein benefits. I’m pregnant and have to get in 80+ grams of protein and since i’m vegan it makes it tough without supplementing. What did you add to your protein shake when you tried the GOL to make it taste good? I’ve tried several things and think it is just awful. I usually just shake it up with some water and pound it in a few gulps just to get it out of the way. I’d love to know what you did to make that stuff taste good!! FILL ME IN!!
ugh yes – I know what you mean about hemp!!!
just wondering what you put in the mix for the protein shake in the above pictures?? looks so peanut butter-y :)
in case you want to make your own protein powder mix, Emily (Daily Garnish) did a great post!
I really liked this post. I hate to admit it, but I’ve been feeling so fatigued lately. I supplement b12 and use protein powder a few times a week in smoothies and bars (like mama pea’s pumpkin protein bars…yum), but I’ve been drifting off in every class. I really hope it’s not related to a deficiency of some sort. I know I get enough protein…
But iron is a different story. The one time I got it measured, it was a little low. Do you supplement iron? I eat lots of beans and leafy greens but I don’t realistically see it being enough.
I think it’s been almost two years since I purchased the Chai Vega protein powder as I was feeling my energy depleting…However, I chose energy depletion over that horrid stuff. Every now and then I try my hand at it…and the overwhelming powdery texture and NO-chai taste makes me nauseous. I still have it in my cupboard (it’s probably bad by now, hey?)
Maybe I’ll try one of your recommendations…
I really enjoy Leanfit Whey Protein chocolate flavor powder. With 25g of protein and only 1g of sugar and it tastes great! I’ll mix this with almond or soy milk, grab a banana and it sticks with me much longer than my typical bowl of cereal!
I’m true and true loyal to Vega products. The vanilla “Sport” variety is my fave for ramping up protein. Typically I go with chocolate on that kind of thing, but this one has a really nice flavour that I can augment with a spoonful of raw cacao and maybe some organic peanut/almond butter if I want. I’m pretty persnickety with chalkiness and obvious “green flavour” so the fact that I can actually recommend this is kiiiiind of a big deal!
Totally appreciating your review of the Garden of Life product though. I’ve always been curious about it.
I’m a big health nut but I’m not a vegan. I eat meat but I’m allergic to dairy and eggs. I do a lot of weight lifting so I’m big oon getting enough protein. Lately I’ve been trying out plant protein powders, so far my favorite is Life Basics. It is more natural, contains greens, has about 20g protien, and the vanilla has a nice sweet flavor thats not to chalky. I don’t like any brown rice protein powders, the hemp don’t have alot of protein generaly, and the last one I used (Nitrofusion ) had an overpowering flavor (plus my acne got realy bad while I was using it =( Next up is plant fusion.
I love the Jordan Rubin’s Raw Protein! I love that it is not made of just one source (peas, brown rice) but dozens of spouted grains and seeds! I have found it for about $15.00 ($25.00 and then $5.00 off coupons..you can find and print these online) so it’s a super cheap but also really great nutrition protein source! They also have great recipes you can make with the powder! Hope you enjoy!
I’ve never bought a big container of protein powder before, but I’ve tried a few samples. One was Vega Vanilla Almondilla and I was not a fan of the aftertaste at all! The other was About Time chocolate flavour and I really liked that one so I’m considering buying it.
I would love to see some of the creative recipes for protein powder in some future posts! :)
Hi Angela,
I have been following your blog for many months now and absolutely LOVE it! Your recipes are amazing. I’m a Naturopathic Doctor and generally (but not always) vegan. One thing I just wanted to mention that the downside of the Rice Protein Powder (2nd option) is not a complete protein so you would be missing some amino acids ….which is crucial for vegetarians and vegans. The Vega line generally has a combo of proteins as does the garden of life which gives you all the amino acids you need. This would be something to consider when reviewing protein powders! The Garden of Life should have iron in it based on the ingredients but you’re right in that they should really have that in their nutrtional evaluation! take care and I look forward to trying many more of your delicious recipes!
Thank you Rikst. I’m aware of it not being a complete protein (and I noted it in my post). However, I’ve read that it’s not essential to get a complete protein at every meal as long as you get a balance of amino acids over the course of the day.
I think I might actually start mixing the two powders! :)
Sun warrior makes new one called warrior blend and it it more complete (it has pea protein hemp, cranberry protein, coconut) They have neutral flavour with no stevia added so you can try that one. I am just curious why you want to avoid stevia?
Thanks a lot
Hey Sam,
Ive tried Stevia in the past and it gave me bad digestive cramps
These both llok great! Thanks for the heads up! I have a thing of hemp protein waiting for me in the fridge because I didn’t know about the taste when I bought it. Ugh…
I love Sunwarrior vanillia taste , but I jus got my new warrior blend from RawNatureBoy and it was even better. Sunwarrior makes it.
I haven’t tried Sunwarrior protein powder as of yet, but I always always hear the best rave reviews about it! Maybe you would like it? :)
I have been struggling with this same issue – though not so much about taste (seems like if I put enough stuff in my smoothie, the taste is more of all the other ingredients – we never drink the protein powder with just water). I have been searching for the best – and get overwhelmed with the various things out there- wish I could see them all next to each other and compare ingredients/nutrition info. (like you did for us – thanks! – only with many more of them!). Right now we are using Sun Warrior (though do not like the xanthum gum and stevia – my boyz and husband like it) – and hemp protein for me. Have wanted to try vega but have yet to. Also – I feel better about the sun warrior knowing they use the green stevia at least. Thanks for another great post!
Hi Angela,
I like your reminder to try to up the protein at breakfast. I just bought a protein powder for the second time – after many yucky first-time tries with other brands. It`s Genuine Health`s Vegan Proteins Plus in vanilla. It`s a bit stevia-ey so I cut it right in the jar with flax seed meal. I add it to a lot of things: smoothies, homemade ice cream, pancakes, oats, and bars.
Jenna
I forgot to mention that one of the worst ones, in my opinion, is Vega. I took it back to Shoppers for a refund.
The first one is the protein powder I use! I really like it-primarily because it’s from so many different sources so I don’t feel like I’m depending on one plant for my protein-and obviously I don’t want any added sugar. I’ve also tried hemp, which I don’t actually mind, but again, I like that there are so many different sprouts in this. In my absolutely non-fact-based opinion, I think it must be better not to get my protein all from one plant all the time.
Like you I’m very picky about my protein powders and I hate when they have added sweeteners, even if its stevia. I remember trying the nutribiotic powder everyone raved about and it had stevia and I hated it! I rotate between 3 different ones right now and I like them all. 1) Hemp (I know you hate this but I actually like it in oatmeal with celery and a little stevia), 2) Source naturals pea protein (nothing but peas!), very neutral tasting and 3) Southern grace farms protein plus peanut flour (nothing but peanuts). I like all and best of all they don’t hurt my tummy! Hope this helps!
My favorite Vegan protein is Sunwarrior, worth a look. The best sprouted brown rice protein second to none in my opinion.
Hi Angela,
Have you considered mixing two options together? I liked the way Vega green powder made me feel the best, but it tasted terrible and too sweet! So, I mixed it with an unsweetened option and the flavor became totally manageable and I maintained the great benefits Vega had to offer, such as the Maca powder, which is supposed to be wonderful for reproductive health.
Good luck finding your perfect powder! (it may have to be your own special blend!)
Thats a great idea about mixing them!
Rivalus Promasil available at GNC. Its sweetened with stevia and the chocolate one is amazing!!!! Trust me! I sometimes mix some with almond milk and it tastes perfect!! 1 scoop is 90 calories, 0 carbs, 20 grams of protein, 0 sugar and lots of vitamins. DELISH!
Oh, and I’ve also made homemade protein bars with it (and ground flax seed, almond milk, chia seeds, and natural peanut butter…. yum!)
I use Trader Joe’s vanilla flavored sy protein powder im my smoothies. It may have some natural sweetener in it but its very low in sugar and gives you about 15 grams per scoop. I also like the fact it is only $15 (US) for a big container. The worst powder I ever tried was from a bulk bin. It tasted like chalk and was grainy. And who knows what could have also been in there? Now that I think about it, protein powder from a bulk bin sounds a bit shady.
I just bought the Raw protein & used as an add-in to home-made granola bars. Did you refrigerate the powder for storage? I couldn’t find anything on the labeling to recommend cool vs. cabinet.
Sunwarrior is the BEST raw vegan protein powder EVER! Not too earthy or chalky, just right! Please go try!! You might have to order online.
I love Arbonne’s protein powder in both vanilla and chocolate. It has to be ordered online, but it provides 20 grams worth of vegan protein and is gluten-free. It is sweetened with a bit of stevia. It has been useful to me in a variety of applications from smoothies to pancakes. Hope you find the one that works for you.
Have you tried Vega? The Whole food smoothie infusion is quite good and has a pretty stand up nutritional profile
I really like RAW Protein that you highlighted above. Another vegan protein powder that I am currently using is Sun Warrior Raw Vegan Protein. The owners of Chicago RAW vegan restaurant recommeded this brand and I love it! Calories 70 per scoop Protein 16g.
Vega is another great brand as well. Good luck! I use these protein poweder as my breakfast protein souce.
Just curious… who won the book? I’m not sure if I’m overlooking where you posted it.
Thanks!
Hi Angela,
How many grams of protein do you average a day? (Sorry if you already mentioned this in the comments section) I’m trying to figure out if I have the same problem because I’ve been feeling unusually sore after workouts lately. What did your naturopath recommend your daily intake be?
Hi, was reading your blog, hoped to put in a word about my favorite Protein drink… Its New Zealand Whey Protein… chocolate, delicious… 20 g. protein, 6 g. sugars (cane juice, stevia), no gluten, I love this stuff; add it to my coffee and don’t get hungry till lunch time : ) its great in recipes, and a note to Hanna… my son is a body builder… he’s been giving me some of his supplements because I’m 55, clean houses for a living and I have Rheumatoid Arthritis… a few months back I noticed I couldn’t recover after work and would be in bed the next day. My son gave me glutamine and amino acids (I take small doses) and I’m so pleased to say I no longer am down the next day, have way less soreness…. you should really give it a try. Some fitness/nutrition stores have samples for free. God bless you, and thanks for the ideas Angela… oh the cals. are 190 and the fat is 7g. I haven’t gained weight w/it but have gotten more muscle in the shoulders because I mop and vacuum, but that’s okay…
oh, I should add the powder is $20 for 2.62#… : )
@ Hanna… you can take 46 gms. of protein daily, so 2 servings (4 scoops) is fine
Carole, Angela is a vegan…..she doesn’t eat whey
Hi Angela,
I have also tried the Garden of Life Raw Protein and have noted to others the exact word–chalky–in regards to its taste. While it has an amazing nutrition profile, I still didn’t care enough for it taste wise. I probably won’t be buying it. I am interested in trying that Genuine Health Protein Plus that Tina talks about though. Good luck in finding your protein. Please let me know if you find one that really wows you–I’ve been looking forever!
Hey Angela!
I just wanted to chime in. I have found that hemp protein is really great in a green monster, and its green too! I really can’t even taste it past the frozen banana and mango that I usually put in, nutiva has a good organic one and one with fiber as well.
Kelcy
I am a sucker for artificially sweetened protein powders…although recently I tried hemp in baking and it wasn’t bad!
I’ve never tried protein powder before, but I have seen soy protein powder in the bulk section of my store (and I think that’s the ONLY protein powder in the WHOLE store, plus I e-mailed them, and they only said they had soy…) but I would love to try it.
I always tell myself, “try the protein powder. try the protein powder” never worked :\
I think, since I’m a vegetarian, that I should up my protein now :)
I swear by Life Time Nutritional Specialties Lifes Basics Plant Protein in both chocolate and vanilla. It’s affordable and BY FAR much tastier than any other protein powder I’ve tried. Not sure if it has everything you’re looking for, but definitely look it up on Amazon.
Love,
Emily
I’m just finishing up my first container of the Garden of Life powder after Ashley’s raves of it. It definitely has that chalky taste you were talking about. I’ve been halfing my scoops and eating something else with breakfast [or adding nut butter]. It has definitely been helping.
I wish, wish, wish I liked these proteins, but I don’t! I like the Genuine Health Vegan Protein in Chocolate :)
xxoo
My favorites are The GOL one you tried and also the chocolate Sun Warrior one!
xo
Thanks for the great information! I never had protein powder, but so many recipes call for it. I’ll have to give it a try!
I want to try that Garden of Life Raw Protein Powder SO bad!!!! Mesa LOVE protein powder!
I, like Merry (from Oct 25) am not Vegan but am a super health nut and a fitness coach. I workout multiple times a day an found that i SUCK at lunch. I had to find something that was quick, easy, had protein, provided me with energy, and was palatable. After doing much research i have found thati also LOVE Lifes Basics Greens Protein powder. It can be bought at Amazon for CHEAP in comparison to stores and you can get free shipping if you add a mini item to your bag (who doesnt love a mini item) ;-). Anyways, it does the trick, tastes great when .75 svg is mIxed wih 8oz of almond milk & about 4oz water in a shaker! The stats are great and it has done the trick for me and my lack of linching abilities. I have tried many others and in a pinch id go also for Rainbow Lights vanilla protein energizer althogh that is chalky. Oh and i absolutely DISPISE hemp powder alone… GAG! That was almost a major game changer for me with vegan proteins. Good luck and definitely check out lifes basics!
Hi Angela! Thank you for this post. I have started working with a ND recently and have a similar goal to build in more protein into my breakfasts. My question is, what can we do with the protein powder on days when it’s too chilly for a morning smoothie?
Thank you!
I have had success making homemade muesli with oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, dried blueberries, and whatever else you want to add, then adding a scoop of proteing powder and some almond milk. I have also mixed it in with oatmeal or hot breakfast cereals. i don’t know if that affects the integrity of the nutrients to heat the powder, but if you stir it in at the end right before you eat it, that minimizes the heat. Any other ideas out there?
Great post…I love reading reviews on protein powders as I also find it difficult to finds ones I really like..I agree Garden of Life is earthy and a bit chalky..it’s ok in my book. I did like Sun Warrior a bit better and I really like Plant Fusion vanilla bean flavor…amazing in smoothies & raw treats! I use a lot of protein powder in my treats so I have to have one that tastes fairly good on it’s own!
I have been using vegan protein for breakfast for a few years as I grains make me feel sluggish in the morning. I stay full, even after a long bike ride, until lunch. I love Rainbow Light (the choc and acai are best), I cannot get that in the UK so when here I use either Jarrow or Nutribiotic Brown Rice Powder (vanilla) or (the cheapest option…only £9 a kg! pea protein isolate). I use the pea protein in puddings and in my baking too.
Sunwarrior is the best! I make a shake every day and don’t have to worry about having too much soy in my diet!
Good to hear about these brands – I haven’t tried either. For me, the absolute worst was Veganique from North Coast Naturals. The taste was absolutely horrible. My favourite right now is the Vega Performance Protein. Decent taste, mixes well, 120cal, 26g protein. I got a 22 serving container for $54 which is expensive per serving, but often I only do 1/2 a scoop so it evens out. I always get nervous trying new powders since some of them truly are pretty awful.
I got excited to see Garden of Life featured in your photos. It’s one of the protein powders I regularly use. I don’t think there’s anyone who would disagree that it’s a bit chalky. But if you look at the ingredients, both what’s in it and what’s _not_ in it, it’s definitely forgivable. I also like the Nutribiotic Rice Spectrum powder, sprouted brown rice powder fortified with spirulina bound nutrients, and Nutiva hemp protein as an add-on.
All the best on finding your favorite way to fortify the most important meal of the day. :)
I have a love hate relationship with protein powder. I find that any of them that’s flavored have a very strong earthy/chalky flavor but plain or vanilla work best for me since I like to add flavoring to my smoothies (like frozen strawberries).