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?
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).
I like protein shakes and really notice a difference if I include them in my diet on a daily basis. I find that I go in phases though.. I’ll drink them for awhile and then maybe the next month, I find it hard to even take a sip of one.
I was so glad to read this post! I have also been looking for ways to boost my protein in the morning and after workouts. I’m not vegan (or vegetarian for that matter) and meat is sooo unappealing to me in the mornings! I’m cheap and haven’t wanted to invest in the $25 and up powders without trying them first. I like the Jillian Michael’s powders, which run around $10-$14. They are a little higher in sugar than the ones you reviewed but not nearly as bad as that Muscle Milk crap. So many of the regular grocery store brands are so syrupy sweet! I also just bought the Trader Joe’s brand but have yet to try it.
Hi Angela –
Adore your blog – I’m a Port Credit girl transplanted to Nova Scotia – I miss TO on some levels – esp. Fall…
Okay – I am a Sun Warrior – HOWEVER – I add Prairie Naturals Blueberry Greens to all of my protein drinks along wigth the SW powder. Love it.
I’ve tried them all girl…really. But it’s subjective right? My fave flave is Vanilla SW. Maybe a combo of 2 powders? G of L Raw and SW???
You are so inspirational – I have battled through eating disorders and other body issues…now, as with you, and many others – I find that being kind to myself is the foundation of my own personal acceptance….
Thank you for you mind, your talent, and for all you offer here.
– Natasha
Thank you Natasha, Im so happy to hear that!
It’s so hard just to find reasonably priced vegan protein powders (especially without soy) let alone ones that taste good! I have used Spirutein in the past and love the flavor, but prefer to control my sugar intake too and prefer to avoid soy when I can. So I switched to Jarrow Brown Rice Protein Powder, it’s ok, kind of chalky though. :( Didn’t you like Amazing Grass before, I’d love to see you review that!!
BTW: How in the WORLD do you get your smoothie so luscious and thick? Do tell!!
Thanks!!
I’ve tried almost all vegan protein powders and the best in my opinion is Harmonized Vegan Protein powder in Vanilla or Berry! It’s the best tasting, by far one of the best nutrient profiles I’ve seen. Have you ever tried it?!
To just say thank you for this post is an understatement, but that’s all I got. So, THANK YOU!!
Yeah I definitely like using protein powders. I add a bit into my oats in the morning for more staying powder or whip up a fruit smoothie for a snack. Just bought the sun warrior brown rice vanilla flavour, and must admit it is very good! Only a very slight chalky taste, but mixes really well. Not a huge fan of pea protein, and try to avoid having too much soy as well. Also been experimenting with using protein powder in baked goods. Peas and Thank You is my go to site for ideas on protein baking :)
Angela,
I love GOL’s raw protein, it’s the only one we use any more. I tend to be the same way as you with using it for a while then kind of forgetting ;)
I’ve tried a bunch over the years, this is the only one that I love. I actually like the taste! I like that it has no added sweetner and is raw and sprouted. I buy ours from the Vitamin Shoppe $29.99 (not sure if you have that in Canada?), keep your eyes open for $5.00 off coupons in books and mags, I always seem to find them, thankfully.
This might not be an option for you, but why not just add nuts or beans to your oatmeal? If you can cover beans up in mashed potatoes, then you can certainly do it in oatmeal. When I need to add extra protein into my diet, I just throw a tablespoon of nut butter in my morning oatmeal for an instant, all-natural protein boost. Some favorite combos: banana and cashew, peanut butter and berry and peanut butter and chocolate : )
I used to work for a local smoothie shop, and when I added Sun Warrior to my smoothies there, it tasted chalky, and I actually liked that about it (it also could have just miraculously been the concoction I had created that matched nicely with it). But, when I’m at home, I am more picky with Sun Warrior – yet it is the best by far I’ve tried. I got a different vegan one from my naturopath and let’s just say it was only used once. It taste disgusting; so disgusting that I won’t even dare experimenting with it. Precious waste of my other value ingredients then!
Can I ask what are your “go to” protein sources for lunch and dinner?