The Protein Powder Advantage
I know I’ve lamented on the annoying-ness of getting asked “but how do you get enough protein?” before, and I truly believe that you can easily get enough protein from vegetarian sources, without having to use protein powder. There are so many amazing plant based sources of protein, you just have to be aware of what you’re eating. (And shouldn’t you do that anyway?)
But lately, I have been using protein powder, something I wasn’t a fan of before.
I didn’t use protein powder because:
- I thought it tasted gross
- I wasn’t trying to “bulk up”
- I didn’t have any trouble getting enough protein from plants!
As it turns out, protein powder can be quite tasty, particularly when its mixed into other things. Protein powder will not make you “bulk up” but it can help build lean muscle! While I can get protein from lots of plant sources, sometimes protein powder is just more convenient!
Which protein powder should I get?
It’s up to you! I prefer the taste of whey protein, but when I was a vegan I tried rice protein (I wasn’t a fan) and soy protein. It’s definitely worth spending $20 on protein powder you love, than $10 on protein powder you’ll never use.
My favorites are About Time, Jay Robb, and Designer Whey. You can order these online, or at the regular grocery store.
What do I do with it?
To be honest, I don’t like drinking it plain. I think its more fun to spice up other things with it!
- Mix it with greek yogurt
- Add it to a “milkshake”
- Make these protein packed muffins
Apple Cinnamon Protein Muffins
Makes 6 large muffins or 12 mini muffins
- 1/3 cup apple sauce
- 1/3 cup egg whites
- 1/4 cup greek yogurt
- 1 and 1/2 scoops protein powder (any kind would work, but I used vanilla!)
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup sugar free vanilla syrup (or 6-8 packets of stevia, or 1/4 cup honey/agave)
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
Heat oven to 350. Mix everything together (doesn’t matter the order) until well combined. Line your muffin tin, preferably with foil liners (they won’t stick so much) and add about 1/4 cup batter to each muffin liner. Bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. These muffins will be super dense and moist, thanks to the applesauce and yogurt. And the egg whites and protein powder give it a little kick of protein! They’re really dense, but also filling and delicious!
Each full size muffin only has 60 calories + 5g of protein. Not bad, right?
I do use protein powder, and I love it–although I agree, it’s not a big deal to get enough protein from plant sources alone. It’s great in smoothies, as it makes them a complete meal. I love sprinkling hemp protein powder on salad, as I love the taste and, again, just makes it a little more complete. Tasty in baked goods too, and what’s wrong with more justification for that extra muffin? ;D And ugh, rice protein powder alone? Awful. But combos that have rice/hemp/pea/etc. proteins are typically much better.
I loveee protein powder! Whey is definitely my favorite. I tried a raw kind once and didn’t like it. And I most definitely agree that it’s worth the extra money to buy a great kind!
I’ve never tried the raw ones! I didn’t like rice or soy… but whey seems to be the best tasting in my opinion!
I don’t have any on me at the moment, but I’ve had some before that works well in oatmeal. Gives it a little flavor… 🙂
Oh man…those muffins sound great!
This may be the single most question I HATE getting asked by people when I tell them that I’m a vegetarian. I’ve been really good at incorporating protein powder into my breakfast and post-workout meals. The Tone It Up protein pancakes are my favorite, but these muffins look delish. I’ll have to give them a try 🙂
I don’t consume protein powder too often, mostly becasue I don’t think of it! However, I do like adding it to baked goods like here, smoothies, and oatmeal as well!
I don’t know what I would without protein powder. My favorite is Sunwarrior regular or warrior blend – it’s the tastiest raw/vegan powder I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot!). I probably use at least 2 scoops a day to get in all my protein requirements. I love making chocolate protein pudding with cocoa powder, protein powder, greek yogurt, and a splash of almond milk!
I’ve heard SUCH good things about Sunwarrior! I definitely need to try it!
This recipe is just what I needed! Definitely making these soon 😀
Yum!! I love the idea of blending it into iced coffee!
Oh man I could have written this post myself! Although I know that I could meet my protein requirements through food alone, I genuinely enjoy the taste of protein powder (Vanilla Sunwarrior)! I love it mixed in yogurt, stirred into overnight oats, and blended in my iced coffee!