Your Guide to Plant-Based Protein Powders

Which plant-based protein powder is the best for your goals? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the enormous amount of variety on the market these days, you’re not alone. This comprehensive guide is here to walk you through the pros, cons, and important details about common vegan protein powders!

Why the Right Product Matters

There are LOTS of different factors to consider when choosing a vegan protein supplement. However, what’s most important is that you select the one that works best for YOU as someone with unique needs and goals. Below are the main variables that I will be using to break down each product:

Protein-to-Calorie Ratio

Before purchasing a protein powder, be sure to check the nutrition label and calculate the percentage of protein per serving relative to the calories. This will ensure that you’re actually buying PROTEIN powder rather than a meal replacement product or weight gain drink.

This is important not only to make sure your getting the best value, but also to ensure this product is helping you reach your protein intake goals WITHOUT overdoing your carbohydrate and fat intake.

To do this calculation, simply look at the nutrition facts of the product. Take the grams of protein per serving and multiply that number by four. This is because there are 4 calories per gram of protein. Then, take that number and divide it by the total amount of calories per serving. Multiply by 100, and there you have it!

% protein = [ protein (g) x 4 / total calories ] x 100

I’d recommend making sure that the protein you choose is at least 70% protein, but ideally 80% or higher.

Digestion

There are a MULTITUDE of different types of vegan proteins out there. Soy, pea, brown rice, hemp, and pumpkin seed just to name a few!

Moreover, there are different sweeteners and other ingredients added to protein powders in order to achieve various flavours, consistencies, and extend shelf-life.

If you have known allergies or sensitivities, it will be critical for you to check the ingredients list of the product to ensure it doesn’t contain anything that won’t sit well with you. And if you feel bloated or uncomfortable after consuming a product, make note of the ingredients, so that you know to try something different for next time.

Taste & Texture Preferences

Luckily, protein powders (even vegan ones!) come in a wide range of flavours and sweetness levels. Some are inevitably more tasty than others. And some have more pleasant textures.

This will heavily depend on your own preferences, but also in application. If you’re adding the protein powder to your smoothies, you might want one that’s flavourless or more bland. Whereas if you’re drinking it straight on its own, then you might want a sweeter one with a smooth consistency.

Budget & Value

Plant-based proteins are generally quite affordable, but obviously there is still a range in price point. If you’re consuming this product multiple times per day, then you may want a more cost-effective option. But if you use it more sparingly or aren’t on as tight of a budget, then more choices will be available to you.

1. PVL Plant Protein

A tried-and-true vegan protein that you can’t go completely wrong with!

2. Beyond Yourself Vegan Protein

The GOAT of vegan protein during prep. One of my all-time favourites for sure.

Protein-to-calorie ratio: 77% protein with 20 grams and 104 calories per scoop. A decent choice for sure, especially while cutting due to its low calorie formula.
Digestion: a blend of brown rice and pea protein, making this product free of common allergens. Digestion is enhanced by the addition of MCT oil and the powder is sweetened with stevia.
Taste & Texture: personally my favourite flavours because I’ve got a sweet tooth… but maybe not the right fit for you if you can’t tolerate anything too sweet. The texture is also far superior in any application, and all flavours are uniquely very tasty!
Budget & Value: incredibly affordable and available in value sizes! $84.99 for 1.83 kilograms, which works out to around $0.071 per gram of protein.

3. Blessed Vegan Protein

Click the photo above to watch my full reel where I make a super quick high-protein breakfast with Blessed Protein!

Protein-to-calorie ratio: 71% protein with 23 grams and 130 calories per scoop. Not the best, not the worst.
Digestion: a pea protein isolate, making this product allergen-free, but also contains nothing to enhance digestion. Sweetened with stevia.
Taste & Texture: a great choice if you’re looking for a wide variety of fun flavours! From banana bread, to chocolate peppermint, starwberry mylk, and rocky road. This product definitely hits the mark in terms of creativity. Texture is good, but the powder tends to be quite sticky when handling.
Budget & Value: pretty good price! $59.99 for 1.1 kilograms, which works out to around $0.087 per gram of protein.

4. ANS Performance FRESH1 Vegan Protein

A solid choice if you’re looking for rich flavours!

Protein-to-calorie ratio: 70% protein with 21 grams and 120 calories per scoop. This is the bare minimum percent protein I’d be willing to accept in a protein powder.
Digestion: made from five sources —pea, brown rice, lentil, pumpkin seed, and quinoa! Sweetened with stevia and monk fruit, and only natural flavouring. Nothing digestively unique or enhancing, but also nothing that commonly causes digestive disruptions.
Taste & Texture: flavours are quite rich and bold, so definitely not a great choice if you need something more subtle. The texture is smooth and creamy, but it’s quite thick compared to others that are more light and airy.
Budget & Value: decent! $49.99 for 885 grams, which works out to around $0.079 per gram of protein.

5. Ghost Vegan Protein

Fun flavours if you’re looking to change things up!

Protein-to-calorie ratio: 70% protein with 21 grams and 120 calories per scoop. Again, definitely on the low end of my personal acceptable range, but still a great choice.
Digestion: a blend of pea, pumpkin seed, and watermelon seed protein. It does contain both natural and artificial flavourings for those who are trying to avoid artificial. Sucralose sweetened.
Taste & Texture: really interesting, tasty flavours such as peanut butter cereal milk, coconut ice cream, strawberry shortcake, and Cinnabon just to name a few. Highly recommend incorporating into pancake or waffle batter!
Budget & Value: a little more boujee! Usually around $69.99 in Canada for 989 grams (depending on flavour), which works out to around $0.119 per gram of protein.

Summary

Ultimately, any of these options are fantastic sources of plant-based protein. They all have upsides and downsides depending on what you’re looking for. Plus, there are SO many other amazing products out there that I have yet to try —so eventually I’ll need to make a part two on this topic.

To recap all of the above:

• PVL Plant Protein —highest protein-to-calorie ratio & easy-digesting.
• Beyond Yourself Vegan Protein —best value, superior taste and texture, & smoothly digests.
• Blessed Vegan Protein —crazy fun flavours for a decent price.
• ANS Performance FRESH1 Vegan Protein —bold, dense, & quite economical.
• Ghost Vegan Protein —unique flavours & great for use in baked goods.

For more amazing vegan protein sources (other than just protein powder), read my full post on my TOP 5 plant-based protein sources for FAT LOSS here!

Need More Help?

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