A buyer’s guide to purchasing the best protein powder.
Hey there! 🙂 I’m hitting the blog today with a review of eight protein powders (plant-based and non), talking about everything from taste to texture to price, so you know what to expect before your first shake!
I’ve been wanting to write this post forever because as someone who’s very picky with their protein powders, I would have loved a recommendation. I’ve tried just about everything out there and have recently found some of my favorites. So let’s dive in!
Protein is the one macronutrient that’s most important to me, whether it comes from food (lean meats, legumes or dairy) or from a powder. My rule of thumb is to try to have some sort of food-based protein with each meal and then supplement a workout with powder.
There’s no denying the benefits:
- helps build stronger hair, nails and bones
- helps with muscle repair (important for workout recovery)
- makes you feel satiated and full
- stabilizes blood sugar
Unfortunately, it’s hard to hit the recommended number of grams you need per day (unless you’re eating a chicken breast at every meal!) And that’s where the powders come in.
I have a protein drink after every workout, but powder can be used in a lot of different foods as well. The most common is smoothies, but if you get an unflavored protein (with the right texture) you could throw it in any liquid based food – soup, guacamole, yogurt, energy balls, even dessert! So what’s the best, most versatile protein powder?! Let’s find out!
I’ve given each protein powder an A – F grade based on following criteria: (really scientific stuff 😉)
- Taste
- Texture
- Consumption (in water verse in smoothies)
- Nutrition
- Ingredient
- Price
And here’s what I found!
**These are my own opinions and this review is intended to help you decide what protein would be best for you!
Gold Standard Whey (extreme milk chocolate) = B
- Taste: best tasting protein – sweet, chocolaty, light, comes in many flavors
- Texture: fine powder, not grainy
- Consumption: tastes good with water (what I have after workouts) and also blends well with almond milk and in smoothies
- Nutrition: 1 scoop (30.4 g) = 120 calories – 1 g fat – 3 g carbs – 1 g sugar – 24 g protein
- Ingredients: whey protein, not organic, has natural and artificial flavors :/
- Price: 2 lbs for $29.98 (cheapest on Amazon)
Vital Proteins Collagen (unflavored) – A
- Taste: unflavored (but can taste it in plain water), comes in different flavors
- Texture: fine powder, not grainy
- Consumption: can taste a little tang in plain water, great in smoothies, coffee, soups, etc.
- Nutrition: 2 scoops (20 g) = 72 calories – 0 g fat – 0 g carbs – 0 g sugar – 18 g protein
- Ingredients: collagen peptides (grass-fed), lots of amino acids 👍🏼
- Price: 1.25 lbs for $43 (price consistent across Amazon or Vital Proteins website)
Vega Sport (vanilla / chocolate) – F
- Taste: vanilla-beany, thick, hard to get down
- Texture: grainy
- Consumption: Taste awful with water, tastes grainy in smoothies
- Nutrition: 1 scoop (44 g) = 160 calories – 3 g fat – 6 g carbs – 1 g sugar – 30 g protein
- Ingredients: organic, pea, pumpkin and sunflower protein, stevia
- Price: 1.83 lbs for $38.74 (best price on Amazon)
- I have a half of a tub left at home that I can’t bare to drink the rest of, if anybody wants it! 😏
Quest (peanut butter) – C
- Taste: sugary, strong/heavy
- Texture: really thick and frothy
- Consumption: Okay with water (very thick), mixes well in smoothies
- Nutrition: 1 scoop (30 g) = 110 calories – 1 g fat – 2 g carbs – 0 g sugar – 23 g protein
- Ingredients: whey protein blend, natural flavors, stevia, sucralose :\
- Price: 2 lbs for $34.19 (best price on Amazon)
Orgain Organic Protein (vanilla) = C
- Taste: light and vanilla-y
- Texture: less grainy than Vega, but still plant based grainy 😉
- Consumption: does not taste well with water, blends well in smoothies (not as grainy as some plant based proteins)
- Nutrition: 2 scoops (46 g) = 150 calories – 4 g fat – 13 g carbs – 1 g sugar – 21 g protein
- Ingredients: all organic, pea, brown rice, chia seed and hemp protein blend 👍🏼
- Price: 2 lbs for $22.00 (best price on Amazon)
SunWarrior Blend (chocolate) = B
- Taste: semi-sweet, chocolaty, yet light
- Texture: semi-thick, not grainy
- Consumption: does not taste well with water, blends well in smoothies, you can taste it a bit, but not as much as others
- Nutrition: 1.5 scoops (37.5 g) = 150 calories – 3.5 g fat – 4 g carbs – 0 g sugar – 25 g protein
- Ingredients: organic pea and hemp protein, all organic, stevia
- Price: 1.65 lb for $37.88 (best price on Amazon)
Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth (Chocolate) = B-
- Taste: dark, not sweet, almost spicy
- Texture: not grainy, semi-smooth
- Consumption: does not taste well with water, blends well in smoothies (I couldn’t taste it at all besides the chocolatey flavor)
- Nutrition: 1 scoop (25 g) = 100 calories – 1 g fat – 2 g carbs – 1 g sugar -20 g protein
- Ingredients: chicken bone broth protein concentrate, stevia
- Price: 1.13 lb for $39.56 (best price on Amazon)
Garden of Life (Chocolate) = C
- Taste: not sweet, light
- Texture: slight grainy texture
- Consumption: does not taste well in water, mixes well in smoothies, but a little grainy (not very chocolaty)
- Nutrition: 1 scoop (31 g) = 120 calories – 2 g fat – 5 g carbs – 1 g sugar – 20 g protein
- Ingredients: pea, brown rice, chia protein blend, all organic, stevia
- Price: 1.4 lbs for $32.89 (best price on Amazon)
Overall, I stick to Collagen Peptides and Gold Standard Whey. To me, the ingredients are important, but I also need something I can drink with just water after a workout (que Gold Standard Whey). I love using collagen peptides in my coffee and smoothies for an extra boost wherever I need it. Plus those ingredients are 💯
What are your favorites? Leave me a comment below, I’m always on the search for something new 🙂