Protein isn’t just for the boys!

I used to be so scared of protein, protein powders, etc. but then I realized that it wasn’t just a thing guys took to bulk up and look bro-ish at the gym. A little bit naive and a lot a bit uninformed was my viewpoint when I was younger but now I can totally appreciate the uses and necessity of the powdery substance post-workout. Once I got on board with the fact that I needed to be including a protein powder into my daily diet, I figured I’d just go buy one and get on with it. Well I was wrong. The first probably 5 brands/flavors I tried were disgusting. They were either too chalky, tasted like throw up, didn’t mix up easily, messed with my stomach, etc. and none were cheap. Basically I blew $100+ on ‘testing’ out options which was a terrible idea. Now I realize that a lot of brands offer single-serving packets which I’ve started sampling first before buying bulk. Lessons learned! Over the last 6 months I’ve found ‘my’ favorite brands and flavors and have been loyal to them since. Just like having just a single pair of shoes will never satisfy me, only have 1 protein powder in the pantry won’t either. I like to change things up depending on what kind of workout I am doing in the morning, what add-ins I’m craving to toss in the blender and what the rest of my diet/food plan looks like for the day. Enter my 3 winners: Vega Vanilla Protein Smoothie mix, Vital Proteins’ Chocolate Whey and Millennium Blend’s Metabolic Vanilla.

Vega Vanilla

I’ve been using Vega the longest of the three and it’s always my default choice. With 15g of protein, 80 calories and 0g of sugar per serving–which is 1 scoop–I usually mix this into a combination of coconut milk, 1/2 a frozen banana, 1 tbsp of PB2 and 2-3 pitted dates for an easy breakfast on my ‘easier’ workout days. Vega is plant-based, Gluten Free and Certified non-GMO so I’m confident fueling my body with it. The Vanilla Smoothie flavor is my favorite of all that I’ve tried and it actually tastes GOOD. Which is shocking, I know. I judge the taste based on if I’m able to drink it alone, just shaken with cold water, and I can without gagging so clearly that’s a positive. The texture is smooth and it doesn’t have any type of funny odor so I honestly have no complaints; plus it’s available at a ton of retailers: Amazon, Target, Whole Foods, etc. which makes it really easy for me to pick up more when I’m running low.

Vital Proteins Chocolate Whey

Vital Proteins reached out to me about 2 months ago and offered the opportunity to try out their Collagen Peptides and I graciously accepted. I had heard nothing but positive things about that particular product but also the brand as a whole and I am always interested in products that promote strong bones, hair/nail growth, etc. They ended up sending me the peptides + their Collagen Beauty Greens AND Chocolate Whey Powder. Lucky me! 🙂 Unfortunately I’ve had nothing but negative experiences with whey proteins so I was super hesitant to even test it out but I figured I may as well give it a shot. Thankfully I did because I loved it! While it doesn’t taste quite good enough to mix with water alone, it’s easily added to 8 oz. of coconut or cashew milk to become an ideal post-long run snack. Technically the serving size is 2 scoops which has 140 calories, 27g of protein and 4g of sugar but my body doesn’t seem to like that suggestion so I stick with 1 scoop. I like that everything is grass-fed and the protein powder contains collagen peptides so I’m promoting bone heath AND repairing my muscles.

Millennium Blend Vanilla

This is another brand that sent me some items from their line to test out and I actually liked a lot. Of the 3 protein powders, I’d rank it third but it’s still been on regular rotation and a great option for me. Millennium Blend is a small brand that’s quickly gaining popularity and for good reason; it was developed by an MD and is safe for people with many different medical conditions/issues {along with performance athletes for muscle recovery, gain & energy}. It is honestly a bit thick in comparison to the other two but when I use 1/2 the suggested serving size, I really like it as a meal replacement option for lunch or a dinner when I’m on the go. Serving size is 2 scoops that contain 260 calories, 26g of protein and 14g of sugar but because the whey is derived from cow’s milk, and I’m lactose intolerant, my stomach can’t handle both scoops at one time. Mixed with a 1/2 cup of frozen berries or peaches, a cup of coconut milk and a tbsp. of almond butter, it adds the right amount of flavor to help me feel satisfied and full until my next meal.