Vegan Protein Supplements

health

Mar 16

If you’re a plant-eater like me, and Vegan, like me, and if you want to lift heavy Kettlebells to gain strength, like me, then you’re probably going to have to supplement your protein intake beyond eating simple foods — and you can also do that even as a meat eater, unlike me. Here’s how I meet my daily protein goal of 150g per day. My curve for inclusion in my diet with these protein supplements begins, and ends, with having at least 20g of protein per serving. Anything below that limit isn’t worth the money, time, or calories.

I am not a powder kind of guy. I think powders are messy, gritty, hard to measure, and stupefying to clean up later. I prefer quickness, and convenience, in getting enough protein a day, and so I buy RTDs — Ready To Drink bottles — and, yes, I recycle the empties.

You can find good deals on RTDs if you are patient. Discount sales usually happen around every holiday, or major international celebratory event. Sign up on the manufacturer website, and then order directly from that website to get the best deals, and savings. You’ll pay fewer dollars if you go for a regular subscription. I prefer to test around, and order on a one-off timeline based on discounts currently in play. I know when I’m out of product, and I don’t want a subscription machine to just auto-send me more of what I may not need at the moment. You may not be able to resist the highly discounted subscription price, and that’s fine.

I don’t mind paying more for a higher amount of protein per RTD because that will ultimately save me more time, and money, in the long view. I also don’t drink, or eat, all of the things mentioned in this article in one day. I mix and match based on my other food intake, and what I have left in stock along with how much protein help I need that day.

First, here are two exceptions. I drink Edensoy Organic Unsweetened soy milk all day, every day. That soy milk is my go-to diet base. It is nutty, smooth, and purely delicious — with no added sugar. I add it to my coffee as a creamer, and I add my Creapure to it as a carbohydrate mix base. So, 16oz. is my all day “serving” and I chalk up 24g protein, and 240 calories, for that effort. The second exception is my Clif Builders protein bar that serves me 20g of protein, per bar, in 280 calories.

My main source of reliable, relatable, daily, protein supplement is OWYN Elite at 35g of protein per bottle with 230 calories. I often drink two a day if I can financially afford that luxury. Elite is the most expensive RTD I have, and it often goes out of stock because it’s so popular. OWYN also offers a 20g plant protein drink at 167 calories in a Tetra Pak, chocolate flavor only, that I sometimes use as well — but the Elite version packs on the protein fast, and in a concentrated state. The power differential between RTDs offering 35g of protein vs. 20g of protein is highly distinguishable. I prefer the Elite Vanilla version. Discount sales vary between 20-25% off.

Orgain makes a Plant-based shake in a Tetra Pak that brings you 20g of protein and 150 calories. You can only get the Tetra Pak in chocolate right now. Orgain usually offers frequent discount sales up to 30% off, so keep an eye on their site, and sign up for their newsletter.

I have been a frequent Soylent lover for a long time, and there is a new Soylent Complete Protein RTD weighing in at 30g of protein with 250 calories, and it tastes good and fine, but Soylent — for some reason — doesn’t really offer any sale discounts on a predictable basis, so I don’t order it much, even though this is the second highest dose of protein per RTD after OWYN Elite.

Your new Kettlebell muscles will want to be taken care of, and you do that by getting enough rest, and by eating a right, and true, diet. If you need help in upping your protein goals — while also staying in control of your calories intake — check out some of my recommendations here, and then get in touch to let me know what you think!