The Best Vegan Protein Powders That Actually Taste Good
When shopping for a quality plant-based protein powder, Sheth recommends looking for ones that provide 20 to 30 grams of protein per serving and, ideally, include multiple types of protein from different sources. Unlike animal protein sources (such as fish, pork, dairy, eggs, and beef), which are considered complete proteins, plant proteins are almost all incomplete, meaning they don’t have all nine essential amino acids. Only some plant proteins, including soy, are complete, so incorporating essential amino acids (EAAs) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) helps support muscle recovery and function, Sheth says.
Take stock of the following factors when shopping vegan protein powders.
Type of protein: You’ve got a lot of options here, including soy, pea, hemp, pumpkin seed, and brown rice. These are all good sources of vegan protein, Ehsani says, and picking a powder that offers a mix of protein sources (versus just one) can give you all the amino acids needed to make a complete protein, adds Mohr.
Amount of protein per scoop: Beware of tricky marketing. “Some protein powders are sneaky and require two scoops of powder to meet the protein advertised,” Churnetski says. “This often leads to shakes and other products that taste powdery and chalky.” That’s why she prefers products in which one scoop nets you more than 20 grams of protein.
Ingredients list: Make note of how long this is, and gravitate toward products with a short list that’s free of unnecessary fill-ins (like tons of thickeners, additives, and artificial flavors) and low in added sugars, Ehsani says. And if you’re sensitive to certain ingredients, such as soy or gluten, make sure to scan the label for those, says Crandall Snyder.
Third-party tested: Here’s the thing: The FDA doesn’t approve dietary supplements–including vegan protein powders–for quality, safety, or effectiveness before they’re sold to the public, Churnetski explains. That’s why it’s important to pick powders that opt into third-party testing, since this ensures there are zero contaminants, the company is transparent about the quality of their ingredients, and the manufacturer follows certain protocols for how the product is made, processed, and stored, she says.
Taste and texture: This may be an obvious one, but it’s worth stating: “A protein powder is only helpful if you’d use it, so one that tastes good and mixes well into your favorite foods and drinks is key,” Mohr says. (Of course, you can’t know for sure that a powder will jibe with your taste buds until you try it, but reading reviews can give you a general idea of what to expect.)
