A Beginner's Guide to Plant-Based Protein Powder

A Beginner's Guide to Plant-Based Protein Powder

Whether you’re brand new to Vega or you’re a longtime user looking to switch things up, you’ve come to the right place. At Vega, we make premium products packed with real, plant-based food ingredients to help you easily fit more nutrition into your day. This guide will help you figure out which plant-based protein powder is right for you.

Best plant-based protein powder for me

  • If you want next-level nutrition, choose Vega One® Organic. Every serving has 20 grams of protein, vitamins and minerals, greens, fiber, probiotics [bacillus coagulans] and Omega-3 ALA.
  • If you’re getting started with adding more plant-based foods in your day, choose Vega® Essentials or Vega® Protein & Greens. Vega Essentials has 20 grams of protein from pea protein, hemp protein, flaxseed protein, vitamins and minerals, veggies and greens, fiber and Omega-3 ALA. Vega Protein & Greens has 20 grams protein from pea protein, brown rice protein, sacha inchi protein, organic alfalfa grass powder and veggies and greens (like spinach and kale).
  • For your post-workout plant-based protein shake, choose Vega Sport® Premium Protein to help rebuild and repair muscle. Vega Sport® Premium Protein provides pea protein, alfalfa protein, innovative sunflower seed protein and pumpkin seed protein, BCAAs, and probiotics.

How to make a protein shake

No matter which product you try, one of the best aspects of Vega® dairy free protein powders is versatility. They taste great mixed in water or non-dairy beverages, and can also be a lot of fun to play with when you get in the kitchen. Here are four ways to use your Vega.

1. Shake it:

On-the-go? Too busy to make a smoothie? Try a protein shake. Mix any Vega protein with 1 ½ cups of water or almond milk (or really any unsweetened non-dairy beverage) with ice in your shaker cup on-the-go. Simple, classic, quick. No worries if you’re new to using shaker cups:  Learn how to stack your shaker up properly here.

2. Blend it:

If you’re feeling fancy or want to switch up your normal routine, try making a blended protein shake recipe. We have lots of suggestion in our recipe center like the Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy Bar Smoothie, seasonal options like a Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, and of course green smoothies like the ABC Green Smoothie. If you prefer to not use a recipe, try adding in one of these ingredients to your tried-and-true smoothie for a new flavor and texture combination:

  • Coconut water
  • Coconut flakes
  • Flax or chia seed
  • Lemon juice
  • Cacao nibs

3. Bake it:

Yes, you can add Vega protein to your baked goods! Try these protein pancakes on a Saturday morning, add a little nutrition to this year’s bake sale with delectable protein cookies, or level up your favorite chocolate treat, brownies. A good rule of thumb: replace 1/8 to 1/4 of the flour in your recipe with Vega plant-based protein powder.

4. Roll it:

If you need a quick snack, try rolling up some Sport Mocha Protein Bites or Protein Bites. Store bites in your freezer for snack time, any time.

Stevia sweetener

Vega® plant-based protein powders are sweetened with stevia. We like stevia because it is plant-based and has no calories. If you’re not the biggest fan of stevia try adding the juice of ½ a lemon, 1 Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, greens or a ½ -1 serving of fruit to offset the stevia taste.

Don’t like Stevia? We also offer unsweetened plant-based protein powders in the following products: Plain Unsweetened Vega One®, Vega® Protein & Greens and Vega® Protein Smoothie, which are all stevia-free.

Common questions about Vega plant-based protein powders:

Q: Do Vega products need to be refrigerated?

A: Nope! All ingredients within Vega protein products are shelf-stable. And yes—that includes the probiotic in Vega One and Vega Sport Premium Protein.

Q: Can I mix up the protein shake ahead of time and drink it later?

A: Your shake contains flaxseed, so it will thicken up as it sits. For that reason, we recommend that you consume your shake soon after your mix it. If you are looking for on-the-go nutrition, you could always carry a single-serve protein sachet and a shaker cup, a plant-based protein bar, or Vega® Protein Nutrition Shake.

Q: How long does the tub last once it is opened?

A: As long as you close the container after each use your product, a tub of Vega plant-based protein powder will last until the expiration date.

Comment below and let us know your favorite way to use Vega plant-based protein powders. If you have other questions, tweet using #AskVega and we’ll answer as fast as we can.