4 Ways to Upgrade Your Vegan Protein Shake
I think I'd been planning to write a post about vegan protein shakes for almost six months.
It all started when I came across an article in an American fitness magazine with 19 recipes for upgrading your protein shake.
Their reasoning? Most people stop using protein shakes because they get bored with them or simply don't like the taste.
I don't know whether those are really the reasons, but the article had some great ideas I could use to give a vegan protein shake a little more personality.
Do You Really Need a Vegan Protein Shake?
You might be wondering whether you have to drink a protein shake after a workout, or whether you should be drinking one while you're training regularly. My answer: not at all.
A protein shake can be a great addition when you want to increase your protein intake without taking in excess calories.
I prefer getting protein from food, since it also comes with important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. But if a protein shake is supplementing a healthy, balanced diet, I'm all for it!
How I Choose a Protein Powder
There are plenty of vegan protein powders on the market these days. My advice for choosing one: check the nutrition label. Look for around 100 calories and roughly 20 grams of protein per serving, which is usually 30 g (about 1 oz) of powder.
In this post, I'm sharing 4 vegan protein shake upgrades that I especially love.
Feel free to get creative and try whatever combinations sound good to you. Just remember that adding fruit also adds carbohydrates—and calories.
Want another recipe with protein powder?
Nutrition information provided by Noam Bachar (an Israeli clinical dietitian and fitness trainer):
Protein powders vary widely in their nutrition and calorie content, so these numbers are general estimates, not precise calculations.
Piña Colada Protein Shake –
- 500 calories
- 35 grams protein
- 16 grams carbohydrates
- 28 grams fat
Refreshing Watermelon Protein Shake –
- 198 calories
- 26 grams protein
- 17 grams carbohydrates
- 2 grams fat
Berry Cheesecake Protein Shake –
- 267 calories
- 31 grams protein
- 19 grams carbohydrates
- 6 grams fat
Chocolate Mocha Protein Shake –
- 380 calories
- 46 grams protein
- 28 grams carbohydrates
- 8 grams fat
Here are the exact amounts. Calling these “recipes” might be a stretch!
Piña Colada Protein Shake –
- 100 g (3.5 oz) coconut milk, 8% fat
- Half a banana – 50 g (1.8 oz)
- 1 container vegan yogurt – 125 g (4.4 oz)
- 1 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder – 30 g (1.1 oz)
- 1/2 cup frozen pineapple – 50 g (1.8 oz)
Refreshing Watermelon Protein Shake –
- 100 g (3.5 oz) almond milk
- 1 cup cubed watermelon – 152 g (5.4 oz)
- 1 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder – 30 g (1.1 oz)
- 1/2 cup ice
Berry Cheesecake Protein Shake –
- 100 g (3.5 oz) almond milk
- 1/2 cup frozen berries – 152 g (5.4 oz)
- 1 scoop vanilla vegan protein powder – 30 g (1.1 oz)
- Half a banana – 50 g (1.8 oz)
- 1 container vegan yogurt – 125 g (4.4 oz)
- 1 petit-beurre cookie (a crisp, lightly sweet cookie popular in Israel)
Chocolate Mocha Protein Shake –
- 100 g (3.5 oz) almond milk
- Half a banana – 50 g (1.8 oz)
- 1 scoop chocolate vegan protein powder (30 g; 1.1 oz)
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee
- 1 level tablespoon peanut butter – 20 g (0.7 oz)
