Dairy Free Protein Powder

[smpalesh]

Is there a dairy free protein powder that doesn't taste like garbage??  I have been using Visalus protein powder and having two smoothies a day for two of my meals.  Now I am starting to get sick from the dairy.  I have tried Vega One and Sunwarrior and they both taste so gross I dumped it in the sink after one sip.  I don't like to eat meat or any meat substitutes (tofu, soy, etc) so I am freaking out right now about how to get protein.  I am starting to think I will just stop eating altogether.

 

Does anyone know of any dairy free protein powder that doesn't taste like dirt??

[mushroom]

I use Trader Joe's hemp protein powder.  Yucky color, but with plenty of fruit in it the flavor's fine (I always put in plenty of fruit )  I hope you are not one of those who has problems with TJ's.  I buy his bags of frozen mango and use those instead of ice cubes

[smpalesh]

I am in Canada so I don't think we have that store.  I just tried 4 different powders with lots of fruit and almond milk.  All dumped down the sink after a couple sips.  I think I will die of malnutrition if I go dairy-free.  I barely like meat.  And I HATE to cook. 

 

I use Trader Joe's hemp protein powder.  Yucky color, but with plenty of fruit in it the flavor's fine (I always put in plenty of fruit )  I hope you are not one of those who has problems with TJ's.  I buy his bags of frozen mango and use those instead of ice cubes

[mushroom]

I am in Canada so I don't think we have that store.  I just tried 4 different powders with lots of fruit and almond milk.  All dumped down the sink after a couple sips.  I think I will die of malnutrition if I go dairy-free.  I barely like meat.  And I HATE to cook. 

You might try asking around for hemp powder anyway??  Or you may be able to order it online??  Here's a place to start:

 

Open Original Shared Link

[smpalesh]

What does the hemp powder taste like?

You might try asking around for hemp powder anyway??  Or you may be able to order it online??  Here's a place to start:

 

Open Original Shared Link

[mushroom]

What does the hemp powder taste like?

 

To be honest, I don't notice the flavor.  Of course, I put a lot of stuff in my smoothies - I've even put cocoa in.  Strawberries, bananas, blueberries, almond milk,vanilla or other flavoring,  it's amazing how - if there is a flavor you find objectionable (and I have never tried just plain hemp powder to find out what it tastes like) - it can be disguised. 

[tarnalberry]

It depends on what you like.  A good rice protein powder will just taste a bit creamy, though you have to give it a little time to sit.  You can get hemp protein from a number of places, and you can also find pea protein powder and pumpkin seed protein powder (my current favorite, I don't notice any taste in my smoothies).

[smpalesh]

I tried 3 different rice protein powders and I couldn't stand the taste of any of them.  I also tried some vegan mix ones and they were also not good.  The texture is bad and I put TONS of fruit and all I could taste was the powder. 

[mushroom]

I tried 3 different rice protein powders and I couldn't stand the taste of any of them.  I also tried some vegan mix ones and they were also not good.  The texture is bad and I put TONS of fruit and all I could taste was the powder. 

 

It could be you have super sensitive taste buds    All you can do is experiment because we cannot tell you what you are going to like, merely offer suggestions.

[tarnalberry]

Were you trying flavored mixes, or pure protein powder?

I rarely like the "protein shake" mixes - well, never, really.  Single ingredients.

Can you share which ones you didn't like, so people don't make repeat suggetsions?  (I mean brands and types.)

[Takala]

You may be one of those people with more than the average number of taste buds, aka a "supertaster," so you taste things differently than a normal person.  You also seem to be sensitive to textures.  Sorry about that.

 

I know you said you hate to cook, so you want to go the smoothie route, but if you do 2 fruit and vegetable smoothies a day, you are going to need to eat additional fat and protein from something.  You can put all the fruit you can into a smoothie but it isn't going to disguise another dominant flavor.  It also is really not good to just eat fruit for breakfast....obviously.  Try using a very large handful of parsley, it not only acts to make the flavors brighter, it adds a needed vegetable. Spinach is practically anonymous tasting in a smoothie, it just turns it green and adds a vegetable.  Fresh snap peas or snow pea pods are another way to add protein to a smoothie. Cut them up first and make sure you get the strings out.  Sweet little mini tomatoes are excellent.  So is fresh cucumber, fresh red ripe bell pepper, a few mint leaves, etc.  You could also try adding chunks of well baked sweet potato. You don't add a large amount of anything, just a tablespoon to a quarter cup of each,  but use as many fruits and vegetables as possible, to get the full range of nutrients. You may try sneaking in a quarter cup of very well drained and rinsed, mashed, canned beans for protein.   Coconut milk is another way to add fat and some creamy texture to a blended drink. 

 

Instead of adding protein powder, try cooking a big pot of rice for the week, then having some rice itself in a separate bowl along with the smoothie. It is very easy to add just a bit of sweetened (your choice of what to sweeten it with) milk substitute to rice, such as a nut milk, coconut milk, etc, and have it as a breakfast entree.  It can have some nuts sprinkled on it for extra protein.  Or, if you can stand eggs, you can make yourself a big casserole of rice pudding or rice custard (dairy free, using coconut milk instead)  for breakfast for the week.  Or you can make a dozen hard boiled eggs in 10 minutes, and store them in the refrigerator.  Eggs= protein. You can put Nutella, or the yummy Maranantha almond- chocolate fake nutella spread on rice, and microwave it.  Or you can put some peanut butter on a rice cake, which takes all of about 20 seconds and still provides protein.  But as the saying goes, "you have to eat. "   If you are veg, you either use grains, legumes, or nuts, if you are lacto-ova veg, you use dairy and eggs, but you still have to eat something.  And this is crunch time. Protein is easy.    If you don't start eating enough fats, you are going to get some pretty funky brain confusion, besides hunger.  Notice how I keep suggesting veggie sources of dietary fats....   honestly, you should try taking a sweet potato, microwaving it, cutting it into wedges, and then quick frying it a few minutes in a little olive oil, or coating it with olive oil and baking it until it browns slightly and there is caramelization, sprinkle it with sea salt, and seeing if you can stand that.  Bake a sweet potato, put some almond butter on this and you nearly have a complete meal for your purposes.  Give up the yucky protein powder idea !   Eat more real food !