Vegan protein shake formulas
are becoming very popular in the marketplace. Every time I look, I see
companies, who formerly stood firmly on their whey protein claims, quickly
introducing vegan protein products into their product line. This article is
not to sway you from using a protein powder, especially if you have one that
you love. Plant based protein powders are known for their nutrition
efficiency and digestibility. In my opinion it is a great way to get
convenient protein.

But what if you don’t have a good vegan protein shake mix on
hand? Or what if you are on a strict budget, or you simply aren’t ready
to dive into a month’s supply of supplement purchases? Or what if you are
just overwhelmed with all the information and options, and want to make sure
you are getting the right product for you? Well, that’s cool, because you can
still find plenty of high quality plant based protein in everyday food
ingredients, that can add a meal’s worth or more of complete, efficient
protein to your next vegan protein shake. Here are some
of the best protein sources to add to your shakes, and some of the best fresh
ingredients to complement and make your smoothie even more nutritious and
delicious.

6 Easy Vegan Protein Shake Hacks to Start Using
Today:

Oatmeal: Yes, that boring stuff
that sits in practically every cupboard makes an excellent protein addition
to your shake. 1 cup has 11 grams of protein with an amino acid score of 95;
not bad! You can throw the uncooked oats right in there and blend away. I
love to add spinach, apple, and a few pitted dates for sweetness. The spinach
gives it another gram or two of high scoring protein, and if you use a nut
milk, you are well within your recommended intake of protein.

Hemp Seeds: Hemp seeds are a
complete protein and contain 13 grams per 3 tablespoons. They’re also rich in
iron and magnesium, and are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids. I
like hemp seeds for the creamy, dairy-like effect they give off from their
fat content. So I use them to make chocolate shakes creamier, or to make a pina
colada type smoothie with coconut milk, fresh mango or pineapple,
blueberries, and a few ice cubes.

Pumpkin Seeds: If you’re out of
greens, that’s okay because pumpkin
seeds are one of the most alkaline forming seeds you can
eat. Pumpkin seeds contain about 5 grams of protein per 1/4 cup. Though
they’re high in fat, pumpkin seeds contain healthy fats that protect your
heart and your brain. Pumpkinseeds go great with vanilla almond milk,
pears or peaches, and cinnamon.

Leftover Quinoa: Quinoa is
another complete protein that will thicken up your shake and blend in very
well with other flavors. Quinoa is also a great source of iron,
magnesium, and potassium. 1 cup of cooked quinoa gives you 12 grams of
protein. You can even use uncooked quinoa, but just a half a cup for the
same nutritional value. Try making a mixed berry superfood quinoa shake
with strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries and a bit of unsweetened
pomegranate juice. If it needs a bit of sweet, try adding an apple or a few
pitted dates.

Almond Butter: Almond butter
loves to be in protein shakes! For the healthiest option, use raw, unsalted
almond butter, which contains no added oils or salt. Two tablespoons of
almond butter has about 7-8 grams of protein. Almond butter and
bananas go great together in a smoothie. Round it off with a couple
tablespoons of flax meal for even more protein and healthy
fats.

Chia Seeds: For an iron-rich
boost, go with chia seeds and kale. Both are amazing sources of energy thanks
to their B vitamin, magnesium, iron, protein, and potassium content. Use 2
cups of kale, which provides 10 grams of protein and 1/4 cup chia seeds which
also provides 10 grams of protein. You’ll get 20 grams of protein from
this alone. Add some fresh kiwi fruit for a wonderful kale-kiwi
power-chia smoothie.

If and when you do decide to dive into a vegan protein shake mix,
be sure you choose whole-food
vegan protein made with organic ingredients. You might also try a
vegan amino acid supplement. This Super
Amino 23 product delivers pre-digested protein from legumes,
delivering pant protein to your body tissue in 20 minutes. There are a lot of
great products out there! Sometimes it pays to invest in a shake that is a
little more expensive. At the end of the day, if you are using it as a meal,
and taking they way you use it seriously, even the more pricy shakes are
still a better deal than the average breakfast at Starbucks or your local
coffee shop. In any event, as you can see, there are plenty of healthy, whole
food, plant based options to fuel you with the kind of protein your body can
actually use. If you enjoyed reading about great vegan protein shake hacks,
you’ll love our Pure Plant-Based community. Check
it out here!