Let's Talk about Protein Powders

[Sihaya]

I need to find a protein powder to supplement my regular TF eating that won't sabotage all the other healthy TF things I do. I'm looking at shooting for 100-150g of protein daily.

We do eat meat and dairy, but I've found that amount of meat, dairy, avocadoes, and nuts to be cost-prohibitive, not to mention hard for me to get down over the course of a day (especially in the first trimester). I'm hoping to find an affordable, TF-friendly powder that I can put into smoothies or other things I already eat/drink to help me get the amount of protein I need.

Please tell me what you use/have used - the type of protein, brand, and amount of protein per serving (including what a serving size is would be helpful too), as well as the flavors you like(d) best.

Right now I have NOW Brand Whey Protein Isolate from when I was pg with DS. At the time, it was the closest thing at the store to TF-friendly that I could find, but looking at it now, I don't know how good it is. Also, it's disgusting I've heard about dried egg whites/egg white protein, but would love a link to a specific product to check out. I've also heard a lot about hemp protein, but don't know much about it.

Anything you could share would be great - TIA!

[lil_earthmomma]

While I don't know anything about protein powder, I think you could definitely get the protein you need without it.

What about eggs? You could make yourself a coconut milk/heavy cream smoothie with some eggs in it? Or an eggnog type drink.

You could sprout some almonds and make almond milk in your blender.

I just don't think protein powder is very TF...

[isaoma]

How about something like quinoa. It is relatively cheap and high in protein. You can just cook it and use it as a replacement to rice (we like it in the morning and dress it up like you would oatmeal with raisins, maple syrup and coconut cream). I bet you could also blend it into a fine powder and use it in a smoothie.


Forgot to add chickpeas are relatively high in protein as well. And blue-green algae such as spirulina is a decent source of protein and can definitely be added to a smoothie.

[Brown Lioness]

This dude is a personal trainer who endorses whole, real foods and here is his recommedations for a healthy protein powder:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Undergro...99/qWaqoaSK1qw (he gets around to the protein powder at 7:00 in, lol)

Here's another protein powder video: http://www.youtube.com/user/Undergro...67/AiXgFTx3AVM

Here's yet another recommendation video, lol; http://www.youtube.com/user/Undergro...03/kyeAI3EivJk

Hope that helps.

[Koalamom]

I like Nutiva Hemp protien powders. I usually ionly ge the acai flavored one which is unsweetened and the pomagranate has sugar added. I prefer to add a sweetener of my choice. The only downfall of hemp powder is you need so much to get a decent amout of protein and it is a bit fiberous.

I usually don't recommend whey powder but I recently heard of one by Mercola.com that is a raw whet powder and comes in yummy flavors. Don't know much else yet.

[isabchi]

Another idea could be Sprouded Bread....I eat that during my last pregnancy...

[Sihaya]

BrownLioness and bluebirdmama1, Thank you both so much! Those were exactly the kind of things I was looking for If anyone has any other input along those lines, please keep it coming!

Thank you for all the suggestions on foods that provide protein. I am well acquainted with all of them and eat many of them daily. Chickpeas, quinoa, and sprouted bread are definitely staples here.

The issue is that I am finding it difficult, for a combination of reasons, to get the amount of protein I want to from food alone. 150 grams of protein is A LOT for me and most days I simply cannot afford/stomach getting it through food alone, especially when I'm having first-trimester food aversions. I am going to do the protein powder no matter what, so I was really hoping to be pointed in the direction of the powders that are best.

[lil_earthmomma]

Originally Posted by Sihaya

BrownLioness and bluebirdmama1, Thank you both so much! Those were exactly the kind of things I was looking for If anyone has any other input along those lines, please keep it coming!

Thank you for all the suggestions on foods that provide protein. I am well acquainted with all of them and eat many of them daily. Chickpeas, quinoa, and sprouted bread are definitely staples here.

The issue is that I am finding it difficult, for a combination of reasons, to get the amount of protein I want to from food alone. 150 grams of protein is A LOT for me and most days I simply cannot afford/stomach getting it through food alone, especially when I'm having first-trimester food aversions. I am going to do the protein powder no matter what, so I was really hoping to be pointed in the direction of the powders that are best.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be unhelpful!!!

May I ask why you are trying to get so much protein? (No snark, actually wondering)

[JElaineB]

I don't think protein powders in general are TF, since many of them are not whole foods. However I do use them on occasion myself to get extra protein in. I use Natural Factors Whey Factors. I have only tried the chocolate so far. It tastes good, it is sweetened with stevia and it is rGBH-free and GMO-free. I mix it with milk.

I have also heard good things about Jay Robb protein powder. It says the whey powder comes from grass-fed cows. It is about twice as expensive as Whey Factors so I haven't tried it though. He also has egg-white powder and whole grain sprouted brown rice protein. He also has protein bars which I am tempted to try.

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by lil_earthmomma

May I ask why you are trying to get so much protein? (No snark, actually wondering)

I am nosey. Yes why are you trying for so much protein?

[ambereva]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1

I am nosey. Yes why are you trying for so much protein?

I want to know too!

I eat a vegan whole foods diet (the whole foods part being why I'm here in the TF forum) and get 80 grams of protein a day, easy, with no extra effort on my part. Add a couple scoops of hemp powder to a glass of almond milk and I'm up above 100 without batting an eyelash. I think hemp is the way to go, BTW. It's a whole food, just ground hemp seeds.

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by ambereva

I want to know too!

I eat a vegan whole foods diet (the whole foods part being why I'm here in the TF forum) and get 80 grams of protein a day, easy, with no extra effort on my part. Add a couple scoops of hemp powder to a glass of almond milk and I'm up above 100 without batting an eyelash. I think hemp is the way to go, BTW. It's a whole food, just ground hemp seeds.

Talk to me mama! My dd is very sensitive to meat so we have been cutting that out for her and I have to follow since it would be unfair to eat it in front of her. I am feeling so burnt out without ideas. And she cant have dairy or eggs either. I needed to hear that there is a TF vegan person around here. Time to start a thread for TF vegetarians/vegans. I need support.

[Sihaya]

Since I haven't even gotten a yet, I didn't want to say much, but I believe I'm pg and suspect/intuitively feel it may be twins. If it is, we won't have an ultrasound to confirm until 18 weeks, so I'd like to follow the recommendations for protein during that time just in case. More protein can't really hurt a growing baby and it could mean the difference between the NICU and full-term, healthy, homebirthed babies for twins.

[TonyaW]

FYI, for some reason Dr Mercola's whey protein is yummy but is not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers. Standard Process makes a whey protein powder which I use. When eggs are in season, I just use eggs in my smoothies. However, right now I am having a hard time finding good pastured eggs. Also, cottage cheese has a huge amount of protein. One thing I always want when I am pregnant is lots of cheese.

[ambereva]

Originally Posted by Sihaya

Since I haven't even gotten a yet, I didn't want to say much, but I believe I'm pg and suspect/intuitively feel it may be twins. If it is, we won't have an ultrasound to confirm until 18 weeks, so I'd like to follow the recommendations for protein during that time just in case. More protein can't really hurt a growing baby and it could mean the difference between the NICU and full-term, healthy, homebirthed babies for twins.

Have you tracked your diet for a few days to see how much protein you're already getting? Like I said above, I get 80 grams easily on a diet of (in this order): vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, beans, and grains. If you're eating animal products on top of a similar whole foods diet you may be getting more than you think.

[Sihaya]

TonyaW, thanks for the FYI about Dr. Mercola's powder. Cottage cheese is expensive and it's really hard to find organic for some reason. I can't afford the amount of raw/organic dairy I want/need, or I would live off of it while pg (and make my own yogurt, cottage cheese, butter, etc.)

ambereva, I track my diet whenever pg, per mw's orders. Last time I was pg a few months ago, I really had to work hard to get 75-85 grams a day (which was my goal then). I have eating issues and if I didn't work my butt off and practically have food forced down me, I would be perfectly content eating 350-500 calories a day, which is obviously not healthy, especially while pg/bfing. Hence, why I'm looking into the protein powder.

[Ruthla]

I don't think any of the protein powders are TF at all- but I also understand that we don't live in an ideal world- I see TF eating as a goal to reach towards, not absolute rules to live by. You have specific nutritional needs right now that can't be met by whole foods alone- in your case I see the protein powder as a "medicine" that you're taking in addition to a whole foods diet, not as a replacement for "real food."

I'd focus on finding protien powders that are free of synthetic additives such as sugar and artificial sweeteners, and I'd be wary of the "vitamin and mineral supplements" as well- those are often from synthetic sources and may interfere with absorbing the nutrients from food. Your best bet is whey protein powder that's just whey (if you can handle dairy) or rice protein powder or hemp protein powder- basically, plain protein powder that's not flavored or sweetened. You want something simple to add to a fruit smoothie, not something in a can that's ready to drink, or designed to be blended with plain water.

[nicolelynn]

I like plain hemp seeds blended into a smoothie for protein. Just 2 TBLSP has 11 grams of protein, you can easily eat 4 TBLSP per day of them blended into smoothies and even other things such as soups to make them creamy. A yogurt/kefir smoothie with added hemp seed would have a good 20 grams of protein.

I hear good things about Garden of Life's Goatein (goat's milk whey protein) though I haven't tried it and it is expensive.

I like the Life's Basics pea, hemp, rice and chia seed vanilla smoothie...it actually tastes good unlike other protein powders...kinda tastes like cake batter hehe. It has something like 20 grams per serving, I blend it with 1/2 cup coconut milk and 1 cup water.

I would also second whey, hemp or brown rice protein and stay just away from soy protein.

[tolovemercy]

When I was pregnant, I had a severely limited budget but managed to get 100g. of protein in each day. Eggs were my best friend. They weren't farm-fresh, free-range or anything, but they were a very inexpensive, whole foods source of protein. I usually ate three for breakfast with a small amount of cheese, and occasionally a breakfast meat, and a slice of sprouted grain bread, which gave me a running start of 25-30g before 9am.

I understand the convenience of protein powder--but truthfully, I feel like it really should be treated as just that--a convenience. Do your best and focus as much as you can on whole foods sources of protein, mama!

[lil_earthmomma]

When I was pg first time around my mw had me purchase a pregnant friendly whey powder. It was so yucky though that I just started eating more protein!

Maybe check your hfs for one just for pregnant women?

I'll be thinking of you, hoping you and babe(ies) are well!!!