WWYD: Protein powders?

[redvlagrl]

We are a whole food, mainly local, partially organic eating family. Teh only processed foods we buy are cheese, yoghurt and crackers.

I began seeing a Wholistic Nutritionist over the summer and followed her eating plan loosely (high protein, low carb) and have lost 22 lbs so far. I really like her approach - she agrees with me on almost everything from a kinda TF/WP standpoint. We really gel in terms of food.

Except, she really likes her protein powders. She recommends a smoothie most mornings. I have been doing it but really feel uneasy about it because of my general disloike for processed stuff. I've just run out so I am trying to decide whether I will buy more.

I have been using a Whey Powder, but am thinking of getting the Vega Whole Food one instead. It's twice the price, though.

I mix them with non-homogenized cow's milk or a milk sub, and a banana. Sometimes cocoa and honey if I want a chocolate fix.

Should I nix the powders totally, get the cheaper one, or the spendy Vega?

[Magelet]

I would take yogurt or keifir whey and use it instead of the protein powders.  (Yogurt or keifer whey is made by lining a strainer with a damp cloth (muslin or a tea towel), putting that over a bowl, putting yogurt or keifer in the strainer and letting it strain through. Depending on how long you let it strain through, you have either greek yogurt, yogurt cream cheese, or yogurt cheese (or keifer cheese) on top, and whey on the bottom. The whey is high in protein (it's what they make whey protein powder out of pretty much), and has probiotics.

[Sol_y_Paz]

Greek yogurt has a hefty serving of protein.  My holistic practitioner told me whey protein is similar to cow colostrum.  

[ambereva]

I don't do protein powders for the same reason...not whole food...but I have been known to add hemp seed powder to oats or a smoothie here and there. It's just ground up hemp seeds.

[redvlagrl]

Thanks. Is the hemp seed powder really bitter? I have found the hemp based powders kind of bitter and unpalatable.

[ambereva]

Originally Posted by redvlagrl 

Thanks. Is the hemp seed powder really bitter? I have found the hemp based powders kind of bitter and unpalatable.

I haven't noticed any bitterness.

[mommaklo]

I do do whey protein powders, but ds cant have dairy now, so I have recently done goatein protein powder and I feel a bit better about them than cow since I think goats have got to be treated better than conventienal dairy cows (maybe not, maybe Im dreaming...) and I have done vega, who also offer the vega smoothie mix (comes in a bag, not a plastic container) and its meant to be added to the vega powders but has like 15 g of protein per serving by itself, and ive had it mixed alone in apple juice and it tastes pretty good, too. Also, I do hemp too, and I dont like it as much, mainly because It cant be masked like whey can. You can add a glob of almond butter to the blender too, for more protein, or peanut butter, too. And yogurt/greek yogurt/kefir like pps said. My fam members bought a yogurt maker and it pays itself off pretty quick if you eat it everyday.