People often ask us, “What do you think about protein powders?”
We believe that most of our nutrients should come from the whole foods we eat.
Overall, we’re not huge fans of protein powders. Most store-bought protein powders (even plant-based protein!) and shakes are highly processed and packed with unhealthy additives — sweeteners, artificial flavors, and ingredients you can’t pronounce. They also tend to use common allergens like soy or dairy as a base. Even when a store-bought protein powder uses simple ingredients like hemp seeds, they can be cross-contaminated and cause the same adverse reactions.
But we understand that it’s more accessible for some folks to turn to protein powders to get the nutrients they need. Our philosophy at the Conscious Cleanse is to focus on what you CAN eat and find alternatives that work. That’s why we decided to create our own protein powder with 2 bonus protein shake recipes.
We used our homemade plant-based protein powders as the base in these shakes to help you get plenty of protein to fuel your body. Our protein powder is made from whole foods in small batches so you get each ingredients’ full potency. They can be stored in the freezer for up to a month to keep them fresh.
And these shake recipes also contain plenty of tasty and nutrient-dense fruits and greens to add extra benefits (like iron, potassium, and lots of tummy-friendly fiber!).
Our delicious Banana Almond Butter Shake is also cleanse-friendly, while our Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake makes a tasty treat for your 80:20 lifestyle.
Before we sign off, we want to mention that there are a few cleaner protein powders on the market. If we’re going store-bought, we like Truvani, Sakara Protein & Greens Super Powder, or Sprout Living Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein.
But what should you look out for when you’re browsing brands for a cleaner protein powder?
Here’s what to look for:
- Organic
- Free from gluten, soy, and dairy
- Made from real food
- Only uses ingredients you can pronounce
- No natural flavors
- No Gums, like xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, and carrageenan
- No Omega 6 processed oils, like canola, sunflower, safflower, corn, or soybean oil
- No sugars (even natural sweeteners can spike your blood sugar). If you want a sweeter protein powder, look for monk fruit
- No artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin
- Tested for heavy metals (this information is easier to come by if you order protein powders online)
If you need to supplement your diet with extra protein, give our homemade protein powders a try!
And now without further ado, here are our plant-powered protein shakes for the perfect protein boost.
With love and plant protein power,
Banana Almond Butter Shake
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp Cinnamon Spice Hemp Protein Powder
- ½ of a banana
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- 1 ½ cup Homemade Nut Milk
- ½ cup fresh baby spinach
Instructions:
In a high-speed blender, blend protein powder, banana, almond butter, nut milk, and spinach until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
NOTE: You can also substitute 3 tbsp hemp seeds and ½ tsp cinnamon if you don’t have a batch of protein powder on hand.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake*
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 3 tbsp Chocolate Hemp Protein Powder
- ½ of a banana
- 3-5 strawberries
- 1 ½ cup Homemade Nut Milk
- ½ cup fresh baby spinach
Instructions:
In a high-speed blender, blend protein powder, banana, strawberries, nut milk, and spinach until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!
NOTE: You can also substitute 3 tbsp hemp seeds and ½ tsp cacao powder if you don’t have a batch of protein powder on hand.
*This is an 80:20 recipe due to the cacao and strawberries.
If you liked these shake recipes, we invite you to join our online community! When you sign up you’ll receive regular healthy lifestyle tips and new recipes. As a welcome-gift, we’ll send you our Green Smoothie eCookbook, a collection of more of our favorite easy smoothie recipes!
Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.
