I’ve never been a huge fan of protein powders. Although I marvel at the innovation and ingredient cleanliness of plant-based products that contain minimal sugar and nutrient-packed add-ins, such as sacha inchi seeds, shiitake mushrooms, and whole fruits and vegetables, I don’t find it palatable to consume powders simply by mixing them with water.
But smoothies are a different story! When tossed in a high-powered blender with a bit of almond milk, frozen fruit, and dark, leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, high-quality protein powders seem to melt into smoothies, making it a cinch to get more essential vitamins, minerals and protein into my diet.
Protein-dense smoothies particularly help when the weather cools down and I start craving macaroni and cheese, tomato soup and pizza—drinking a greens-filled smoothie to start my day keeps me on track. At the shelf, I seek out protein powders that contain several different types of protein blends, such as hemp seed protein, pumpkin seed protein and pea protein.
–Jenna Blumenfeld, senior food editor
To learn which other nutritious snacks Jenna loves, click here.
