Yes To Plant Power!!

One of the questions I get most is if it is feasible to count macros and be a vegetarian or vegan? The short answer is yes, but it does take a little more tetris. The other issue that pops up, is that in the plant world, there are few things (if any) that are stand alone proteins. Most (dare I say all) plant proteins do come attached to carbohydrates so there is an extra layer of management here. That being said, it can be, and has been, done. In this post, Rachel shares her delicious and healthful morning shake with us.-Sheb

I’m going to start up front by saying: YES you can get enough protein on a plant-based diet.  Plants have protein, and with a well-planned diet, athletes and non-athletes alike can get everything they need. If you are interested in discussing this philosophy and approach further, drop me a line—there are some wonderful meat-free options out there.  

When people decide to “go meat-free”, that might include processed soy, beer, and Twizzlers.  Yes, this food swapping is better for animals, but it might not be so good for our health and body composition.  The real benefit of going plant-based comes from a diet centered around “whole foods”: vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

Plant-based diets are something I dip in and out of on occasion when I’m not “feeling” meat for the week (I’m also a big animal lover, not to get all gooey with you).  I stumbled upon Vega pea protein powder during one of these stints and I wanted to share some of my thoughts around it.

My husband and I share protein powder, so we searched for one that had minimal ingredients and processing.  He is a proud meat-eater and loves his animal-based protein, and there’s no problem with that. For ease of sharing and making one purchase on Amazon, we went with Vega* to see how we liked it.  We have not made the switch back to whey in over a year.

One thing I will mention is that Vega is a very fine powder with a gritty texture.  If you’re the type of person that just likes protein mixed with water after a workout, I would suggest mixing a very small amount of water with Vega, so it becomes almost like a pudding. Adding cinnamon to this makes it, dare I say…. decadent!

With fruit shakes, Vega is incredibly delicious.  I make a power shake every morning for breakfast, recipe below.

In general, there are a lot of protein powders out there.  I find the one important thing is to eat a variety of nourishing foods—meat or no meat.  Eat according to your appetite and goals, and move away from the “all-or-nothing” mentality.  Priorities and values are personal: we are on a continuum and we get to choose every day. How exciting is that?

*we are not sponsored by Vega. It is a brand we like and buy for ourselves.

 

RACHEL’S VEGAN POWER SHAKE

 INGREDIENTS:

  • 1.5 oz frozen banana
  • 3 oz frozen strawberries
  • 1 handful of spinach
  • 1 scoop of Vega protein powder
  • 1  Cup water
  • Dashes of cinnamon

    16 C | 1F |16 P/Serving. Makes 1.

Optional:

  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 100 g steel cut oats (for extra carbs)

     33C | 3F | 27 P/Serving. Makes 1.

  

If you’re feeling cheeky:

1 inch raw ginger and/or turmeric root

DIRECTIONS:

1. Blend all ingredients in high-powered blender

2. Enjoy!

3. Send us your recipes or photos of different fruits and ingredients you experiment with.

Tips, RecipesShebnem Incevegan, plant power, protein