All of the delicious flavors we sampled!

When I was an omnivore, I occasionally would use protein powders and shakes to supplement my dietary intake of protein.  Mostly, I did this when I was mixing up my workouts at the gym, trying to pack on a few more pounds of muscle or trying to “cut up” and get more defined, lean muscle.  Since becoming vegan, I have tried many of the vegan protein powders available.  Unfortunately, I found most of them quite lacking in the taste department, some even tasted like dirt.  No thanks.  Moreover, while I love the Builder’s Bars from Clif bar company, I don’t always want to eat a bar.  Please note, not all Builder’s Bars are vegan, be sure to read the list of ingredients when buying them.

Last month, when we went to ThanksLiving at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary we received gift bags as we were leaving.  In each bag was a sample of Plant Fusion.  I decided to try it for breakfast in a shake the following morning. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was, far better than any other vegan protein powder I’d tasted before.  I was also super-excited that the company is based locally in my home-state of New Jersey so this is a win-win in my book:  I found a great vegan protein powder and was supporting a local company that makes cruelty-free plant-based foods.

I contacted the people at Plant Fusion and they graciously sent me samples of all of their flavors.  I tried them all and I definitely have my faves.  While I wasn’t wild about the unflavored and chocolate caramel flavor varieties, I was bonkers for the vanilla, chocolate-raspberry and chocolate shakes.  They have a depth of flavor that many other plant-based shakes lack.  I also like that the stevia used to sweeten the shakes isn’t too powerful.  Often, too much stevia leaves me with a strange taste on my tongue.

A few recipes on how to use these and get a super flavor punch:

Vanilla Bean– I used this in my favorite California Date Shake recipe.  Just added it to the recipe, as is, but I left the vanilla out of the recipe, since the protein powder was already delightfully flavored with vanilla.

Chocolate Raspberry-  This was not very imaginative of me; I just added 10 oz of lowfat soymilk and threw in a few ice cubes .  It was insanely delicious and filling.

Chocolate– I used this to make a chocolate-peanut-butter-banana shake.  Here’s how:

Ingredients:

1 Packet (serving) of Plant Fusion Chocolate protein powder
1 Banana
10 oz of Almond Milk
4 large ice cubes
2 Tbsp Just Great Stuff Powdered Peanut Butter (nearly fat free and even more protein in it!)

Directions:

Add all ingredients together in a blender and mix until thick and frothy.

Thank you, Plant Fusion, for making the best vegan protein powder supplement available. #JerseyStrong!