Protein Shakes...
 

So, we all know that the age-old vegetarian challenge is protein. So do you utilize protein shakes? Or do you just get your protein through veggies, grains, beans, etc.?

Also...beyond just trying to get protein as a vegetarian, I know a lot of people who aren't vegetarians drink protein shakes as part of a healthy diet...healthwise, is it a good choice?

I don't do shakes. I get plenty with beans, grains and a little tofu.

Non-vegetarians or vegetarians, it's a good way for some people to add in protein if they aren't getting it. If a non vegetarian doesn't eat much meat (or mainly gets their meat consumption from broth), or has a high carb diet, then they may very well be protein deficient. Particularly as people lose weight and have to drop their calories - sometimes it's less calories to drink the protein than it is to eat it whole.

I have yet to add protein to my veg*n diet. Though, I've been interested in the Vega stuff, going to try it. Seems to have good reviews from people.

How much protein do you get? I prefer to get my protein through whole foods and I get well above the RDA of protein without really trying.

In the past, I've used Vega shakes just out of pure laziness and wanting an easy breakfast but not really to get protein.

some days I make a shake filled with STUFF that takes me through from breakfast through lunch(or, more usually, save half for post-lunch, pre-dinner snackage). The powders I use are manitoba harvest hemp powder (major hemp love), designer whey weight control (chocolate) or, as others have mentioned, the vegan powder, Vega by Sequel Naturals. I've tried the berry and the unflavored and while the unflavored tastes like paste if you don't really dress it up (I only use half the serving size, on either Vega flavors) I prefer unflavored to the too-stevia tasting berry. Start with water and fresh fruit and baby spinach, then powders, chia seeds, maybe some cacao nibs, then frozen fruit and ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice and then deliciousness.

I like using shakes (and protein powders) as a tool because they are a simple way to control calories and nutrition. You can add and subtract as you need and unlike commercial shakes or those body builder.weight gainer "protein" powders that are mostly sugar, you can easily make a nutrient-packed veg/raw/green shake. Or even a blended salad with protein powder covers more bases. As far as non-powder protein, I have blended soaked adzuki in a sludge, couldn't even tell.

So yes, tl;dr, I like protein powders, but only certain ones and only if they are workin' it, nutrition-wise, and not just as a protein source.

I uses protein shakes. I was a member of WW not too long ago and I stacked up on their shakes and now I just mix it with hazelnut milk and its awesome. The mix itself offers 10 grams.

I don't drink protein shakes but I do love smoothies and I add some extra vegan protein to them to boost it a bit.

I too was wondering about this and just recently started using protein powders and it really has helped me. I don't think i ever realized how little protein I was actually getting until my sister asked me about and when i took a look I wasn't getting nearly enough. If you aren't getting it from other sources I highly recommend it! I like the designer why protein chocolate. Not delicious but definitely drinkable. reminds me of slim fast a little and I just mix it with water for the lowest calories but i bet mixed with other things it would be pretty good.

I make a soy milk shake almost every day with a banana, wheat germ, ground flax seeds and hemp protein powder. Keeps me full till lunch. Its just a habit now to pull out my magic bullet in the morning while my coffee is brewing.