Anna Wootton

My Kind of Protein and Some Protein-Packed Recipes

As I showed you earlier this week, one of my goals for this year is to increase the amount of protein in my diet and to keep my diet ultra clean.

As a vegetarian who limits my gluten and dairy consumption, it can be tough for me to get all of my nutrients and although my diet is healthy, the starch-to-protein ratio is a bit off.

Protein powders are one of my best friends. Traditionally I’ve used Kaizen’s vanilla ice cream flavoured natural whey protein because it’s the first one I tried that really tasted good, but now that I’m trying to avoid dairy I’ve been looking into some other options.

I was at Whole Foods one day when they were sampling this – a protein powder made from pumpkin seeds. I was intrigued, so I sampled it and was really impressed with the taste. When I saw it on sale in my local supermarket a few days ago – a few months after that original sample – I decided to dive in, seeing as my whey protein was nearly dunzo anyway.

I did know that when I sampled it, the testers had made protein smoothies with banana in and – having consumed many a green smoothie myself – I know how good banana is at masking flavours. So I wasn’t 100% sure what the powder’s real flavour was like.

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But yesterday morning I stirred a scoop into my breakfast oatmeal and it was fine. It had a bit of a grainy texture and it made the oats really thicken up more than usual, so I would increase the amount of liquid you usually use in your oats if you’re going to add it to them. I would highly recommend using it for Gina’s protein fluff, green smoothies, oats, protein pancakes, muffins, stirring into yogurt … however you like (see the bottom of this post for links to recipes this would work well in!). I really think just adding it to random snacks throughout the day is the best idea as it’s the best way to sneak protein into your diet throughout the day.

This tub was on sale for $16.99 (Canadian) in my local supermarket. It says it provides 50 servings. The stats are FANTASTIC on pumpkin protein. It is a complete protein with all 18 amino acids, including the 10 essential ones which are so hard for us vegetarians to get! I find them in quinoa, nutritional yeast, etc but I had no idea pumpkin seeds were complete protein sources. One serving is 15 grams and gives 55 calories and 10g protein. That’s pretty impressive considering that my whey protein is 30g per serving and gives 110 calories and 25g protein. This has just a 5g deficit of protein for the same serving size.

In short, I highly recommend this powder. It doesn’t have a strong flavour that would impact any dishes you add it to, and its texture is fine – it’s not as smooth as some whey proteins, it does have some grittiness to it, but it’s not so gritty that you’d notice it in a bad way. And no, I don’t know the owners and haven’t been contacted by the company – this is just something I found on the supermarket shelves, tried and wanted to share with you!

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Looking at the label on the bottle it appears it’s made in Vancouver, BC, so it may only be available at my local Whole Foods because it is a local company. However, check your WF out – it may have it and if not you can always ask!

Or you can buy it on their website for $17.95 here.

Let me know what you think!

And, as promised above, here are some links to recipes you could use this protein powder in:

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  • Protein muffin in a mug – might want to add some sweetener as the powder is not as sweet as most flavoured proteins

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  • Because the powder is not too sweet though, you can use it in savoury recipes too! Try replacing the cornmeal in my sweet potato black bean burgers with this pumpkin protein powder!

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QUESTIONS:

  • Have you heard of pumpkin seed protein powder before?
  • What is your favourite way to sneak protein into your diet?

Comments

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    I’ve never heard of pumpkin seed protein powder, but you’re making me reminisce about the hemp protein powder that is still up in Orlando waiting for me to return. My family has a good supply of whey protein down here, and although it is a good protein, there really is nothing like eating it plant-based

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    I have never seen this powder! I am now wondering if I would like it. I am so in love with sunwarrior but Im always up for trying something new!

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    Ahhh this powder sounds fantastic! I am surprised I have never even heard of it, as it looks rather ideal to me πŸ™‚ I get my protein mostly from dairy- greek yogurt/cottage cheese, but I am definitely eating more meat these days

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    I would love to try this stuff…I’ll probably buy some when I’m finish up my Hemp Protein powder. The pumpkin seed protein powder has considerably more protein than my hemp protein…
    I usually get my protein from veg, beans, tofu, lentils…plant based protein πŸ™‚

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    Wow! You and I are on the same wavelength…some of those ideas I have already done posts about things very very similiar!

    I just posted about gluten free oat flour pancakes too and they are also high in protein.

    Protein is so important; good to make sure you are getting enough.

    Since I have been concentrating on it, my nails and hair are so much better!

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    I haven’t tried the pumpkin protein, and I’ve tried every other one in the sun! Glad you like it! I’ve done a bit of subbing with brown rice protein in some of my muffin/banana bread type recipes and its worked pretty well. Just need to add more liquid and stevia.

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    I’ve never heard of this brand before! Looks great and in so many things. Thanks for sharing!

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    That’s a new one to me with that pumpkin protein powder! Fun find!

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    I’ve only tried chocolate protein powder and have wanted to venture out, but don’t want to buy a huge amount. I try to add it to pancakes and oatmeal as my “hidden” protein. It always works wonders!

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    weird. i never would have thought of a pumpkin protein powder!

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    I’ve never heard of pumpkin protein! Very interesting..and neat!

    I’m also trying to incorporate more protein into my diet…as much as carbs are delicious..they only hold me over for a bit of time and then I’m ravenous again..oops! πŸ™‚

    PS Your breakfast quinoa looks delicious! I’ve been looking for a recipe like that for a while..perfect!

  • January 6, 2012
    Reply

    Interesting find! I have never tried protein powders before but I haven’t been eating much meat lately so maybe I should give it a try

  • January 7, 2012
    Reply

    mmmm I love the sound of the pumpkin protein porridge! And the sweet potato black bean burgers. I used to use Vega, but don’t really drink protein powders now. I like beans, grains, and peanut butter for protein πŸ˜€

  • January 8, 2012
    Reply

    I had never even heard of pumpkin seed protein powder! I’m still trying to find a protein powder that I like enough to justify the price. For now, nut butter and Greek yogurt are my prime protein sources πŸ™‚ And all the recipes look fabulous! The sweet potato burgers and quinoa especially stood out to me πŸ™‚

  • January 8, 2012
    Reply

    I’ve never heard of pumpkin seed protein! Thanks for such an informative post.

  • January 9, 2012
    Reply

    I have never heard of Pumpkin seed protein either.Thanks for providing the stats on pumpkin seed – so informative.
    I am just thinking about trying a protein powder, especially with no meat dairy or eggs now.

  • January 10, 2012
    Reply

    I love using protein powder in recipes because it really is very versatile. I never knew! Protein pancakes and protein oatmeal are my favorites!

  • January 11, 2012
    Reply

    I love a good protein recipe! I get sick of the same old smoothies I make with my protein powder! I’m always on the look out for a good recipe I can add protein too, so thank you for sharing these! Those sweet potato burgers are going to be the first I try!!! Sound delicious!

  • January 20, 2012
    Reply

    I’ve never heard of pumpkin seed protein powder but it sounds great! πŸ™‚

  • April 3, 2012
    Reply

    What are your thoughts on hemp protein powder?

  • April 3, 2012
    Reply

    What are your thought on hemp protein powder?

Comment