Mention that you’re vegan, and people raise an eyebrow. Mention that you’re a vegan on keto? No one knows what to think. Most people associate the keto diet with high amounts of animal products.
Being vegan and following the keto diet is possible. Even if you only want to go vegan when it comes to protein powder, you’re making a smart move. Incorporating high-quality vegan protein powder into your diet can help you get the protein you need.
When I decided to give keto a shot, I knew that I wanted to keep building muscle. To do that, I’d need protein. Keto touts a high-fat, moderate-protein, super-low-carb nutrition plan. It was important to me that the protein I was getting while on keto came from high-quality sources. I also want something that tastes good.
On keto, we don’t get many sweet treats. Having a delicious, creamy protein shake can help with sweets cravings while following the keto diet. If I’m going to spend some of my calories on a protein shake, I want it to taste fantastic.
Choosing vegan protein powder while on keto is smart. It can be tough to find protein powders that allow you to stay in ketosis. I dove into research. I found the protein sources that are great for vegans. These protein sources are also great for people who do keto. I combined this knowledge to create the following list: the ten best vegan protein powders for people who do keto.
Take a look at each of these keto and vegan protein options. Pay special attention to the pros and cons. Just like no two keto dieters are the same, no two protein powders are the same. Weigh your options and find the vegan protein powder that fits your keto needs best.
Methodology
In order to determine the best vegan keto protein powder, I considered:
- Taste
- Total carbs
- Net carbs
- Quality of ingredients
- Sweetener*
- Protein source
*While the vast majority of vegan keto protein powders include a non-sugar sweetener that is calorie-free, it’s vital to consider the quality of the sweetener in each protein powder. Low-quality artificial sweeteners can wreck the gut and can cause health issues, so this consideration is key.
If you’re looking for keto protein powder that’s vegan or you simply prefer a low carb vegan shake, take a look at the list below. You’ll be able to find the perfect vegan keto protein powder for you.
Ten Best Vegan Protein Powders For Keto Diet
1. Vega Essentials
Vega Essentials Protein Powder
Vega Essentials is the top choice for enjoying vegan protein while sticking to a keto lifestyle. This option is packed with superfoods like broccoli, quinoa, kale, and carrot juice, and still only has 2 grams net carbs.
Available in chocolate, vanilla, and mocha flavors, Vega Essentials offers 20 grams of protein with just 1 gram of sugar. Vega products are sweetened with stevia, so if you aren’t a fan of the taste of stevia, this may not be a good fit for you.
For people who view taste as king, Vega Essentials comes out on top. Some reviewers say that it’s tough to get Vega Essentials to blend. Using a blender will remedy this issue. Vega Essentials covers the basics of protein. It makes a great addition to a vegan keto nutrition routine.
Pros
- Gluten free
- Grain free
- Loaded with superfoods
- Low glycemic index
Cons
- Can be tough to blend smoothly without a blender
Review: Check out customer reviews of Vega Essentials here.
2. Vega Sport
The Vega Sport line was originally a high-carb sports drink. Vega Sport protein is different. With turmeric extract and tart cherry, Vega Sport provides athletes with what they need to come back after a workout. With 3 grams net carbs and 30 grams of protein, Vega Sport has one of the highest protein levels of any vegan, keto friendly protein shake.
Vega Sport is available in chocolate, vanilla, berry, and mocha. If you’re using Vega Sport as a post workout recovery supplement, you’ll want to be sure you drink your shake within 30 minutes of finishing your workout. This is the perfect window for your muscles to get the recovery they need to come back stronger.
Pros
- Supports healthy muscle recovery after a workout
- Blends smoothly
- Complete amino acid profile
- Gluten free
- NSF verified
Cons
- Doesn’t taste great just mixed with water
Review: Take a look at a review for Vega Sport here.
3. Vega Clean Protein
Loaded with alfalfa, pea, pumpkin, and hemp protein, this is a great option for vegans on the keto diet. With 2 grams net carbs and 25 grams of protein, Vega Clean Protein is a favorite among keto dieters. The flavor options are chocolate and vanilla. Reviewers say that it can be tough to blend this protein, but a whisk or a blender does the trick.
This can be tough if you want to mix your protein when you’re on the go. Mixing with half water and half milk seems to be a solid go-to blend. Many reviewers also mention blending with half a banana if you want a bit of extra sweetness in your shake.
Pros
- Branch chain amino acids
- Gluten free
- Non-GMO
Cons
- Only two flavor options
- Can be tough to mix without a blender
Review: Learn more about Vega Clean Protein here.
4. 22 Days Nutrition Organic Plant Protein Powder
With 2 grams net carbs and 16 grams of protein, 22 Days Nutrition’s vegan protein powder is a great choice for people who are following a keto diet. The short ingredient list is jam-packed with top quality nutrition. Sweetened with organic stevia, 22 Days offers a protein powder that isn’t overly sweet, but is still pleasant to taste.
The powder is available in strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla flavors. There’s also an unflavored option if you prefer to flavor your own shake. Since the protein content is a little bit lower than other shakes, you may want to consider using a double scoop to up the protein content in your shake.
Pros
- Soy free
- Gluten free
- Non-GMO
Cons
- Some reviewers complain about the small container size
- Slightly lower protein content than other shakes
Review: Click here for a review of 22 Days Plant Power protein.
5. Orgain Keto Plant Protein Powder
Orgain Keto Plant-Based Protein Powder, Chocolate- Keto Friendly, Organic, Vegan, Gluten Free, Organic Prebiotic Fiber, 0.97 Pound
Orgain is specifically made for the Keto diet and is vegan. It contains the right balance of protein and fat to keep you in ketosis. What I personally love is just how clean everything is. On their product, I see organic everywhere. Organic avocado oil, organic pea protein, organic stevia, and organic coconut oil to name just a few.
You can’t deny the producers of Keto plant wanted to make this shake as healthy as possible.
Pros
- Specifically designed for Keto and is Vegan
- 100% Vegan
- Contains healthy fats – Coconut and avocado oil, and cocoa butter
- Free from dairy, soy, lactose, and gluten
Cons
- 10 grams of protein per serving. Some people prefer more
- Slightly expensive, but your health is worth investment
6. Aloha Organic Protein Powder
With 6 grams of net carbs, Aloha Organic Protein Powder is a bit higher in carbs than other powders on this list. This powder is sweetened with monk fruit extract instead of stevia. This can be great for people who don’t care for the taste of stevia. Monk fruit can provide a more naturally sweet taste than stevia.
The protein blend in Aloha is made from hemp, peas, pumpkin, and brown rice. Aloha contains coconut and MCT oils, which can support feeling full throughout the day. This also helps to give a small boost of fat, useful for energy when you’re on the keto diet. The fat can also help the body to more regularly absorb fat soluble vitamins throughout the day. This protein powder is available in chocolate, vanilla, and banana.
Pros
- Gluten free
- Soy free
- Non-GMO
Cons
- Reviewers say that the banana flavor is not as good as the others
- Brown rice powder can be an issue for people sensitive to grains
Review: Get more information about Aloha Organic Protein Powder here.
7. Nature’s Best Plant Based Protein By Isopure
Nature’s Best Plant Based Vegan Protein Powder
This powder has 2 grams net carbs and 20 grams of protein. It’s sweetened with both stevia and monk fruit extract. If you find that you don’t care for the taste of stevia, you may find that the monk fruit extract creates a nice flavor balance. Nature’s Best is loaded with pea and brown rice protein.
This shake has a comprehensive amino acid profile. This means that it contains amino acids the body can’t make on t’s own. This powder is available in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, or unflavored. Many reviewers prefer to use the unflavored option to bake into keto pancakes and other baked goods. Like many other plant based protein shakes, this is excellent for muscle recovery after a tough workout. Be sure to drink it within half an hour of finishing your workout for maximum muscle recovery benefit.
Pros
- No sugar
- No soy
- Non-GMO
- Great for post workout recovery
Cons
- Tough to blend
- Not strongly flavored
Review: Check out a review of Nature’s Best Plant Based Protein By Isopure here.
8. Sun Warrior Classic Plus
Sunwarrior Classic Plus Organic Vegan Protein Powder
Sun Warrior Classic Plus has 2 grams of net carbs and 25 grams of protein. This option provides a premium blend of proteins and superfoods. It includes goji berries, legumes, hemp, coconut, and MCT oil. The coconut and MCT oil provide a great boost of fat for people who are on the keto diet.
Sun Warrior also contains electrolytes to help support your body during exercise. This protein also has a complete amino acid profile, supplying your body with the amino acids that it can’t make on it’s own. This can be an important factor for people who do not eat animal products, especially if you’re working to build muscle. Many reviewers say that this protein shake blends easily, even if you don’t have access to a blender. This can be great for convenience, since you can drink it anywhere that you have a shaker bottle.
Pros
- Non-GMO
- Certified organic
- No sugar
- Soy free
- Gluten free
Cons
- Some people experience digestive bloating after drinking
Review: Take a look at a review of Sun Warrior Classic Plus here.
9. Amazing Grass Protein Superfood
If you’re familiar with Amazing Grass, you’ve likely seen or bought their wheat grass supplement. Amazing Grass is known for it’s high quality ingredients. Amazing Grass Protein Superfood has 2 grams net carbs and 20 grams of protein. The shake offers a blend of quinoa, chia, pea, and hemp proteins.
There’s also a green food blend. This blend includes broccoli, spinach, spirulina, chlorella, alfalfa, barley grass, and wheat grass. The shake also includes a fruit and vegetable blend.
This blend includes rose hips, sweet potato, raspberry, carrot, beet, goji, banana and acai. There are also three different kinds of vanilla included, creating a unique flavor profile. Amazing Grass Protein Superfood is available in peanut butter, chocolate peanut butter, pure vanilla, and rich chocolate.
Pros
- Green food blend
- Fruit and vegetable blend
- Excellent taste
Cons
- Some reviewers feel it tastes too much like stevia
- Texture can be off-putting if it’s not completely blended
- Contains peanuts (issue for those with food sensitivities or allergies)
Review: Click here for a look at a review on Amazing Grass Protein Superfood.
10. Sun Warrior Blend
Sunwarrior Warrior Blend Protein
With zero grams net carbs, Sun Warrior Blend is a great choice for people who are either on the keto diet or generally looking to lower their carb count throughout the day.
This protein powder contains a combination of antioxidants, legumes, plant proteins, goji berries, and MCT oil. The MCT oil provides a boost of fat that can be helpful with staying full on keto. This protein can be used either pre or post workout. This shake contains all fo the essential amino acids, making it perfect for people who are working to build muscle while keeping their carbs low. This shake also has electrolytes, making it great for helping your body to get hydrated after a hard workout.
Pros
- MCT oil and coconut
- Non-GMO
- Certified organic
- Sugar free
Cons
- Can be tough to mix, need to use a blender
- Some reviewers can taste the stevia and would prefer a different sweetener
Review: Check out a review of Sun Warrior Blend here.
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