Chocolate-Almond Butter Vegan Protein Shake

This is my favorite vegan protein shake because it’s not only loaded with nutrition, it’s also energizing, which is exactly what a vegetarian bodybuilder needs before or after an intense workout. I provide two versions to accommodate different fitness goals.

“Pack on Mass” Recipe

protein-shake-recipeIngredients

  • 1 scoop of vegan protein powder “RAW Meal – Real Raw Chocolate Cacao” by Garden of Life
  • 1 heaping tbsp of chia
  • 1 heaping tbsp of maca
  • 1 cup unsweatened almond milk (Almond Breeze)
  • 1/2 banana
  • 2 heaping tbsp of creamy almond butter, salted
  • 1 cup of ice (add more or less to your liking)

 Nutritional Information

  • Calories: 645
  • Fat: 27g
  • Protein: 46g
  • Carbs: 54g

“Lean Muscle” Recipe

 Ingredients

  • 1 scoop of vegan protein powder “RAW Protein – Real Raw Chocolate Cacao” by Garden of Life
  • 1 scoop of vegan protein powder “Organic Plant Protein – Chocolate” by PlantFusion
  • 1 heaping tbsp of chia
  • 1 heaping tbsp of maca
  • 1 cup unsweatened almond milk (Almond Breeze)
  • 1 tbsp of creamy almond butter, salted
  • 1 cup of ice (add more or less to your liking)

Nutritional Information

  • Calories: 522
  • Fat: 16.5g
  • Protein: 44g
  • Carbs: 36.5g

Breakdown of Extra Ingredients

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are an unprocessed, whole-grain food that can be absorbed by the body (unlike flaxseeds). These power-packed little guys contain healthy omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, antioxidants, and calcium.

Maca Powder

Maca is a root from Peru; it’s a tuber, like a potato, and offers an amazing energy boost. Unlike coffee, it offers energy in a non-caffeinated way that supports the body.

Maca is a nutritionally dense super-food with high amounts of minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and all of the essential amino acids. It is rich in B-vitamins, which provide energy, and is a vegetarian source of B-12. Maca also has high levels of bioavailable calcium and magnesium, and is great for remineralization.

This root helps balance our hormones, and due to an overabundance of environmental estrogens, most people’s hormones are a bit out of whack. Maca stimulates and nourishes the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, which are the “master glands” of the body. These actually regulate the other glands, so when they are in balance, so too are the adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, ovarian, and testicular glands.

Almond Butter

Almond nut butter contains several essential vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and a fair amount of protein in a small serving size. I personally like adding this to the shake for the added texture.

Is almond butter healthier than peanut butter?

Peanut butter and almond butter have similar nutritional value. The biggest issues with peanuts are:

  • It has a risk of allergens.
  • There can be mold (a toxin) in peanut shells, so many people avoid them.
  • Peanuts are actually a legume, and some people find them harder to digest than almonds.