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Vegan protein powders nowadays have become a lot more generic since more companies have started producing them. All in all, this is a positive shift–at least in my opinion–because more brands can reach out to those with different dietary preferences and lifestyle choices. Personally, as a vegan, I want to see more options that I can enjoy. With that being said, protein powders are a great way for me to experiment with all kinds of protein blends and reap various benefits from all of them. BUT. What if you’re a plant-based Paleo person? What’s there for you?

As you’ve probably seen on my Instagram countless times during my university days, my go-to protein powder was the True Nutrition custom vegan soy protein blend that I’d exchange the flavor of every time (though cookies n’ creme is my favorite!). While I still adore this brand dearly, I decided to take a little break to switch things around for the time-being. Meanwhile, I found a brand that seemed to solve the question I initially thought of earlier in this post: Oriya Organics. Yes, it indeed has a plant-based Paleo protein powder.

Contrary to popular belief, there are many vegan foods that are also Paleo-friendly. Sweet potatoes, nuts, seeds, spinach, fruits, chia seeds, avocados, coconut, and pretty much every single non-starchy vegetable known to man. Hence, the main ingredients used in this protein powder consist of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, cranberries, and goji berries. I absolutely credit Oriya for taking a pure, whole foods-based, and simple approach! No preservatives, additives, or fortified nutrients needed!

Nutritionally speaking, this protein boasts a relatively smaller caloric content, lower carb and sugar content, and pretty much average in everything else except for fiber, magnesium, and iron, which are amazingly high. In addition, it contains all amino acids, raw, cold-pressed, vegan, soy free, gluten free, dairy free, and not synthetic. Most protein powders are 120-150 calories a scoop, which is still pretty macro-friendly, but generally comes with at least five grams of sugar and less than two grams of fiber.

PROS

For a vegan AND Paleo protein powder, Oriya Organics’ product boasts some fabulous offers: macro-friendliness, nutritional quality, and versatility. I absolutely love that the powder contains a significant amount of magnesium, a nutrient many are easily deficient in, as well as iron, fiber, and calcium. In addition, there are not as many carbohydrates and sugar as leading vegan protein powder brands!

CONS

Taste and texture wise, it’s definitely on the healthier side. Sensory-wise, it is unsweetened, seed-based, gritty, grainy, and bitter. Anyone who is not a fan of leafy greens will most certainly not like the taste of this powder, but fortunately, it can be very well-masked in other recipes such as smoothies and pastries, or incorporated with non-dairy milk, sweetener, fruit, etc. Cost-wise, it is on the pricier side at $44.59 (not including shipping and tax).

OVERALL

Investing in quality, nutrition, health, and convenience is ultimately what Oriya Organics’s message embodies. Not all protein powders need an unreasonably overwhelming quantity of all kinds of ingredients that make the product more challenging to digest. The preservative properties of the whole foods themselves suffice perfectly. With that being said, the protein powder is not super cheap and its plain flavor is not super tasty on its own. Still, I absolutely adored using it and was incredibly sad to have finished it all. There are so many fun ways to integrate this protein into your diet, such as protein granola, protein frosting, cookie dough, pancakes, and this brownie bowl recipe!

RECIPE (serves 1-2)

• 1 scoop Oriya organics protein powder
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, canned pumpkin, or mashed banana
• 2 TBSP cacao powder
• 8 TBSP peanut butter powder
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• Toppings to garnish: strawberries, blueberries, and granola
  • Let’s be real though…nut butter, chocolate chips, cinnamon, toasted coconut, raspberries, and/or tahini would taste fabulous with this!

PROCEDURE

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Fully blend the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl until the texture and color are uniform.
3. Slowly incorporate the applesauce until the batter is thick and smooth.
4. Spray a bowl with non-stick spray.
5. Pour the batter into the bowl, flattening the surface.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Let cool completely before devouring (freeze or refrigerate to speed up the process, but beware that this will change the temperature of the kitchen appliance).

Site: https://oriyaorganics.com/