Protein powder is repellent

[pelagra]

I'm trying to up my protein, which goes against the grain. I naturally want to eat higher carbs, low fat and protein. But I realise that this is what got me to BMI 31, so I'm trying to change as I start Wegovy. I cook from scratch all the time, so I've been browsing food websites and cookery books.

I found several recipes with vanilla protein powder, and bought some from Lidl. It is absolutely foul. Grainy, artificial tasting and sweetened. A perfect way to ruin an innocent bowl of porridge and fruit. I can't imagine why anyone would want to consume it.

I've also tried natural hemp protein powder. The flavour is better, but there is still a nasty texture to anything I add it to, and of course it turns everything olive green.

Should I accept this isn't for me, or is there a better version I could try?

I really don't care for it either. But it's useful, so I just worked out a low enough dose I couldn't taste and adjusted accordingly.

They are good with water. Milk is optional for many.

I have found they taste awful with water (and I dont really like milk) but it is really individual isnt it.

Yeah we eat real food too, you know? Is it really so hard to understand that different things work for different people?

Protein powder is a weird thing to be angry about. Especially if you inject a chemical yourself.

Most probably do either way. Im glad I found mine.

I am going to try the MyProtein one you mentioned when I do my next order. Nice to have an alternative.

You can order the sample of the raspberry and vanilla. Someone mentioned raspberry and white choc is okay too, but unfortunately there isn't a sample. Maybe I will order it anyway as I imagine i will get fed up of the same flavour.

We used to put unflavoured powder in ds's food such as pasta sauce, also used to stick a spoonful of chia seeds in. (he has arfid and is underweight/eats very little protein.) He does like things like ready made protein chocolate milk and a cereal called Weetabix protein crunch.

There is no way on earth I could drink flavoured protein powder.

For myself I make adjustments such as I have egg on toast for breakfast every day and instead of 2 eggs on 2 rounds of toast I have 3 eggs on 1 round of toast. I increase the quantity of chicken I have on my meal and decrease the amount of bread.

Ds started to have things like cottage cheese on a jacket potato and greek yoghurt (natural but flavoured with fresh fruit). Both high in protein.

Not counting but I know I get largely sufficient.

Organic protein co has a non flavoured powder.
I’m just having their new coffee flavour now. It’s bloody delicious - like a cold latte ☕️🥛🧋

I’m not a big protein power fan. I don’t mind the puriton powder. My dc likes free soul. My protein do clear ones I’ve tried a vimto flavour.
once you get into groove logging you’ll realise there’s easy protein wins eg Greek yoghurt in porridge or do as baked oats with egg and Greek yoghurt. Prawns/fish are high protein low cal.

You just named a few foods, you didn't explain how I'd get to 120g of protein every day on a calorie-restricted diet, which is what I would need for body recomposition, at least according to some people.

@Gwenhwyfari suppose it depends how many calories you are eating?

I think it's difficult however many you eat on a typical vegetarian diet. I was laughing at the poster who is 100% sure she is getting enough, but has never measured.

Unless you're a body builder it's unnecessary.
1 portion -20 /30g protein per meal x 3 a day is plenty for gen pop, considering other non protein foods also still contain protein. A slice of bread can be 4-6g.

Whey protein is a by-product of making cheese, and marketed and sold to make money. It's swapping one upf for another, and not helping rebuild any habits.

Funny, there's no marketing on things that don't come from a packet... No money to be made..

Eggs
Chicken
Beef / mince
Turkey
Milk
Ham
Tuna
Salmon
Mackerel
Cod / white fish
Cheese
Pok chops
Steak

Even a standard portion of pasta has 10g,

Vegetarian
Peas and pasta
Peanut butter on toast
Tofu
Edemame
Cottage cheese
Greek / skyr Yoghurt

Use myfitnesspal to track

"Unless you're a body builder it's unnecessary."

Aren't we all supposed to be building muscles after 40 now? Or at least maintaining it if losing weight? That's the usual advice anyway.
I don't really agree about peanut butter being a good source of protein.

I don’t understand this comment.

Why do you think you should be consuming this much protein in a day??

Protein targets are based on lean body mass and therefore if you are overweight should be calculated on target weight, not current weight.

Do you like nuts and seeds OP? Yoghurt plus nuts and seeds is a great protein rich option. Chia seeds especially. Or add nuts and seeds to porridge or cottage cheese. Also very rich in other nutrients, unlike protein powders.

Chia seeds taste of nothing so you could add them to lots of things. They do absorb a lot of liquid over time though so if adding to something like soup, do it last minute!

Eggs, you’ve said you like a crustless quiche. You’d probably like breakfast/egg muffins which are made with no or little flour plus veg/ham etc. Good with spices in.

You’re probably better off taking creatine and doing resistance training once you’re in your 40s to build / maintain muscle mass and protect bone density.

How can I get 120 g of protein being vegetarian?

ChatGPT :
Getting 120 g of protein as a vegetarian is absolutely doable — it just requires intentional food choices and spreading protein across meals.

Below is a simple, practical way to hit ~120 g/day without crazy portions.

🥣 Option 1: Lacto-Vegetarian (includes dairy)
Breakfast (~30 g)
250 g Greek yogurt → 25 g

20 g chia/hemp seeds → 5 g

Lunch (~35 g)
150 g cooked lentils → 12 g

150 g tofu → 18 g

Veg + whole grains → ~5 g

Snack (~25 g)
Protein smoothie:

1 scoop whey or plant protein → 22–25 g

Soy milk (250 ml) → 7 g
(You can adjust amounts to stay near 25 g total)

Dinner (~30 g)
200 g cottage cheese (paneer) → 24 g

Quinoa (1 cup cooked) → 8 g

Total: ~120–130 g

HTH

A few things I use to add protein that are not powders...
Biotiful kefir protein yoghurt half a pot 125g = 15g protein and 83 calories. The morrison plain protein yoghurt is also ok, some mashed up berries make it nicer.
Aldi protein sourdough bread 10g protein and 130 calories a slice
I batch cook lentils in stock in the slow cooker and then add a few spoonfuls to soup for lunch each day, it adds about 6.5g protein for only 80 calories
Lidl or aldi smoked tofu 100g is 14g protein and 125 calories. I air fry cubes to snack on or add to soups / salad/ stirfry / wraps

Palatable powder options I have found... Nutrition Geeks collagen in coffee 14g = 12.6g protein 50 calories
Huel protein (salted caramel) 1 scoop = 20g protein 90 calories and tastes ok so long as you drink it as soon as you make it

@TheBlueKoala 120g protein but it is already around 1300 calories just from the protein sources, before you make them into something resembling a meal ... it is hard when you have to factor in calories.

Most studies of protein intake have been in body builders, very few in women. The exact amount consumed or time it is taken is less important than doing resistance training / weights to maintain or build muscle.

I agree with a PP, your protein intake should be worked out using your ideal or target weight if you are overweight, you need enough protein to 'feed' your muscles, you don't need 1g / kg if you are carrying a significant amount of that weight as fat.

Lidl Protein powder is not nice! Try the Women’s Best one - much better.

how do you think some of the protein labelled food get to a higher protein content?
some have protein powder added...