People are always amazed when I tell them I’ve been a vegetarian for 25 years.
Once they do the math and realize I was a tween when I went veg, they usually assume I have a dramatic story or an idealistic, save-the-animals sort of reason for eschewing meat at such a young age, and I always feel like I disappoint them with I tell them the real story.
Which is how I learned — in great detail — in my 8th grade science class where specific cuts of meat were from … which was EXACTLY what my mother had prepared for dinner that night. I couldn’t take a bite without thinking about what I learned in class, and that was it.
My mother, rightly so, told me she wasn’t going to prepare two meals each night, so if I wasn’t going to eat meat, I had to take care of myself.
Well, that’s all I needed to hear. The gauntlet had been thrown. And this stubborn, slightly rebellious tween wasn’t going to back down.
And flash forward 25 years.
Even though being vegetarian is part of who I am — and honestly I don’t remember my meat-eating days (well, except at St. Patrick’s Day, when I still crave corned beef) — I still struggle with making sure I get enough protein daily (which was a big issue for me when I was pregnant).
For awhile, I ate a lot of dairy (not good for the waistline) then went to all the processed faux meat foods before finally coming to a blend of legumes, Greek yogurt, eggs, and the less-processed veggie products in a pinch (like Gardein).
But over the last year or two, I added another protein source to my repertoire — protein powder — right around the time I started getting hooked on smoothies for breakfast.
I’ve tried all sorts of protein powder (hemp, whey, etc.), but my new favorite is GNC’s vanilla-flavored SuperFoods Spiru-Meal™, which actually combines some of those protein sources, along with a few others I was less familiar with (like pea and brown rice), in addition to soy. And everything is plant-based.
Also, it turns out that each serving of GNC SuperFoods Spiru-Meal contains spirulina and bee pollen, which provide beneficial vitamins and minerals to support optimal nutrition and health. And its loaded with 14 grams of protein derived from non-GMO sources — a BIG plus in my book.
I’ve been obsessed lately with my cherry-berry-spinach-almond milk smoothie with two scoops of Spiru-Meal and I am full until lunch! I also like how the powder doesn’t have that gritty feel to it that some protein powders can have. And the vanilla flavor is tasty and complements the fruit!
Since I’m guessing I’m not the only one unfamiliar with pea and brown rice protein, here’s the scoop (no pun intended):
Brown Rice Protein
- But because brown rice protein is not a complete or whole protein, it is most commonly paired with pea protein to complete the essential amino acid profile.
- Brown rice protein is a convenient source of protein for vegetarians.
- Pea proteins are commonly high in the amino acids lysine and arginine
- Pea protein is a great option for vegetarians and vegans
Click here
for more info about plant-based protein or — better yet — join me for a Twitter chat on Wednesday, December 10 at 1 p.m. ET! Use the hashtag #GNCPlantProtein to get in on the conversation!