Unlike many people you know, are you trying to gain weight as a vegan and looking for the help of a protein powder to help you get there?? These vegan protein powders are higher in calories and protein than most of the other protein powders and can be added into soy, almond milk, or another plant based milk or blended into a smoothie of your choice. If you’re really looking to gain weight, I would suggest making a smoothie with a tablespoon or 2 of nut butter, a tablespoon or two of coconut oil, a few dates, a couple scoops of each hemp seeds and chia seeds, a scoop of protein powder, 1 frozen banana and milk of choice with any ice you want. This will be calorically and nutrient dense with a significant amount of protein as well to help gain weight as a vegan plant-based eater in a healthful way.
What we love: Vega Sport Premium Protein has 170 calories and 30 grams of protein that will help add mass to your body if you’re trying to gain weight. I would recommend adding more fat and calories to however you choose to consume it with a couple tablespoons of coconut oil and mixed into soy milk compared to other plant-based milk options. Find Vega Sport Premium Protein HERE.
Considerations: With additional protein (30 grams compared to 20-ish grams in other protein powders), this protein powder will be a bit chalkier but you will find that with many of the vegan protein powders on this list that are higher in calories and protein.
5. PROMIX Vegan Protein Powder
What we love: PROMix vegan protein powder is straightforward and a simple way to add calories and protein to your day with only 3 ingredients (pea protein, brown rice protein, and vitamin B12). Because of this, the protein powder is versatile and you can mix it into many foods and even homemade snack bars with it taking on the flavor of whatever you add it into. If you’re looking to add small bits of calories and protein throughout the day instead of in one fail swoop, PROMIX Vegan Protein Powder is a great option!
Considerations: On the other side of the spectrum, if you are looking for a more well rounded vegan protein powder that is made with whole foods, fruits, and vegetables, PROMIX would not be the best option because of the simple ingredient list.
4. Garden Of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein
What we love: Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder has 160 calories and 30 grams of vegan protein in 2 scoops with all essential amino acids so you can be sure that the protein you’re consuming is bioavailable and easily digestible. This becomes increasingly important as you are trying to gain weight and you may be overloading your system. You want to be sure that what you’re ingesting is actually getting absorbed. The probiotics will also help with digestion if you are increasing your overall intake. Find Garden of Life Sport Protein Powder HERE.
Considerations: Because Garden of Life Sport is targeted for post recovery, you’ll see specific post workout recovery ingredients like tart cherry and turmeric that you may or may not need depending on your lifestyle.
3. PlantFusion Complete Meal All Plant-Based Pea Protein Powder
What we love: PlantFusion contains 200 calories and 20 grams of plant-based protein per serving with omega-3 fatty acids and whole foods to help you meet your weight gain goals from a whole food perspective. Each serving contains a range of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients aside from protein and calories. PlantFusion also contains digestive enzymes if you need help digesting those additional calories and proteins you are ingesting in your weight gain attempts. Find PlantFusion Complete Meal Vegan Protein Powder HERE.
Considerations: There are no artificial sweeteners, binders, or gums but there is stevia and inulin. Inulin is a type of fiber that doesn’t agree with everyone’s digestive tracts, especially if eating a high fiber diet. Stevia is a natural sweetener that does have a distinctive taste to some people.
2. Purely Inspired All-in-One Meal Meal Replacement Shake Powder
What we love: Purely Inspired All-in-One Meal Replacement Protein Powder is similar to PlantFusion above in that it’s made with over 20 different fruits and vegetables and provides 270 calories and 40 grams of protein in 2 scoops. If you only consumed 1 scoop because 2 can get a bit chalky, it would be even more similar to PlantFusion. Purely Inspired contains probiotics to help ease digestion and Purely Inspired Vegan Shake can be a great choice in trying to gain weight with a vegan plant-based protein powder.
Considerations: While Purely Inspired contains many fruits and vegetables, it also contains a significant amount of other ingredients and isn’t the most minimalist protein powder that’s for sure.
1. Orgain Organic Plant-Based Meal Replacement Powder
What we love: Orgain Organic Plant-Based Meal Replacement Powder contains 230 calories and 20 grams of vegan protein from various sources. There is no added sugar but they do add extra fat solids to help the meal replacement powder blend into water or plant-based milk well. This powder is certainly the most creamy and contains the least amount of grit in part to the added oils. If you truly are trying to gain weight though, this is more of a mini-meal/snack shake and not an actual meal replacement as you would need significantly more calories for meal to gain weight. Check out Orgain Organic Plant-Based Meal Replacement Powder HERE.
Considerations: As with other Orgain products, the Orgain Organic Plant-Based Meal Replacement Powder contains sugar alcohols that may not agree with everyone’s digestive tract, especially in regular or large amounts.
There you have it, 6 great vegan protein powder options for weight gain. These protein powders are higher in calories and protein and when blended with additional high calorie, nutrient dense foods like coconut oil, peanut butter, almond butter, soy milk, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and other wholesome foods, they can help contribute to weight gain if you require additional calories. If we missed a vegan protein powder you’d add to the list for weight gain, comment below and let us know!