everlast nutrition vegan protein powder review

Disclaimer: I received four sample packets of Vanilla Everlast Nutrition Vegan Protein Powder to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review, find, and write race reviews!

Hey guys! I'm back with another product review, thanks to the good folks at BibRave and Everlast Nutrition.

I have never tried protein powder before, so I was new to this whole thing, but was definitely interested in giving it a try! I was excited to have the opportunity to learn more about it all. I had to google recipes to find something I liked. Also, I should mention, I am not a vegan or vegetarian, so I used ingredients that were in my normal diet. However, there seem to be a lot of options for vegans out there (a few of my vegan friends were suggesting almond milk and coconut milk to replace regular milk… unfortunately for me, I don’t like either of those haha). I wasn’t sure if using non-vegan ingredients was a no-no, but Everlast tweeted me back saying that the beauty of Everlast VP is that it’s for everyone! So for me, that means you should make it how you like it, with whatever ingredients that might include. Hooray! If you're interested in learning more about Everlast Nutrition, go here.

The first time I tried it, my husband made it for me before I headed to work. He mixed milk, Everlast VP, ice, and some honey. I didn’t love it – the texture was a bit too thick, and the taste wasn’t anything to write home about. I figured maybe I needed another ingredient or two, so, I did some ‘research’ on that thing called Google, searching for protein powder shake/smoothie recipes. I found one with ingredients I had in the house already (or could modify for ones I had), and for someone like me who isn’t too kitchen savvy, looked easy enough. The result? Deliciousness! 

Vanilla Banana Protein Smoothie
Put the following ingredients into a blender or Magic Bullet:
• 1 serving Everlast VP Vanilla (I used my sample package)
• 1/2 cup milk (I used 1%, which was in the fridge)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 banana
• dash of cinnamon
• ice

• mix until smooth

I didn’t have any lumps or chunks, so the texture was smooth and not too thick for this food-texture phobia gal. I think I would call it a shake over a smoothie, but I’m not sure what the difference is. The second time around with this recipe I used the whole banana instead of half. If worked just as well, and figured why not use the whole banana? I also added a small squeeze of caramel sauce. Yum.

Putting Everlast VP into the blender.

The actual recipe calls for almond milk instead of regular milk. I'm sure my 1% is adding more calories, but I prefer the taste and it seems to mix with my fraps and smoothies better than than Skim Milk we usually have. Depending how you make it, this simple, low-calorie smoothie with protein powder and almond milk helps fuel your workout (or fuels you post-workout), and adding half a banana (or like me, the whole thing) to the mix helps keep your electrolytes balanced. 

The finished product! Sorry for my feet..

My husband used one of my sample packets to make his own smoothie (apparently he was unaware that they weren't for him haha). He has used protein powders before, and said that he thought the Everlast VP was pretty good compared to the others he has tried. He's the kind of cook that just dumps things in without measuring, so all I can say is he used milk, ice, Everlast VP, and a banana. Anyway, he says it was enjoyable, which is the point I'm trying to make haha.

And why do we need protein? Here's an article from Runner's World about it, but the gist is that 'adequate protein intake accelerates muscle growth and speeds recovery by helping rebuild muscle fibers stressed during a run. Since protein helps muscles heal faster, runners who consume the right amount are less likely to get injured.' And guess what? Those that don't consume the sufficient amounts are at a higher risk for injury. Proper protein intake has also been shown to help maintain a strong immune system. Pass the protein, please!

How much is the right amount? The recommended daily amount is .36 grams per pound of body weight, 'but that's not enough for athletes, according to ISSN, which says endurance athletes like runners need .45 to .72 grams per pound. That translates into 75 to 120 grams of protein daily for a 165-pound runner.' Seriously, though, that article has a lot of good info for you, I found it very helpful, as I tend to have no idea what I should be eating, or how much of certain items (like protein) I need on a daily basis.

Everlast VP has 22g of protein in one serving, along with 1.5 g fat, 0 cholesterol, 540mg of sodium, 2g carbohydrates, and 2% calcium. One serving is 110 calories  15 of which are from fat. They suggest mixing 1 scoop in 8–12 oz of water or your favorite cold beverage or smoothie. I personally prefer the smoothie option :) 

Ingredients include: plant protein (pea protein, rice protein, hemp protein) carrageenan, sea salt, natural flavor, and stevia glycoside. This product is made or packaged in the same facility as products that contain milk, eggs, wheat, and soy.

I find it to be a great way to get my breakfast in in the morning (I usually can't eat anything for at least an hour after waking up), but I'm ok to drink things. I'm also not one to wake up early enough to be awake long enough to eat breakfast before going to work, so, I make a smoothie and drink it on my commute. As a smoothie, you are generally adding quite a few more calories, so it can work well as a meal replacement. I find that the smoothie fills me up until my next meal, without needing a bunch of snacks in between.

I also wasn't sure if it was best to get the protein pre- or post-workout scientifically (though I felt pre-workout drinking a smoothie wouldn't sit so well), so EverlastVegan answered me on Twitter: After a workout, muscle growth and repair are heightened for 24+ hours. Consume protein during this period to amplify muscle building. So there you have it. Drink your protein post-workout to help that muscle recovery!

If you're interested in giving Everest VP a try (or already have a love it), use code 'HEATHERRUNS13_1' for 5% off! Also, they currently have a promotion that if you buy a package of Everlast VP, you get a free Everlast 20oz Shake Cup (limited quantity available until supplies last). They are ALSO providing free shipping on all US orders over $20, which is also a limited time offer. I wouldn't wait to get these special deals, just sayin'. Grab yours today!

A package is 31 servings, or 2 pounds, and costs $39.99. From what I hear, that's a reasonable price. I've never purchased protein powder before, so couldn't do any comparison, but my sources say that's cheap for a protein powder, especially when it's a vegan product.

EverlastVegan will be sponsoring #BibChat this upcoming Tuesday at 8pm CT – join the conversation and have a chance to win some awesome prizes! It's always a fun time, and everyone is welcome!

You should follow them on social media – motivational images and quotes on Facebook, and they are very active on Twitter (they were always responding to my questions, or just interacting with me in general – better than a lot of companies).

Connect with Everest VP:

website | twitter | instagram | facebook

Read some other PROS thoughts and recipes:
Angie (granola bar recipe) | Angie (go-to smoothie recipe) | Jess | Allison | Laurel | Katie | Kim | Laura