I wasn’t sure what to think when Bob’s Red Mill made another move into the already crowded protein powder market, but there’s a lot to love about their pea protein-based Nutritional Booster Protein Powders.
Here’s what I think makes the Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders great:
Very, very simple ingredients. The one sitting in front of me (Chai) contains just pea protein powder, chicory root fiber, chia seed, natural flavor, monk fruit extract, and probiotics. And as noted in my recent post, pea protein is a great option for sustainability.
Four solid varieties to choose from. The line-up includes three wonderful staple flavors (Vanilla, Chocolate & Chai) and an Original variety labeled as Protein & Fiber (it seems to have about the same fiber and protein as the other three, but using pysllium husk and has no flavoring).
Good taste. We trialed the Chai, thus far, which has a pleasant bright vanilla flavor that is sweet enough for most smoothie blends. I sampled it with my simple frozen banana and unsweetened dairy-free milk beverage blend (Chai-nana as Bob’s calls that little recipe on their package) and it was good, but a little more banana-y than spice. I’d love it if they upped the spices in this one.
Dairy-free goodness. Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders are Certified Kosher Parve and appear to be made in one of their facilities that doesn’t handle milk-based ingredients – score! (They do note tree nuts and soy in the facility.)
High fiber and protein with low sugars. The fiber clocks in at around 11 to 12 grams per serving (far more substantial than most protein powders) with 20 grams of protein and just 1 gram of sugar. It’s also relatively lean, with 3 grams of fat. I use just half of a serving, which still provides quite a boost. All together, it is a more well-rounded than most protein powders when used in smoothies, hot cereal or recipes. Some may even classify this as a plant-based meal replacement powder option.
Helpful packaging. They really cover the bases on the bag. It includes the usual suspects – nutrition facts, certifications, ingredients – but they also list helpful nutrition notes that aren’t over-stated (high in iron, how much omega-3 per serving), clear allergen information, their gluten-free testing protocol, and numerous easy dairy-free smoothie recipe ideas.
Here’s where I have mixed feelings on Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders:
The texture. The pea protein itself is awesome – it makes a creamy, thick, smooth, shake-like consistency. But as you can see, if you look closely, on my pictures, there are chia seeds throughout (Tony thought they were bugs at first!). I didn’t really find this problematic, but they do tend to stay whole, but gel, when blended. I would probably prefer ground chia seeds.
The GI helper ingredients. Right on trend, the Nutritional Booster Protein Powders contain probiotics and prebiotics to “feed” them. Like most, Bob’s uses Inulin / Chickory Root Fiber for the prebiotic powder. Fine for most, but those with IBS or other sensitive tummy issues can find inulin a little difficult to stomach. Yes, ironically ingredients made to help the digestive system can actually disrupt it for some people (in my family, too!).
The price. Let’s face it, pumped up protein powders aren’t cheap, but these Nutritional Boosters are a bit more per serving than the brand we have been using. The straight up Pea Protein Powder (also new) from Bob’s Red Mill falls more within our budget, but you don’t get the flavors and added healthy goodies in it – give and take.
Certifications: Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders are Certified Kosher Parve and labeled with their own gluten-free testing.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, always read the ingredient statement and check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Bob’s Red Mill website at www.bobsredmill.com.
