Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders: The Pros and Cons

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. Below, I’ve covered the pros and cons of this dairy-free protein powder supplement, from my perspective, followed by pertinent information on the product.

Why I Like Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders

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 tried the Chai, 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. You can see the nutrition facts below – it’s 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.

What I would Change About 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. Update: They did bring the price down – from $29.99 to $23.99 – which is much better!

Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders Ingredients & Nutrition

As mentioned, it comes in four varieties, which include the following.

Vanilla

Ingredients: pea protein powder, inulin (chicory root fiber), chia seed, natural vanilla flavor powder (sugar, cornstarch, vanilla oleoresin), natural vanilla flavor with other natural flavors, monk fruit extract, probiotic (organic inulin, bacillus coagulans gbi-30 6086)

Nutrition (per 1/3 cup): 180 calories, 3g fat, 19g carbs, 12g fiber, 3g sugars, 20g protein.*

Chocolate

Ingredients: pea protein powder, inulin (chicory root fiber), chia seed, cocoa, natural vanilla flavor powder (sugar, cornstarch, vanilla oleoresin), toasted carob powder, monk fruit extract, probiotic (organic inulin, bacillus coagulans gbi-30 6086)

Nutrition (per 1/3 cup): 180 calories, 3.5g fat, 18g carbs, 12g fiber, 2g sugars, 20g protein.*

Chai

Ingredients: pea protein powder, inulin (chicory root fiber), chia seed, natural vanilla chai flavor , monk fruit extract, probiotic (organic inulin, bacillus coagulans gbi-30 6086).

Nutrition (per 1/3 cup): 180 calories, 3g fat, 19g carbs, 11g fiber, 1g sugars, 20g protein.*

Protein & Fiber

Ingredients: pea protein powder, inulin (chicory root fiber), chia seed, psyllium fiber powder, probiotic (organic inulin, bacillus coagulans gbi-30 6086)

Nutrition (per 1/3 cup): 160 calories, 3g fat, 14g carbs, 12g fiber, 1g sugars, 20g protein.*

More Facts on Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders

Price: $23.99 per 1-lb bag

Availability: Bob’s Red Mill Nutritional Booster Protein Powders are sold at Whole Foods, Target, Safeway stores, and other natural food stores. You can also order them online from Amazon.

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, and vegetarian.*

For More Product Information: Visit the Bob’s Red Mill website at www.bobsredmill.com.

*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy. 

A short list of healthy ingredients, and nothing else

Rated 4 out of 5

February 15, 2020

Made with a short list of healthy ingredients, and nothing else, this meal replacement powder has tons of virtue and pleasant flavor, to boot. We loved the creamy pea protein base, and most will like the fiber, omega 3, probiotic and prebiotic boosters. Our only hopes are for ground chia seeds (rather than whole, for a more seamless blend), a nudge down on the pricing, and a little more depth in the flavor – more spices in the Chai please!

Alisa Fleming