March 27, 2015
(last updated September 21, 2020) 
Not too long ago, the folks at Sprout Living, a company that produces high quality vegan protein powder, asked if I’d be willing to write about their Epic Proteins on Choosing Raw. Sprout Living makes a variety of proteins, including brown rice proteins, but their Epic line is made with a special blend of rice, pea, sacha inchi, and cranberry seed. The blends each feature a special “superfood” (lucuma, maca, or spirulina) and a touch of Himalayan Pink Sea Salt.
I haven’t been using protein powders too often lately. This is partially because I don’t make a lot of smoothies in the winter, and partially because, as my relationship with food has evolved, I’ve taken a greater interest in focusing on whole food sources of protein, rather than powders. (Even whole-food-sourced protein powders are, in my mind, supplements.) I’ve also totally moved away from stevia, and since many of my favorite protein brands do include it, my interest in protein powders has lessened considerably. Lately, some savory baked tempeh or a hearty scoop of legumes or creamy hemp seeds in my smoothies just sound a lot more appealing when I’m looking for a protein boost.
These hearty foods and protein powders aren’t mutually exclusive, though, and I try to avoid black-and-white positions when it comes to my diet. So I certainly haven’t forsworn protein powder altogether. I just use it moderately, especially if it contains an artificial sweetener, and I look for brands that really feel different and special. Last year, I discovered NuZest, and it remains a real favorite. Next month, I’ll be sharing an unsweetened protein that serves as a perfect, stevia-free option. And today, I’m excited to introduce you to Sprout Living–and offer you a giveaway, so that you get a chance to win some product of your own.
Sprout Living protein is the real deal. What makes it most immediately noteworthy is the taste. Let’s face it: protein powders don’t always taste great, but these formulas really do. I haven’t spoken to anyone who doesn’t love the flavor, and every time I’ve mentioned the brand on Instagram, at least several people have chimed in to tell me that they love and use it at home. Sprout Living has a pretty devoted following, and it’s not hard to see why.
For one thing, it’s rare to find protein powders that contain any amount of brown rice protein without the slightest bit of chalky flavor. Sprout Living powders aren’t chalky at all; I’ve been amazed at how smoothly they blend up into drinks without leaving me with the peculiar dry mouth I’ve had with brown rice proteins in the past. In spite of the fact that several flavors contain stevia, they’re also not overly sweet, which I appreciate very much. And for those of you who don’t care for stevia at all, the natural pumpkin seed flavor is 100% sweetener free: it’s just cold-pressed pumpkin seed powder.
Most of all, I love the creativity of these blends. It’s not just chocolate, vanilla, and plain: the company has really thought outside of the box when it comes to cool superfood flavor pairings. The vanilla flavor, for example, tastes not only like real vanilla bean, but also has hints of ginger and salt. It is truly delicious, as is the chocolate maca.
All Sprout Living products are raw, vegan, organic and kosher. They’re also free of gluten, soy, nuts and GMOs, and none contain things in quotation marks (“natural/organic” flavoring, “other ingredients,” or additives). The company is passionate and very active within the healthy living community, and the Sprout Living website features a ton of awesome recipes by bloggers and chefs who have tasted the brand and loved it. All of the recipes are vegan, too!
Speaking of recipes, I wanted to create one that would highlight the flavor of the Green Kingdom protein.
This flavor also contains ginger and a hint of salt, and it’s totally delicious. A green smoothie seemed obvious, at first. But on a morning when I wanted something a little more substantial than a smoothie, a pudding/ice cream blend sounded like a more appealing concept. I ended up creating this avocado/banana “ice cream” in my Vitamix.
It’s not as thick as banana soft serve, but as you can see, it’s quite dense and holds its shape really well. It’s also a perfect vehicle for your favorite toppings. Here’s the (easy) recipe!
Green Kingdom Avocado Banana “Ice Cream”
Author -Ingredients
- 2 frozen bananas
- 1/2 small Hass avocado
- 3/4-1 cup almond milk
- 1 cup baby spinach or kale
- 2 scoops 1 serving Sprout Living Green Kingdom protein powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or powder
- Topping options optional: Pomegranate seeds, buckwheat cereal, shredded coconut, cacao nibs, sliced fruit, nuts, seeds, or dried fruit
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients, adjusting the amount of almond milk as needed to achieve a texture that's thicker than a smoothie, but easy to blend. Serve, with toppings if desired.
So much richness and texture here:
This smoothie will get your day off to a bright start, to be sure. And the “ice cream” concept will probably inform most of my smoothies this summer–I just love having something a little more substantial to savor!
I’d love for you all to have a chance to check out this cool new protein powder and try some of the flavors for yourselves. So, please enter below to win:
-A 1LB of Green Kingdom protein powder
-A sample of each of the other Sprout Living Epic Protein flavors
-A Sprout Living tote bag
-A Sprout Living shaker jar.
US and Canadian residents only. The giveaway will run for two weeks. Good luck!
I hope you enjoy the recipe in the meantime. I’ll see you soon for weekend reading!
xo
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Categories: Recipes,
Fruit Desserts,
Ice Cream,
Raw Desserts,
Snacks
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, No Oil, Raw, Soy Free, Vegan
Dietary Preferences: Gluten Free, No Oil, Raw, Soy Free, Vegan
Leave a Comment
These flavors sound amazing! I’ll go with vanilla lucuma.
Chocolate maca for the win!!
The chocolate would probably be my favorite, but I want to try the green one!
Oh my god they all sound amazing!
Vanilla lucuma! Now that tickles my tastebuds 🙂
Vanilla lucuma sounds absolutely delicious! I would love to try all of them.
I’ve been way into maca lately, but the lucuma sounds so good.
That looks yummy! Perfect for a summer meal. As it is already 87 degrees here in Florida, I will have to try this very soon.
I’d like to try the chocolate maca.
Vanilla lucuma! I love vanilla anything. And I’m glad to hear I’m not alone in my stevia avoidance – I seriously find the flavor disgusting. When I want something sweet, give me pure maple syrup!
The Chocolate Maca sounds yummy.
I’d like to try the green living. i’m not a fan of stevia, so this sounds good.
I would especially love to try the chocolate maca. I have read maca is helpful for balancing hormones, and I think it would be a great addition to my diet. Plus I love chocolate!
vanilla!
The chocolate maca sounds amazing!
Love that it is non-gmo!
They all sound amazing!! Lately I have been all about making my own chocolate maca smoothies…so maybe that flavour would be good to try!
this looks great! cant wait to try.
The Green Kingdom is the one I’d want to try first, with the Vanilla as a close second. They all sound very good
Chocolate maca! sounds amazing!!!!
I’d love to try the Green Kingdom; I love the ingredients it has (and what ti doesn’t have).
I make a lot of chocolate smoothies so the chocolate maca would definitely be my favorite!
Chocolate Maca sounds delicious! Thanks for the chance to win.
As much as I love chocolate, the vanilla-lucuma flavour sounds awesome!
I’m kind of a vanilla girl!
Vanilla lucuma…
I’d love to try the Vanilla Lucuma! I love vanilla flavored things.
I would love the vanilla…now….if I could just win a great blender!!!!!
Chocolate maca 🙂
Chocolate Maca!
Vanilla lacuma would be my daily go to, but the chocolate maca would make a killer chocolate almond banana smoothie!
How can you go wrong with chocolate?
Green living all the way, baby.
I’ve been looking for a new protein powder, and these flavors sound amazing!! Definitely want to try it! Thanks for posting !!
i would love to try the chocolate maca!
chocolate for SURE
I am a huge fan of maca and an even bigger fan of chocolate. So I am totally team Maca Chocolate!
Chocolate maca!! Always Chocolate
chocolate maca!
I would definitely try the chocolate one first.
All those flavors sound amazing! I’d probably like to try Green Living first though!
I have the vanilla and chocolate at home and I love them both. I’d love to try the Green Living!
vanilla lacuma sounds great!
Vanilla-Lacuma!
GREEN LIVING FOR SURE!
YUM
Yum– sounds like a great vision and new protein power find on the market these days 🙂 Hope I win!
Vanilla Lucuma for me
I think that the Green Living powder would be wonderful in my morning smoothies.
What a fabulous giveaway! I enjoy reading your blog so much & love your recipes & viewpoint.
Have a blessed day,
Sarah Grace
I love chocolate, so that would probably be my favorite. But I have to try them all!
I love the idea of trying a protein powder with vanilla AND ginger…yummm
The Vanilla Lucuma
Vanilla. If it tastes good. LOVE vanilla
generous giveaway! looks great
Chocolate maca 🙂
Vanilla Lucuma sounds just wonderful, thanks 🙂
Chocolate maca…when did protein powders become so tantalizing?!
Chocolate=delicious and maca=amazing! Definitely want to try that one please!
sprout living’s vanilla lucuma is a far cry from being just another “vanilla” protein powder — they’ve even added a pinch of baobab in there for an extra boost of vitamin c, which i love!
I’m always partial to vanilla so out of your list I’d pick it but after looking at the Sprout Living website I also like the sound of the original!
The vanilla (the addition of ginger sounds really good!)
Looks beautiful.
Chocolate maca because nothing beats chocolate!
I’m digging the sound of Vanilla Lucema. Love that flavor profile!
Vanilla Lucuma sounds like heaven. I absolutely adored NuZest, so I trust your opinion on these 100% and hope I get a chance to try them myself!
the greener the better!
I am intrigued by the vanilla lucuma flavor! I have never had lucuma before, so I would love to try that one.
I think the Chocolate Maca!
I have a hard time finding a powder I like. I did find an organic vanilla one that works well in berry smoothies. I would like to find others to expand my options.
That smoothie bowl looks amazing! I think all of the flavours sound great, but vanilla lucuma sounds particularly awesome!
Vanilla lucuma!! Love lucuma!
Vanilla Lucuma! I’m from peru and it’s such a popular flavor!!
This looks great!
Especially Chocolate Maca
I think the Vanilla Lucuma would be my favorite, I’d love to try it!
Love the versatility of the Green Living and Vanilla Lucuma, yet Chocolate Maca can’t be so bad… 😉
I think green living would be my favorite because I love eating vibrant colors!
Ooh those all sound good. I’d love to try the greens though!
I think I would love Vanilla Lucuma the most because vanilla flavors are always the most versatile(:
Vanilla lacuma sounds amazing!!
chocolate maca
How could I possibly choose a flavor? They all sound good!
Chocolate maca!
Thank you for hosting this giveaway, Gena! These products sound fantastic, and your smoothie bowl looks absolutely smashing!
I’m quite sure the Green Kingdom would be my favorite, but I love how novel all the flavors sound.
Cheers!
Chocolate Maca!
Vanilla lucuma! I just discovered lucuma and love the natural sweet/richness it adds to smoothies!
Definitely the vanilla. I love chocolate in everything but protein powders.
Flip Flops and Furs
Chocolate Maca sounds delish!
I currently use the chocolate maca and live it! Really excited to try the others, especially the vanilla lucuna
Would love to try this protein – I only use plant based protein powders am always interested in trying a new kind!
Sorry about the typo – meant to say: “and” am always interested in trying a new kind!
I would love to try the Green Kingdom!
Vanilla lucuma would be awesome in ice cream, and a perfect alternative for those recipes in which green (or chocolate) wouldn’t fit quite as well. But I must say that the green one is calling my name, too…
I’d like Vanilla Lucuma best.
I’d probably like Green Living best.
I’ve been guiltlessly indulging in banana soft serve every evening this week.
Some might think it would get old after a couple of days, but… 😉
MmM Choco Maca
Chocolate maca for days!
Green living
Chocolate maca!! YES! Chocolate is always my favorite. Would love to make this for a smoothie bowl or in a cacao smoothie with banana, coconut and nut butter!
Chocolate maca all the way!
Chocolate maca…because, well, chocolate!