10 Vegan Protein Powders With The Lowest Calories Per Serving

by Mr Plant Based

In this article, I’m going show you some of the best low calorie vegan protein powders you can get. 

The other day when I decided to put together a list of the 10 vegan protein powders with high protein content I didn’t particularly take calorie count into consideration when making that list.

In fact, not many were low calorie vegan protein powders. In fact, many were actually incredibly high in calories.

This is because they where mainly for athletes looking to gain weight and muscle mass.

This got thinking… why not make a list of low-calorie vegan protein powders?  

There are a lot of plant-based eaters out there who are actually at the other end of the spectrum. Instead of needing to bulk up, you might want to maintain your weight or even shed a kilo (or pound) or two.  

It’s all too easy to consume excessive calories while trying to eat a well-balanced plant-based diet.

We need to find a way to get all the protein and essential amino acids that we need.

Sometimes that means eating more.

However, with a high quality, yet low-calorie vegan protein powder, we can limit those extra calories and still get the protein and other essential vitamins our bodies need. 

So here’s a list I put together for those of you looking specifically for low-calorie vegan protein powders.

Let me know what you think!

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any suggestions or personal recommendations.  

10 Low-Calorie Vegan Protein Powders

Brand

Calories Per Serving

Protein Per Serving

Protein Sources

Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal

120 calories

20g protein

Primarily Pea, Brown Rice

Sunwarrior Classic Plus

100 calories

20g protein

Pea, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Chia, Amaranth

Peak Performance Grain Free Plant Protein

117 calories

18g protein

Pea, Hemp, Sacha Inchi, Pumpkin, White Chia, Moringa

True Nutrition Vegan Protein Optimizer

110 calories

23g protein

Pea Protein Isolate, Rice, Hemp

Nature’s Best Plant Based Protein

110 calories

20g protein

Pea, Brown Rice

Tone it Up Plant Based Protein

90 calories

15g protein

Pea protein Isolate, Pumpkin Seed

Nutiva Superfood Smoothie

110 calories

21g protein

Pea, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Hemp

Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

90 calories

21g protein

Pea Protein Isolate

Hush PlantYourDay Hyperconcentrated Protein Powder

110 calories

17g protein

Pea, Pumpkin

PEScience Plant Based Protein Powder

110 calories

20g protein

Pea, Brown rice

#1 Garden of Life, Meal Replacement Chocolate Powder – 120 calories per serving

This is no ordinary protein powder. The protein blend is primarily based on pea powder and brown rice powder.

It is beefed up by additional superfoods like sprouted amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, flax garbanzo, and…. and the list goes on!

This product has an impressive list of ingredients that include an incredible amount of fruits, vegetables, green juice extracts, and probiotics.

This low-calorie protein powder somehow manages to give you a full 20g of protein per serving with only 120 calories.

It’s also surprisingly low in carbs, with just 8g, and impressively low in sodium, with only 150mg.

It is interesting to note that this mix also includes 7g of naturally occurring caffeine.

Depending on your tastes, that can be an added bonus!

This stuff is 100% organic and non-GMO, is completely vegan, soy-free and gluten-free.

The majority of negative reviews have to do with concerns regarding heavy metal contamination – which apparently the company has responded to by reformulating their recipe.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 120 calories

Protein per Serving: 20g protein

Main Protein Source: Primarily Pea, Brown Rice

Get it on Amazon here:  Garden of Life Meal Replacement Chocolate Powder

I also did a full review here of the regular Garden Of Life organic protein powder.

#2 Sunwarrior, Classic Plus – 100 calories per serving

This low-calorie protein powder is no-nonsense. I wouldn’t quite call it “bare bones” but it is definitely as basic as you can get. 

The blend of ingredients is based on pea and brown rice flour, but also includes amaranth, quinoa, and chia. Nothing else.

I’m always impressed with this companies ingredient lists and their lack of stabilizers, sweeteners or flavor enhancers.

Because this is an unflavored blend, you can easily mix it with any fruit of your choice, or add it to your favorite chocolate or vanilla almond milk.

It will only add 100 calories in a 25g serving while contributing 20g of protein. It also has an impressive amount of vitamin c while being low carb and low sodium.

This product is certified organic, vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free. It is also stevia free!

That’s a huge plus for those of you who struggle with the stevia aftertaste.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 100 calories

Protein per Serving: 20g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Chia, Amaranth

I did a full review of the Sunwarrior (Warrior Blend) if you want to click here to check it out.

Get it on Amazon here: Sunwarrior Classic Plus

#3 Peak Performance Grain-Free Plant Protein, Chocolate Flavor – 117 calories per serving

This is another low-calorie vegan protein powder that has an ingredient list chock full of novel protein sources like sacha inchi, white chia, and moringa in a solid base of pea and hemp powders.

Because this is a chocolate flavored drink, you can expect the presence of sweeteners, in this case, stevia and monk fruit.

This protein powder does have a bit of sodium, about 200mg, but nothing shocking. What is surprising is the amount of iron to be found in this protein powder, 10mg – more than 50% of what you need daily.

I also like the fact that this product is certified organic, paleo-friendly and vegan.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 117 calories

Protein per Serving: 18g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea, Hemp, Sacha Inchi, Pumpkin, White Chia, Moringa

Get it on Amazon here: Grain Free Plant Protein

#4 Truenutrition Vegan Protein Optimizer – 110 calories per serving

This is another no frills low-calorie vegan protein powder.

You get 110 calories in a 30g serving that will add a relatively high 23gr of protein to your diet.

This is actually one of the higher protein low-calorie protein powders on the list.

This protein powder is unflavored and unsweetened.

The instructions say to blend it with water, but honestly, I think it would be better blended into a fruit smoothie mix or even added into some homemade high protein energy bars.

This protein powder is made in the US from non-GMO ingredients.

I only have two issues with this product.  One is that it is not certified organic, the other is that it has a fairly high percentage of sodium.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 110 calories

Protein per Serving: 23g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea Protein Isolate, Rice, Hemp

Get it on Amazon here: Truenutrition Vegan Protein

#5 Nature’s Best Plant Based Vegan Protein Powder – 110 calories per serving

A 31g serving of this chocolate flavored protein shake will add only 110 calories to your diet while boosting your protein intake 20gr.

According to its label, you can mix it as-is with water, juice or “milk” alternative.  You could also add it into baked goods or even cook with it.

The protein is primarily sourced from pea and brown rice. The other ingredients include natural flavors, gums, and sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit in addition to the cocoa powder that makes it chocolatey.

This low-calorie protein shake has a reasonable amount of sodium (200mg) and a surprising amount of iron (over 35% of the daily value per serving).

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 110 calories

Protein per Serving: 20g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea, Brown Rice

Get it on Amazon here: Nature’s Best Chocolate Vegan Protein Powder

#6 Tone It Up Plant Based Protein – 90 calories per serving

This product made it onto the list of low-calorie vegan protein powders because it is among the lowest calorie per serving products I could find.

I am slightly perplexed, however, by the fact that it is a coconut flavored product and only lists “natural flavors” and then “organic natural flavors” in the ingredient list, without mentioning real coconuts.

It doesn’t actually look like a bad product though. It is sweetened with monk fruit extract and thickened with organic guar gum.

The protein source is pea-based with an added dose of pumpkin seed powder.

Overall, if you don’t mind the natural flavors, this is a minimally processed vegan protein product that you can easily add to your diet to boost your protein intake for a minimum of extra calories.

It’s only got 2g carbs and is relatively low in sodium, with just 200mg.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 90 calories

Protein per Serving: 15g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea protein Isolate, Pumpkin Seed

Get it on Amazon here: Tone it Up Plant Based Protein

#7 Nutiva Organic Plant Protein Superfood Smoothie – 110 calories per serving

This is another of those products that can double as a meal replacement shake with a surprisingly low calorie count and high protein count of 21g.

This chocolate flavored smoothie mix can be blended with water or added to your favorite smoothie recipe or milk alternative.  

As can be expected with a complex mix, the ingredient list is somewhat long and diverse.

The main ingredients that contribute to the protein profile are pea powder, pumpkin, sunflower and hemp powders.

There are a couple of stabilizers and preservatives, but overall this product has a respectable, certified organic, ingredient list. 

I’m particularly impressed with the low sodium content (50mg) and the general vitamin and mineral profile.

Also – it doesn’t contain stevia, a big plus for some of you that can’t handle that well-known aftertaste.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 110 calories

Protein per Serving: 21g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea, Sunflower, Pumpkin, Hemp

Get it on Amazon here: Nutiva Organic Plant Protein Superfood

#8 Nuzest Clean Lean Protein – 90 calories per serving

This vegan protein powder has one single ingredient: pea protein isolate.

It is a low-calorie product perfect for the minimalist vegan. This can be blended into any smoothie, milk alternative, or mixed into any baked goods that you can think up.

Because it is pea protein isolate, it is practically tasteless and easily blended.

The stuff is naturally high in sodium with 380mg per serving. But in exchange, you get 21g of protein with just 90 additional calories in your diet. 

This particular product is as “correct” as you can get without being certified organic. It is non-GMO, certified vegan, and appropriate for any kind of diet that values pure, limited ingredients.   

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 90 calories

Protein per Serving: 21g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea Protein Isolate

Get it on Amazon here: Nuzest Clean Lean Protein

#9 Hush & Hush PlantYourDay Hyperconcentrated Protein Powder – 110 calories per serving

This “hyper-concentrated” protein powder is not actually a hyper-concentrated protein.

It only has 17g per 33.5g serving. It does have, however, an impressive superfood packed ingredient list with a foundation of pea protein and pumpkin seed.

The result is a nutritional content packed with different vitamins and minerals, including that elusive daily dose of vitamin b12. 

It definitely qualifies as low calorie, with just 110 calories per serving. For all that it has to offer, it is low in sodium with just 175mg. I really appreciate the added probiotics to support gut health.

This protein powder is an all-around nutritional supplement that can be enjoyed on its own or blended with your favorite milk alternative.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 110 calories

Protein per Serving: 17g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea, Pumpkin

Get it on Amazon here: Hush & Hush PlantYourDay

#10 PEScience Plant Based Protein Powder, Peanut Butter – 110 calories per serving

What I love about this low calorie vegan protein powder is that it includes peanuts. Peanut flour gives a great flavor and is a natural source of high-quality protein.

It makes a great alternative to the standard chocolate or vanilla formulations that are so popular.

This vegan powder does have guar gum to improve its texture and is sweetened with stevia, which some people love and some people hate.

But with only 110 calories per serving and 20g of protein, it has a pretty minimalist ingredient label.

I am particularly impressed with its high iron content. The only negative I can find, nutritionally speaking, is that it has a fairly high sodium content with 400mg per serving.

If you like the taste of peanuts in your smoothie, this might be the best low calorie-high protein option for you.

Quick Stats

Calories per Serving: 110 calories

Protein per Serving: 20g protein

Main Protein Source: Pea, Brown rice

Get it on Amazon here: PEScience Peanut Butter Protein Powder

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