…or other lightweight protein options for vegetarians/vegans? (cross-posting from G-Spot)
I'm on a quest for a high-quality, not bank-breaking protein source that I can use for backcountry travel. I don't eat meat and can't do dairy, so whey protein is out. I prefer to avoid soy, though I do eat Clif-type bars in a pinch because they're almost always readily available when I'm resupplying. The problem with bars: they are heavy, use lots of packaging, and still have quite a high carb:protein ratio.
What I think I want is a protein shake, preferably rice protein based, that tastes decent and mixes easily with water. Most people, it seems, use protein powders as supplements to smoothies, so flavor and texture don't matter as much, but some of the ones I've tried (Rainbow Light, Proventia) are absolutely terrible when made with just water.
Currently, I'm using Spirutein powder, which tastes okay, but does contain some soy which upsets my stomach if I drink more than one scoop's worth. Does anyone have ideas, or alternatives to a powder/shake?
If I'm going out for more than a few nights, my protein deficiency starts to catch up with me and I get serious joint pain. I'm not interested in adding meat to my diet, and I've tried taking cheeses, but just can't eat enough dairy in one shot to get substantial protein from it. Most of the reviews of protein supplements online are from bodybuilders, whose requirements are somewhat different from those of a backpacker.
I've experimented with a lot of different approaches to my hiking diet, and try to keep it as close as possible to my home diet (morning muesli, nut butters and whole grains throughout the day, supplemented with fruit-nut-seed-chocolate trail mix) but still can't seem to get enough protein (and probably not enough calories for that matter), so now I'm looking at supplements. Advice?
