Plant-based products are becoming increasingly popular. People are more conscious than ever of the food they consume and the impact it has on their health and the environment.
Plant-based protein alternatives such as those offered by Sprout Living are driving this trend. But what is is about Sprout that has made it so popular, and are the products deserving of their premium status?
In this post, I'll take a look at the ethos behind the company, the products and their nutritional value, and I'll also reveal what my taste buds thought of the products I tried. I'll also give you the lowdown on pricing, shipping, and more.
About Sprout Living
Sprout Living believes in clean, healthy food, and that means organic and plant-based. All the ingredients for Sprout Living's protein powders and superfood blends are sourced from certified organic farmers who are true to their craft – planting crops that are guaranteed for freshness, taste, and nutritional value.
Sprout Living products are also non-GMO, kosher, and gluten-free. What's more, Sprout doesn't use fake “natural” flavorings, additives, or fillers.
Additionally, no animals are knowingly harmed at any phase of production, making Sprout Living a company dedicated to producing cruelty-free, healthy supplements.
Sprout Living sells organic, vegan, non-GMO protein powders and superfood powder blends.
Sample Kits
Before we jump into an overview of the products, I wanted to highlight the sample kits, as I think this is a really great offering by Sprout Living. Supplements in general are not a cheap investment and with a variety of flavors to choose from, without having tasted them it's difficult to make a confident choice.
The sample kits give you the opportunity to do just that. For $12-15, depending on the product line, you can order a sample kit that contains a range of flavors. Once you know which is your favorite, you can go back and make a bigger order.
With the exception of the superfood blends – of which there are currently only two varieties anyway – you can order sample kits for all products.
Right, let's dig down into the product overview.
Sprout Living Products
1. Epic Protein
Sprout Living’s Epic Protein is a protein powder derived from 100% whole food ingredients: yellow pea, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, sacha inchi, and cranberry seed.
Epic Protein is stacked with amino acid content and therefore great for replenishing and building muscles. It's also well suited to blending in smoothies.
The standard size packet is 16 Oz (13 servings), but you can also order the following sizes:
- 35g – 1 serving
- 16 packets (35 grams each)
- 2 lb – (26 servings)
- 5 in – (65 servings)
Epic Protein comes in different flavors, which you can check on Sprout Living’s website, but we'll drill down on a few here.
Green Kingdom
Just as its name suggests, Green Kingdom is packed with highly nourishing green foods.
The unique Green Kingdom blend is made of heirloom red banana, lucuma fruit, oat grass, spirulina, kale, chlorella, Indian moringa, and spinach among other plant-based
Nutritional Content:
- 19 grams of protein per 35 gram serving
- 13 grams of total carbohydrate
- 2 grams of total fat with 0 grams of saturated and trans fat
- Contains calcium, iron, and potassium
Pro-Collagen
This collagen-boosting supplement contains Tremella mushroom, which is known for its benefit on skin health due to its hydrating properties. It is considered a natural alternative to Hyaluronic Acid, which is another vital element in the anti-ageing process (1).
The collagen-filled blend is derived from natural acerola extract, bamboo extract, goji berry, sweet potato, rose hips, and sesbania extract.
Nutritional Content:
- 15 grams of protein per 28 gram serving
- 8 grams of total carbohydrate
- 3 grams of total fat with only 0.5 grams of saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat
- Contains calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, and biotin
Chocolate Maca
Chocolate maca is another guilt-free flavor in the Epic Protein line. It is very low in sugar, making it perfect for sweet-lovers who don't want the added calories.
Nutritional Content:
- 19 grams of protein per 35 gram serving
- 14 grams of total carbohydrate
- 2 grams of fat with only 0.5 grams of saturated fat and 0 trans fat
- Contains in calcium, iron, and potassium
2. Equivalent Meal
The Equivalent Meal or Complete Organic Meal line is equivalent to one whole meal packed with vitamins and minerals.
Just one single serving of is the equivalent to 85 % of the vitamin E, 75 % of the potassium and 55 % of the vitamin C in your daily diet.
You'll also get a healthy dose of potassium, protein, calcium, and fiber – the latter ensuring better gut health.
The standard size is the 8 servings pouch, but you can also order the following sizes:
- 8 packet box
- Single serving packet
Here's the nutritional breakdown:
- 2.5 cups of quinoa protein
- 1.5 Bananas
- 3 cups of green peas
- 2 medium coconuts
- 2 cups of spinach
- 4 oz of kale
- 2 cups of blueberries
- 2 handfuls of almonds
- 1.5 avocados
% Daily Value
- Vitamin D – 60%
- Calcium – 15%
- Iron – 30%
- Potassium 75%
- Selenium 30%
- Vitamin E – 85%
- Niacin – 45%
- Folate – 30%
- Vitamin A – 5%
- Vitamin C – 55%
- Magnesium – 10%
The Equivalent Meal line comes in the following flavors: Chai, Matcha, Mocha, and Golden.
Chai has an invigorating taste made possible by cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove. It mimics the popular smooth flavor of chai tea.
The Matcha variety is made with real matcha tea imported from Japan. Its authentic taste brings out a creamy texture that isn’t loaded with a sugary flavor.
If you enjoy a mocha Frappuccino you'll enjoy this but without the sugar binge.
The Golden flavor derives its name from the turmeric content. Turmeric is proven for its effects in preventing Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer. It has anti-inflammatory properties that make this meal great for anyone suffering from bodily inflammation.
Equivalent meals are thoughtfully-sourced whole superfoods and real food-based vitamins and minerals in a delicious meal replacement.
3. Simple Protein
The Simple Protein line is an unflavored single protein source powder.
You can order the following protein sources: pumpkin, pea, sunflower, watermelon, and flax.
Here's what you'll get with each:
- 15-serving pouch for an over 2-week supply.
- 20 grams per serving of high quality, pure vegan protein.
- Cold-pressed, optimally dried and gently milled.
- Rich source of essential omega fatty acids 3, 6 and 9.
- No “natural” flavoring, “other ingredients” or additives.
The protein content remains the same in each, but the fat and carbohydrate content varies slightly between products.
4. Superfood Powder Blends
The Superfood Powder Blends come in coconut and broccoli and kale varieties.
Coconut Water Powder
The Coconut Water Powder flavor is made from dried coconuts sourced in India. The blend is made using evaporation and freeze-drying techniques to preserve flavor and nutrition. The result is a super smooth and dissolvable powder packed with powerful electrolytes, minerals and a superior flavor.
Broccoli Kale Sprout Mix
Also known as the FD Sprout Mix, the Broccoli-Kale Sprout Mix is made of broccoli and kale sprouts that are turned into a shelf-stable form.
The seeds are sprouted in water rich minerals and are later on milled and dried into whole food powder. This mix is rich in dietary fibre and antioxidants, among other nutrients.
My Personal Experience
I initially ordered the Epic Protein sample pack, so that I could test run the flavors before putting in a bigger order. I'm a big chocolate lover, so naturally I gravitated towards this flavor first, and it didn't disappoint.
Generally I pair my protein shakes with a banana for added sweetness and to thicken them up, otherwise I just gulp them down like a mad man. Chocolate works really well with a banana.
Vanilla tasted pretty good too, but I decided to order the Green Kingdom – in addition to the Chocolate Maca – purely because my life mission is to always get as much green stuff inside me as possible. Green Kingdom blends kale, chorella, and spirulina to give it the greenness.
I ordered the 2lb tub, as that's better value than the smaller 8 serving packet. One of each of my two flavor picks will last me around 3 months, as I average one drink every couple of days. I usually drink post workout or at any other time on my gym day.
So that’s $110 (with free delivery) split across three months, which is $36 a month. Not too bad considering the quality.
If you're a fan of making your own blends; adding berries and other powder supplements, then go for the Epic Original variety or one of the Simple Protein products. These are unflavored and designed with this purpose in mind.
+ Visit the Sprout Living Website
Sprout Living Pricing
Sprout Living products are reasonably priced, and you save when you auto order.
You can have your orders shipped every 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks.
Epic Protein products are priced at $29.95 – $34.95, depending on the product, or $23.96 – 27.96 for auto shipping.
Equivalent Meal that comes in four flavors has a fixed price range for the following sizes:
- Single serving packet – $4.95 for one-time pricing.
- 8-packet box – $40.00 for one-time pricing, and $32.00 for auto-shipping every 2 weeks.
- 8-serving pouch – $29.95 for one-time pricing, and $23.96 for auto-shipping every 2 weeks.
Superfood Powder Blends are fixed at $24.95 for the one-time pricing, and $19.96 for auto-shipping every 2 weeks.
The available sizes are as follows:
- Coconut Water powder, 8 ounces (15 servings)
- Broccoli Kale Sprout Mix, 4 ounces
Sprout Shipping
All orders ship from Ogden, Utah. Shipping is done via FedEx, and you can refer to Sprout Living’s website for the turnaround time for every state.
Normally you will receive your order in 2-3 business days.
Delivery is free for orders over $35, and there's a flat rate charge of $10 for orders below this price.
Returns
Sprout Living provides return and exchange policies for unopened products, no matter the reason. There is, however, a 15% restocking fee, but the shipping and handling fees are free. The Sprout Living telephone number is 1-888-633-5984 to discuss your options.
Pregnancy & Allergies
Sprout Living products are made from ingredients that are certified organic, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and non-GMO. They do not contain any additives, preservatives, or coloring agents.
Therefore, all products are deemed safe for pregnant and lactating women. However, if you are in doubt over a specific ingredient, you should first consult your doctor.
In terms of allergies: none of the products contain nuts. The products are manufactured in a cGMP-compliant facility that does process nuts and soy; though strict precautions are taken to prevent cross-contamination.
For other allergy concerns, please check the ingredient labels on each of the product pages.
In Summary
Sprout Living is a good quality vegan protein powder brand, that's for sure. There's literally nothing in the mix that's bad for you or questionable. The products are also naturally low sugar, but still retain a very palatable taste.
The use of 100% organic products is also a big deal. It's one thing to be vegan but organic and non-GMO is becoming increasingly important as we learn more about the negative impact of pesticides on the environment and our health.
There's a great variety too, with the Chocolate Maca and Green Kingdom being my personal best choices.
The Simple proteins are interesting, too. I am keen to try the watermelon and pumpkin protein varieties as alternatives to the usual pea and soy you find elsewhere, not that those are bad.
The Flax variety is a great addition too, particularly for those wanting to improve heart health with extra Omega 3 in their diet (ALA – alpha-linolenic acid). I take flax daily anyway, as part of my breakfast routine. I always sprinkle a heaped tablespoon on my cereal or toast, and you should too.
The pricing is reasonable, given the quality. It's not cheap but it is comparable with similar brands like Nuzest.
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