Manitoba Harvest HempPro 70 Protein Powder Review – KaPow with Hemp!

Disclosure: I am a Sweat Pink Ambassador and was sent two samples for review. The below is my honest opinion.

Those of you who know me know I’ve been on a never-ending search for a healthy protein powder NOT sweetened with high fructose corn syrup or stevia. It’s been a hard search. Imagine my delight when I received two samples of Manitoba Harvest HempPro 70 Protein Powder and saw that they’re sweetened with organic coconut sugar!

Harvest HempPro 70 Protein Powder

What It Is

• The only water soluble hemp protein powder on the market – it doesn’t need a blender (read: Vitamix, Ninja, Nutribullet) but you can if you want to. (I did.)
• Plant-based protein that’s 95% digestible – there are only four (4!) ingredients.
• Sweetened with organic coconut sugar – yes! Anything that’s not stevia or corn syrup is an automatic win!
• 15g of protein (Vanilla) and 14g of protein (Chocolate) – this is great as a supplement or snack (depending on what you do with it!)

In theory, you could throw the powder into any liquid and shake it up to drink. In practice, I like my Vitamix and Nutribullet and use them often. However, if you wanted to drink up in a pinch, this powder could be your go-to!

What I Did

While I’m not lifting weights or getting back into running yet, I am breastfeeding. I am burning a ton of calories, and I eat like a truck driver. I took an early lunch one day (as in “elevensies“) and needed a snack to hold me over until dinner time. I pulled open the chocolate protein powder and made myself a shake:

• HempPro 70 chocolate protein powder
• 1.5 cups of unsweetened almond milk
• 3 ice cubes
• 1/4 cup of cashews
• 2 tbsp milk chocolate nibs (optional)

With the vanilla protein powder, I made vanilla pumpkin spice cold oats for breakfast:

• HempPro 70 vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup – steel cut oatmeal
• 1-1/2 cup – unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice (I used TJ’s)
• Squeeze of agave (optional)

Note: I blended the almond milk, pumpkin spice and vanilla powder first in my Nutribullet. Then I added the oats and let it sit overnight.

What’s It Tastes Like

My chocolate protein shake tasted a little chalky. I think that is something that plant protein powders all have in common. It blended well with almond milk, and I’d love to try this with coconut milk as well. I didn’t taste much sweetness from the coconut sugar, so that’s a pro and a con in my book. A pro if you’re watching your sugar intake. A con if you like things a little sweeter. I ended up adding a couple tablespoons of milk chocolate nibs and re-blending my smoothie for a sweeter shake. #NOMS

My vanilla pumpkin spice cold oats was just OK. I think I need to futz with the recipe because it tasted chalky to me.  But now I can be one of the cool kids who eat “proats!” I love cold oats because it’s so easy to make and it’s been so dang hot to cook up oats. Adding the protein powder is new to me, and I can see myself continuing this when I begin training again.

Buy or Chuck: You’re in Luck – Buy!

I say BUY. Here are my reasons:

1. Not sweetened by stevia.
2. Plant-based protein – important if you’re not into whey or soy protein powders.
3. Four ingredients. That’s it!
4. Did I mention that it’s NOT sweetened by stevia?

Last reason: 20% promo code! Try Manitoba Harvest HempPro 70 protein powder yourself… at a discount! Take 20% off your order of chocolate and/or vanilla – use the code: SweatpinkPro70.

Manitoba Harvest HempPro 70 Protein Powder – promo code: SweatPinkPro70

But wait there’s more! You’ve got until the end of the month (September 30, 2014) to particpate in a contest! Take a pic and tag @manitobaharvest on Twitter or Instagram and use the hashtag #pro70. You’ll be entered for a chance to win a case of your favorite flavor! Come on! It’s a chance for FREE product! Good luck!

If you’ve tried these protein powders, how about telling me your favorite recipes in the comments? Or if you have a recommendation for other Manitoba Harvest products, let me know!

Disclosure: I am a Sweat Pink Ambassador and was sent two samples for review. The above is my honest opinion and review. Post contains affiliate links.