I know it’s been 10 years.... but this is so weird.... I was just about to write the very same thing!!! Thanks for stealing my thunder Bill! PS : ghost BCAA is garbage.. i don't know how you sleep at night even bringing it up. You would have to be a robot to sleep!

I'd have to ask how are you going to use it, and how often? As well as what other sources for protein do you already have in your diet? Most people actually consume more protein than what they need, and additional protein (unless you are into weight-lifting and extreme sports) can have some negative aspects from over-consumption of protein. I use unflavored whey protein isolate in some my gluten-free recipes as a substitute for high-glycemic flours/starches, but I don't use a lot of protein powders of any kind because they are highly inflammatory - whether whey, rice, soy, etc. According to a certified sports food coach I know, he doesn't encourage the use of a lot of protein powders. Often a sports fanatic will include large amounts of protein powder in their diets and will think muscular inflammation is from their workouts, while it can actually be from the protein powder (as well as lean, boneless, muscle meat they also eat in abundance). The reason I use unflavored whey protein isolate --- it's the short ingredients list: 100% whey protein isolate and lecithin. PLUS, it's high on the Biological Value Chart (which is the measure of a protein's ability to be used by the body). Whey protein powder is 100-159, eggs - 100, milk - 91, beef - 80, chicken - 79, beans - 49. So if you are needing to consume high amounts of protein (after surgery, as an example) then choose a type of protein that is high on the BV Chart. As an aside - I mentioned above how lean, boneless, muscle meat is inflammatory unless you also balance it with gelatin (which is collagen -- either naturally occurring gelatin found in bone-in meat, or in homemade bone broth, or dry unflavored gelatin). For this reason I make pan sauces with bone broth when serving lean boneless meat, or will start the meal with a cup of bone broth because the gelatin (collagen) in it balances the inflammatory protein makeup of muscle meat. I also make "healthy" gelatin desserts with dry unflavored gelatin or I'll add Collagen Hydrolystate (which is gelatin that doesn't gel) to cold/hot beverages for some pure protein that is quickly absorbed by the body. There are many health benefits from consuming bone broth and unflavored gelation. -Grainlady

I use the regular stuff I find at my local Sprouts called "whey protein"--they have a couple different protein powders there. Generally, I mix it in with plain low fat kefir from Trader Joe's--not technically a smoothie, I guess. I don't know if heat is a problem for whey protein powder or not, but if not, you could mix it in with soups and stews and the like. If I'm feeling flush, I like Jay Robb's "outrageously delicious chocolate" whey protein isolate--it's really tasty mixed with plain kefir.

I need to look up some of my recipes for you re: chia pudding. However, I wanted to see if maybe these would appeal to you - I have a grandson who really didn't like any type of protein. It was a challenge for about a year or so (he just turned three). I started making protein balls - all different flavors. He LOVED THEM! I often used a nutrition powder instead of just protein in order to get more fruits and veggies in him. I started sending some home with him every wednesday - i watch him on Wednesdays. He also would help me make them. My daughter and SIL also loved them! If I didn't send any home with him, they'd send me a text requesting some! I made peanut butter and jelly ones, salted carmel ones, banana ones, strawberry and cream ones, chocolate chip cookie ones (with carob chips), french toast, lemon almond ones + a ton of other flavors. Many times, I just opened up my pantry and started mixing things together. Also - I am gluten free (and low dairy) - so, all of these were also gluten free + made with plant protein. I also used hemp seeds + chia seeds + flax seeds + ground flax + other stuff. Some also contained greek yogurt = more protein. I made them low sugar. I used dates and other healthier things to add some seetness. My granson actually started requesting dates as a snack. If you are interested in the above, let me know and I'll get some recipes together for you! Oh - I also made some chia/flax cracker things (I just made them up) that had an almond flour base + different seasonings - they were pretty good and it was nice to have them since I'm gluten free. Many of the things I make are lower fat also.