# Best Whole Food Protein Powder > The best whole food protein powder: one-ingredient seed, egg and milk powders and whole-food blends, what the label term means, and the trade-offs vs isolates. - **URL**: https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-whole-food-protein-powder/ - **Updated**: 2026-11-09 - **Author**: [Best Protein Powder Editorial Team](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/authors/editorial-team/) - **Publisher**: [Best Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/) --- Six powders that stay close to the food they came from, ranked on ingredient lists, protein per serving and what you trade for that simplicity, plus what whole food actually means on a label. **How we rank:** We judge every powder on the label, not the marketing: protein per scoop, cost per 25 g of protein, the full ingredient list and third-party testing. No paid placements, and commission never sets a ranking. [Read our methodology](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/how-we-test/) The best whole food protein powder for most people is Just Ingredients, because it builds a creamy, complete shake from recognizable foods (whey, pea, chia, coconut milk, vanilla bean and cinnamon) without gums or artificial sweeteners. If you want a single food in a bag, Sprout Living's pumpkin seed protein, Nutiva hemp and Naked Egg are about as close to the source as protein powder gets. Know the trade-off before you buy: the closer a powder is to whole food, the less protein you get per scoop. ## Our Top Picks | Award | Product | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Best Overall | [Just Ingredients Vanilla Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-whole-food-protein-powder/#just-ingredients-protein-powder-vanilla) | The best balance of a short, real-food label and a shake that tastes good. | | Best One-Ingredient Plant | [Sprout Living Simple Protein Organic Pumpkin Seed (Unflavored)](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-whole-food-protein-powder/#sprout-living-simple-protein-pumpkin-seed) | The best single-food plant protein for smoothies. | | Best for Fiber | [Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-whole-food-protein-powder/#nutiva-organic-hemp-protein) | The pick if fiber and whole-seed nutrition matter more than protein density. | | Best Animal Protein | [Naked Egg White Protein (Unflavored)](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-whole-food-protein-powder/#naked-nutrition-naked-egg) | The best one-ingredient animal protein powder. | | Best Dairy | [Simply Tera's Organic Whey Protein (Plain Unsweetened)](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-whole-food-protein-powder/#simply-teras-organic-whey-protein) | The pick for people who want dairy protein with minimal processing. | | Best No-Sweetener Pantry Pick | [PB2 Performance Pure Peanut Protein](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-whole-food-protein-powder/#pb2-performance-peanut-protein) | A simple whole-food protein boost for people who like peanuts. | ## 1. Quick Comparison: The Best Whole Food Protein Powders The short version: whole food protein powders fall into two groups. Single-food powders, such as pressed and milled pumpkin seed or hemp, dried egg white, defatted peanut flour and plain organic whey, are one or two ingredients and closest to their source. Whole-food blends combine several recognizable foods into a better-tasting, more complete shake. The table shows what is in each and how much protein you get for it. | Product | Protein per serving | Ingredients | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Just Ingredients (Vanilla) | About 22 g | Whey, pea, collagen, chia, coconut milk, vanilla bean, cinnamon, stevia, monk fruit | Most people; best taste | | Sprout Living Simple Pumpkin Seed | 20 g (2 scoops) | Pumpkin seed protein | One-ingredient plant protein | | Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein | About 15 g | Milled hemp seed | Fiber and whole-seed nutrition | | Naked Egg White Protein | About 25 g (2 scoops) | Dried egg white | One-ingredient animal protein | | Simply Tera's Organic Whey (Plain) | About 22 g | Organic whey concentrate, sunflower lecithin | Minimally filtered dairy | | PB2 Performance Pure Peanut Protein | 22 g (2 scoops) | Roasted peanuts, defatted | No sweeteners, pantry staple | Figures are per the label at the time of writing and vary by flavor. Protein per serving is lower for hemp and peanut powders because the rest of the scoop is fiber, fat and carbohydrate from the original food, which is the point for some buyers and a drawback for others. Prices and certification status change, so check the current listing before buying. ## 2. The Best Whole Food Protein Powders, Ranked These six are ranked on how few processing steps and ingredients stand between the powder and its source food, protein per serving, protein quality, third-party testing and value per 25 g of protein. Picks rest on label analysis, not hands-on testing; taste and texture notes summarize buyer reports, and our [how we test](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/how-we-test/) page explains the method. Figures are per the label at the time of writing and vary by flavor. ### 1. Just Ingredients Vanilla Protein Powder **Award:** Best Overall | **Type:** Whole-food-style whey and plant blend - **Protein / serving:** About 22 g (label) - **Calories:** About 140 - **Processing:** Whole-food blend - **Best for:** Most people Just Ingredients builds its shake from foods you can name: about 22 g of protein per 33 g scoop from grass-fed whey, pea, collagen and chia, with coconut milk, vanilla bean and cinnamon, sweetened with stevia and monk fruit, in about 140 calories per the label at the time of writing. There are no gums, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. It is not a single food, but it is the most whole-food-like blend we found that people will actually enjoy drinking. **Bottom line:** The best balance of a short, real-food label and a shake that tastes good. **Pros:** - Every ingredient is a recognizable food or plant sweetener - Creamy texture without gums, per buyer reports - Dairy and plant proteins together give a complete profile **Cons:** - Includes isolated pea protein and collagen, so not strictly whole food - Premium cost per 25 g of protein - Contains dairy and coconut, so not for those allergies [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1W2865C?tag=sktiger-20&linkCode=ll1) ### 2. Sprout Living Simple Protein Organic Pumpkin Seed (Unflavored) **Award:** Best One-Ingredient Plant | **Type:** Pressed and milled pumpkin seed protein - **Protein / serving:** 20 g per 2 scoops (label) - **Calories:** About 150 - **Processing:** Pressed, milled - **Best for:** One-ingredient plant One ingredient, organic pressed pumpkin seed protein, with no gums, flavoring or fillers. Per the label at the time of writing, two scoops (32.5 g) give 20 g of protein, about 150 calories, 5 g of fat, 3 g of fiber, 4 mg of iron, 250 mg of magnesium and 2.5 mg of zinc. It is USDA Organic, and the brand says ingredients and finished goods are third-party tested in the USA. This is as close to a food as plant protein powder gets while still being reasonably protein-dense. **Bottom line:** The best single-food plant protein for smoothies. **Pros:** - Single ingredient, pressed and milled - Rich in magnesium, iron and zinc, per the label - Organic, vegan and brand third-party tested **Cons:** - Earthy, green flavor that needs a blender - Lower in lysine than animal proteins - Higher cost per 25 g than pea or whey [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7CLYX7?tag=sktiger-20&linkCode=ll1) ### 3. Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein **Award:** Best for Fiber | **Type:** Cold-pressed, milled hemp seed - **Protein / serving:** About 15 g (label) - **Calories:** About 90-110 - **Processing:** Cold-pressed, milled - **Best for:** Fiber, oats, smoothies Nutiva's standard hemp protein is cold-pressed, milled organic hemp seed with nothing added, which the brand says is never processed with hexane. Per the label at the time of writing, a 30 g serving gives about 15 g of protein, roughly 90 to 110 calories depending on the panel, and about 6 to 8 g of fiber, plus some omega-3 and omega-6 fats. It is USDA Organic. This is the most whole-food powder here, and it has the lowest protein per scoop to match. **Bottom line:** The pick if fiber and whole-seed nutrition matter more than protein density. **Pros:** - Closest to the whole seed of any pick - About 6-8 g of fiber per serving, per the label - Organic, unsweetened, no additives **Cons:** - Only about 15 g of protein per 30 g serving - Gritty and earthy; buyers say it needs a blender - Lysine-limited protein, less efficient for muscle [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JU81ZG?tag=sktiger-20&linkCode=ll1) ### 4. Naked Egg White Protein (Unflavored) **Award:** Best Animal Protein | **Type:** Dried egg white - **Protein / serving:** About 25 g per 2 scoops (brand) - **Calories:** About 110 - **Processing:** Dried - **Best for:** Complete protein, dairy-free Naked Egg is dried egg white and nothing else in the unflavored version, per the brand. A two-scoop serving of about 31 g delivers about 25 g of protein in about 110 calories, fat-free and unsweetened. Egg white is one of the highest-quality proteins available, so this is the whole food powder to choose if you want muscle-building efficiency close to whey without dairy or an isolation process. **Bottom line:** The best one-ingredient animal protein powder. **Pros:** - One ingredient, simply dried - Complete, high-quality protein - Dairy-free and versatile in baking and smoothies **Cons:** - Not for egg allergy - Plain taste; foams when shaken - No sport certification we could confirm [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E4XSABY?tag=sktiger-20&linkCode=ll1) ### 5. Simply Tera's Organic Whey Protein (Plain Unsweetened) **Award:** Best Dairy | **Type:** Organic whey protein concentrate - **Protein / serving:** About 22 g (label) - **Calories:** About 110 - **Processing:** Filtered concentrate - **Best for:** Minimally filtered dairy The plain version lists just organic whey protein concentrate and organic sunflower lecithin, with about 22 g of protein and 110 calories per 28.4 g serving, per the retailer label at the time of writing. Concentrate keeps more of milk's original components than isolate, and the brand says its whey comes from pasture-raised, grass-fed cows on US family farms. Organic whey is rare, and this is one of the few brands built around it. **Bottom line:** The pick for people who want dairy protein with minimal processing. **Pros:** - Two ingredients, both organic - Concentrate is less refined than isolate - Complete protein with good leucine content **Cons:** - More lactose than isolate - Plain taste; flavored versions add sweeteners - Higher cost per 25 g than mainstream whey [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FC76XC?tag=sktiger-20&linkCode=ll1) ### 6. PB2 Performance Pure Peanut Protein **Award:** Best No-Sweetener Pantry Pick | **Type:** Defatted roasted peanut powder - **Protein / serving:** 22 g per 2 scoops (label) - **Calories:** 200 - **Processing:** Roasted, defatted - **Best for:** Oats, smoothies, baking A protein powder made from one ingredient: roasted peanuts with most of the fat pressed out. Per the label at the time of writing, a two-scoop, 45 g serving gives 22 g of plant protein in 200 calories, with no added sugar or sweetener. It tastes like peanuts, which makes it easy to use in smoothies, oats and baking, at the cost of more calories per gram of protein than whey or egg. **Bottom line:** A simple whole-food protein boost for people who like peanuts. **Pros:** - One ingredient with no sweeteners or additives - Familiar peanut flavor, easy to use in food - Dairy-free and pantry-stable **Cons:** - 200 calories per 22 g of protein - Not for peanut allergy - No third-party sport testing (sold as a food) [Check price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=PB2%20Performance%20Pure%20Peanut%20Protein&tag=sktiger-20) ## 3. What Is a Whole Food Protein Powder? There is no legal definition. In the United States, whole food is not a regulated term on food or supplement labels, unlike organic, which is certified, or gluten-free, which has a defined threshold. Brands use whole food to mean anything from a single pressed seed to a blend that contains a few dried vegetables alongside a protein isolate. That makes the ingredient list, not the front of the tub, the only reliable guide. Every protein powder is processed: you cannot turn a pumpkin seed, an egg or a glass of milk into a shelf-stable powder without at least drying, pressing or milling it. What differs is how far. A useful way to think about it is as a spectrum, from foods that have been only dried or milled, through foods that have had some fat or water removed, to isolates where the protein has been separated from almost everything else. | Processing level | Examples | Protein by weight (approx.) | | --- | --- | --- | | Dried or milled whole food | Hemp seed powder, dried egg white, nonfat dry milk | About 35-80% | | Pressed or defatted | Pumpkin seed protein, peanut flour (PB2) | About 50-65% | | Concentrate | Whey protein concentrate, hemp protein concentrate | About 70-80% | | Isolate | Whey isolate, pea isolate, soy isolate | About 80-90%+ | By the strictest definition, only the first two rows count as whole food. Concentrates are a middle ground: plain whey concentrate is milk whey with some water, lactose and minerals filtered out, and it keeps more of the original milk components than an isolate. Isolates, whether whey or pea, have been through more separation steps to strip out fat, carbohydrate and fiber. They are not unhealthy for that, but they are not whole food. Under the NOVA classification used in much of the research on ultra-processed food, protein isolates are listed among the industrial ingredients that mark a food as ultra-processed, and most commercial protein powders fall into that group. That label describes processing, not nutrition, and studies linking ultra-processed food to poorer health mostly involve snacks, sugary drinks and processed meats rather than plain protein powder. It is still a fair reason some people prefer a powder closer to a single food. ## 4. Whole Food vs Isolate Protein: What You Gain and Give Up Choosing a whole food powder is a trade, not an upgrade. You get more of the original food's fiber, fat, vitamins and minerals, and you give up protein density, protein quality in some cases, and often taste and texture. Whether that is a good trade depends on what you use protein powder for. ### What you gain Seed powders keep much of the seed's fiber and minerals. Nutiva hemp gives about 6 to 8 g of fiber in a 30 g serving, per the label, and Sprout Living pumpkin seed lists meaningful amounts of magnesium, iron and zinc. Hemp also keeps some of its omega-3 and omega-6 fats. Most American adults fall short on fiber, so this is a real benefit. Whole food powders also tend to have shorter ingredient lists with no gums, fillers or artificial sweeteners, which appeals to people who want to know exactly what they are eating. ### What you give up Protein per scoop falls as the food stays more intact. A 30 g serving of hemp gives about 15 g of protein; the same weight of whey isolate gives about 25 to 27 g. If you are trying to reach 120 g of protein a day on a calorie budget, that difference adds up. Protein quality matters too: hemp and pumpkin seed proteins are relatively low in lysine, one of the essential amino acids, and plant proteins in general carry less leucine, the amino acid most associated with triggering muscle protein synthesis. For muscle building, whey, egg and milk protein remain the most efficient options. Texture is the everyday trade-off. Single-ingredient seed powders are earthy and gritty in water, and buyers consistently say they belong in a blender with fruit and milk rather than a shaker bottle. Unflavored egg white and plain whey are neutral but not exciting. If you will not drink it, the cleanest label in the world does you no good, which is why a well-made whole-food blend ranks first here. Finally, minimally processed plant powders are not automatically cleaner. Seeds can take up lead and cadmium from soil just as rice and pea do, and less processing does not remove them. Our [protein powder without heavy metals](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-protein-powder-without-heavy-metals/) guide covers the published testing, and it is worth checking a brand's testing statements before making a seed powder your daily staple. ## 5. Are Whole Food Superfood Blends Worth It? A lot of products marketed as whole food protein are really protein isolates with a long list of powdered fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and adaptogens added. The front of the tub might say 50 superfoods or a full serving of greens. The question is how much of each food is actually in a scoop. Usually not much. These extras are often listed inside a proprietary blend that gives a total weight but not the amount of each ingredient. If a blend of 40 fruits and vegetables totals 2 g, the average ingredient is present at about 50 mg, a pinch. A cup of raw spinach weighs about 30 g. You would need hundreds of scoops to match the vegetables in a single salad, so the health claims attached to those foods do not transfer to the powder. > **The Test** > > **Would you recognize the protein source as food?** > > If the first ingredient is pea protein isolate or whey isolate and the whole foods come later in a blend, you are buying an isolate with garnish. That is fine if you like it, but it is not a whole food powder. Put real fruit, oats, nut butter or spinach in the blender and you get far more of each food than any blend provides. Blends can still be good products. All-in-one shakes such as Ka'Chava or Orgain's superfood line are convenient meal replacements, and some people find them easier to drink than a plain seed powder. Just judge them on protein, sugar, fiber and testing rather than the superfood count. Our [greens protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-greens-protein-powder/) and sibling [all-in-one protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-all-in-one-protein-powder/) guides compare them on those terms. ## 6. Whole Food Protein Without Powder: Is It Better? If what you want is minimally processed protein, the honest answer is that food usually beats powder. Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, milk, fish, chicken, tofu, lentils and beans are all whole or lightly processed foods with excellent protein. A 170 g tub of plain nonfat Greek yogurt has about 15 to 18 g of protein, and a cup of cottage cheese has about 25 g. Protein powder earns its place on convenience and cost, not on being more natural than food. Nonfat dry milk is the overlooked whole food option. It is simply milk with the water removed, sold in every supermarket and on Amazon, and it is roughly a third protein by weight with a complete amino acid profile from both whey and casein. A third of a cup gives about 8 g of protein in about 80 calories. It is not as protein-dense as a dedicated powder, and it carries the full lactose of milk, but it is one of the cheapest and least processed ways to boost a smoothie or oatmeal. You can also build your own whole-food shake. Blend a scoop of plain egg white or pumpkin seed protein with a cup of milk or soy milk, a tablespoon of peanut butter or ground flax, a handful of oats and a banana or frozen berries, and you get roughly 30 g of protein with fiber and healthy fats from foods you can see. That is closer to whole food than any premixed blend. Powder makes the most sense when you need protein that travels, keeps for months, and can be mixed in seconds after training or at a desk. For those jobs, a whole food powder covers the gap without giving up much. Our [how much protein do I need](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/how-much-protein-do-i-need/) guide helps work out whether you need a powder at all. ## 7. Buying Whole Food Protein Powder on Amazon: Checking the Label Matches the Claim Whole food is an easy phrase to put in a listing title, and Amazon search results for it mix genuine one-ingredient powders with isolates that have a few dried vegetables added. These checks help you buy what you meant to. ### Read the ingredient list on the label image The bullet copy will tell you a powder is made from real food; the label image will tell you whether that is true. Scroll to the Supplement Facts or Nutrition Facts panel and read the ingredients in order. If the first ingredient is an isolate, it is not a whole food powder. Look also for proprietary blends, gums such as xanthan or guar, and natural flavors, none of which are a problem in themselves but all of which tell you the product is more formulated than the title suggests. ### Seller, freshness and dates Buy from listings sold by the brand or by Amazon where possible; third-party sellers create counterfeit and old-stock risk. Freshness matters more for whole food powders than for isolates, because seed powders keep their natural fats, which can go rancid. When the bag arrives, check the seal and make sure the lot number and best-by date are printed and that several months remain. Store hemp and pumpkin seed powders sealed, away from heat, and many brands suggest refrigerating after opening. ### Size and flavor variations Single-ingredient brands often sell the plain powder alongside flavored versions under one listing, and the flavored version may add sweeteners, cocoa and flavors that undo the reason you chose it. Hemp brands also sell standard, high-fiber and high-protein versions with very different protein per scoop. Select the exact product and size, then check that the label image updates, because the price shown is often for another size. ### Subscribe and Save and cost per 25 g Subscribe and Save typically takes 5 percent off, and up to 15 percent with five or more subscriptions in a month. For whole food powders, comparing by tub price is especially misleading because protein per serving varies so much. Divide the price by the total grams of protein in the bag (servings multiplied by protein per serving) and multiply by 25. A hemp powder that looks cheap per pound can cost more per 25 g of protein than whey isolate. Our [protein cost calculator](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/tools/protein-cost-calculator/) does the math. ## 8. How We Picked We looked for powders sold on Amazon US whose main protein comes from a single food that has been dried, pressed, milled or lightly filtered, plus blends whose ingredients are all recognizable foods. We ranked them on ingredient count and processing, protein per serving, protein quality, published testing and cost per 25 g of protein. We excluded isolates with superfood garnish, and we excluded Garden of Life Sport and Huel Black Edition because of their 2025 lead results. We did not run lab or taste tests. If you are choosing for a health reason, our sibling guides to [anti-inflammatory protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-anti-inflammatory-protein-powder/) and [low histamine protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-low-histamine-protein-powder/) apply the same label-first approach. Our [organic protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-organic-protein-powder/) and [clean protein powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-clean-protein-powder/) guides cover related labels. Anyone with kidney disease, food allergies or who is pregnant should check protein plans with a doctor or registered dietitian. ## 9. Common Mistakes to Avoid ### Trusting whole food on the front of the tub The term has no legal definition. Many powders sold as whole food are pea or whey isolates with a sprinkle of dried vegetables. Read the ingredient list on the label image; if an isolate comes first, the whole foods are garnish, however long the list behind it. ### Comparing on price per tub Whole food powders vary widely in protein per serving, from about 15 g for hemp to 25 g for egg white. A cheap bag of hemp can cost more per 25 g of protein than whey isolate. Work out cost per 25 g before deciding what is good value. ### Expecting superfood blends to replace vegetables Proprietary blends of 30 to 50 foods usually total a few grams, so each food is present in milligrams. Add real fruit, oats, seeds or spinach to your shake instead; you will get far more of each food than any blend delivers. ### Leaving seed powders in a warm cupboard Hemp and pumpkin seed powders keep their natural oils, which can go rancid. Buy sizes you will finish within a couple of months of opening, keep them sealed and cool, and refrigerate if the brand suggests it. A bitter or paint-like smell means it has gone off. ### Assuming less processed means cleaner Minimal processing does not remove heavy metals that seeds take up from soil. Check a brand's testing statements and our heavy-metals guide before making any plant powder a daily staple, and rotate protein sources rather than relying on one. ## 10. Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the best whole food protein powder? Just Ingredients is our top pick for most people, because it makes a good-tasting complete shake from recognizable foods without gums or artificial sweeteners. If you want a single food, Sprout Living pumpkin seed, Nutiva hemp and Naked Egg are one-ingredient powders that stay close to their source. ### What does whole food protein powder mean? There is no legal definition. It usually means the protein comes from a food that has only been dried, pressed or milled, such as hemp seed, pumpkin seed or egg white, or a blend of recognizable foods. Some brands use it for isolates with added vegetable powders, so read the ingredient list. ### Is whole food protein better than isolate? It depends on your goal. Whole food powders keep more fiber, minerals and fats, while isolates deliver more protein per scoop and, for whey, better protein quality for muscle. For hitting a high protein target on a calorie budget, isolates win. For fiber and simplicity, whole food powders win. ### Is protein powder ultra-processed? Under the NOVA system used in much ultra-processed food research, protein isolates mark a food as ultra-processed, so most commercial powders count. That describes processing, not nutritional value. Single-ingredient powders such as milled hemp seed or dried egg white are much closer to minimally processed foods. ### Which whole food protein powder has the most protein? Among single-ingredient options, dried egg white is the most protein-dense, at about 25 g per 31 g serving for Naked Egg per the brand. Plain whey concentrate is close behind. Seed powders are lower: about 20 g for pumpkin seed and 15 g for standard hemp per serving. ### Can I make whole food protein powder at home? You can grind hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds or oats into a powder, but home-milled seeds are much lower in protein because they keep all their fat. Nonfat dry milk is a simple store-bought whole food option at roughly a third protein by weight. A blended shake with yogurt, milk and oats is often easier. ### Are whole food protein powders good for weight loss? They can be, but they are not automatically better. Seed powders add fiber, which helps fullness, but they carry more calories per gram of protein than isolates. Peanut protein is particularly calorie-dense. If you are counting calories, egg white or whey offer more protein per calorie. ## Related Protein Powder Guides - [Best Organic Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-organic-protein-powder/): Certified organic powders, whey and plant. - [Best Pumpkin Seed Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-pumpkin-seed-protein-powder/): One-ingredient seed proteins compared. - [Best Anti-Inflammatory Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-anti-inflammatory-protein-powder/): What the evidence supports, and the labels worth choosing. ## The Bottom Line Whole food protein powder is a marketing phrase, not a standard, so judge every tub by its ingredient list. Just Ingredients is the best whole-food-style blend for taste, and Sprout Living pumpkin seed, Nutiva hemp, Naked Egg, Simply Tera's plain whey and PB2 Performance are single foods with very little done to them. Expect less protein per scoop the closer a powder stays to its source, and compare on cost per 25 g of protein rather than price per bag. If minimal processing is your real goal, remember that yogurt, eggs, milk and beans beat any powder; use powder for convenience, not as a substitute for food. ## More in Protein Powder Guides in this category that pair with what you just read. - [Best Clean Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-clean-protein-powder/) - [Best Hemp Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-hemp-protein-powder/) - [Best Egg White Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-egg-white-protein-powder/) - [Best Unflavored Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-unflavored-protein-powder/) - [Best Low Histamine Protein Powder](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/best-low-histamine-protein-powder/) About the Author [Best Protein Powder Editorial Team](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/authors/editorial-team/), Supplements Desk The editorial team reads the label, the certificate and the price per gram of protein before a powder gets near a ranking -- and says plainly when a cheaper tub does the same job. [Full profile](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/authors/editorial-team/) | [How we test](https://www.best-proteinpowder.com/how-we-test/)