The Best Vegan Mass Gainer

Choosing to live a vegan lifestyle often means healthier choices and having to create a whole new fitness plan that fits your body’s needs.

With less meat, it can be hard to gain muscle mass when you’re looking to get fit and get ripped. Luckily, there are plenty of vegan options out there for anyone who wants to continue to gain mass while still living that vegan life!

The problem quickly becomes, which vegan mass gainer is best and how do you narrow down your choices. There are several on the market that makes it easy to continue gaining muscle mass even while living on a lower calorie and vegan lifestyle.

No need to starve your muscles just to adhere to your new diet plan with these great mass gainers.

What is Mass Gainer?

This is a common phrase that circulates the fitness community. If you’ve been involved in weight lifting or strength training for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard the phrase.

There are lots of different products on the market that fit this description so before you go looking through the health section, it’s best to know what exactly you’re searching for and what you’ll be putting in your body.

Mass gainer, vegan or not, is a supplement that helps feed your body protein, carbs, and even certain types of fats that will eventually feed your muscles and add mass. Essentially, it’s a high-calorie protein powder that will up your calorie intake for the day.

Most of the protein and calories that our bodies take in and use as fuel for building muscle comes from the foods we eat.

Meats and other animal products provide lots of calories and when you switch over to a vegan lifestyle, it can be hard to match those same numbers of calories throughout the day.

To gain mass you need to eat or consume a calorie surplus. Typically, this means 300-500 more calories than you end up burning through your normal, daily routine. Working out and high-intensity daily routines on a vegan diet can quickly put you in a calorie deficit and you won’t be adding the mass you’d like.

That’s where mass gainers come in! Whether you choose the vegan styles or traditional protein mass gainer, adding in this supplement is one of the best ways to increase your calorie count and keep gaining mass.

Mass Gainer Vs. Protein Powder

Mass gainer and protein powder are often terms that are used interchangeably but there are notable differences between the two.

Mass gainers include protein but they are also packed with a high percentage of fats and carbs which feed your body and help those muscles grow. The carb and protein ratio in mass gainers is higher than in protein powders.

Protein powders are used to fuel bodies and muscles during a workout rather than build the final result of muscle mass gain. These protein powders are also far lower in calories and are designed to just give you a short boost of energy to push through a workout

The Best Vegan Mass Gainers

Choosing the right product for your body can be a difficult task.

1. IRON VEGAN Gainer

IRONVEGAN has been making strides toward a clean and sustainable type of mass gainer that won’t pump your body full of low-quality protein, carbs, and fats that just fill you up with tons of unnecessary calories.

Their products focus on non-GMO vegetables and proteins, organic greens, and whole grains.

This is a true gainer and each serving is packed full of tons of great calories that fuel your body for every workout. They also put your body into a calorie surplus so your muscles will be fed and ready to go for your next weightlifting or workout program.

IRONVEGAN is meticulous about the products they bring to the market and everything they make is focused on being perfect for anyone who’s living vegan.

Their gainer is created to balance calorie intake as well as be clean and effective while remaining low in sugar.

Mixing this powder in with your favorite morning beverage is simple and there are two different flavors available for you to choose from. You can gain tons of energy from this gainer and you’ll start to see effects before long!

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There are tons of great options for every lifestyle including vegan ones so even if you’re living that vegan life you can still get ripped and build large amounts of muscle mass in no time!

2. The Plant Era – Organic Vegan Strawberry-Basil Protein Powder for Weight Gain

Like we’ve discussed before, protein powder and mass gainers are not the same things so this Plant Era product doesn’t technically qualify as a mass gainer. However, it does offer some excellent options when it comes to building muscle and size for anyone who’s living a vegan life.

In addition to building muscle and creating a new look for anyone partaking, the company is dedicated to helping leave the environment a better place.

Each protein powder purchased helps keep 1 ton of CO2 out of the environment which reduces climate change and benefits developing countries.

95% of the ingredients used in this protein powder are organic and it includes 4g of BCAAS that help your body stay fit as well as keep the environment clean.

The entire product is healthy and nutrient-dense which can help to supplement your regular diet when you’re looking to gain or even lose weight.

There are no artificial sweeteners, soy, dairy, gluten, or sugar included in the powder itself. Everything is low carb and low fat so everything you’re introducing to your body is worthy of the vegan and organic name.

The downside to this product is that it’s not a true mass gainer. The calorie count is lower on the product itself but it tastes great and makes an excellent supplement for anyone who wants to gain more while still sticking to a vegan diet.

3. GNC Earth Genius™ PurEdge™ – Vegan Weight Gainer

Getting enough protein into your system is one of the challenges that anyone adhering to the vegan lifestyle starts to face. Vegan weight gainers become an excellent way to get those extra calories and protein without compromising your lifestyle.

PureEdge is completely plant-based and offers tons of calories per serving for anyone who wants to gain muscle mass and build their body up.

This is a complete source of protein and has 7 plant-based sources that offer up all 9 essential amino acids for your body to process and use. Ingredients range from beets which help enhance athletic performance, to enzymes from pineapple and papaya which helps to enhance your digestion.

In addition to being vegan, this gainer is non-GMO and gluten-free so you’ll be able to enjoy it without feeling side effects from chemicals and other ingredients.

While other types of vegan mass gainers may be hard to obtain, this one is readily available at a ton of different big box stores. There are two different flavors that you can choose from to suit your tastes and fit your lifestyle.

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4. Naked Mass – Vegan Weight Gainer

Creating a vegan weight gainer can be a complex process but with Naked Mass, they’ve combined the use of premium pea protein and brown rice protein to create a vegan gainer that fits the bill.

There are tons of great plant-based proteins included and complex carbs that help fuel adequate muscle growth.

Each serving gives you 1230 calories and 50 grams of protein which helps you fuel your entire day!

The powder comes in two flavors so you can choose the one that suits you best and your tastes for the day.

The price for the product is also reasonable and you get plenty of powder to fuel you for a great price. While this product does provide plenty of great plant-based proteins for your body to utilize, there is quite a bit of sugar included in the product that can have negative effects on your muscle gain.

There are also some notable issues with the way the product is packaged and delivered. The scoop that’s included doesn’t do justice to the number of calories you need to get the maximum benefits.

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5. Vega Nutrition – Vegan Weight Gainer

This weight gainer is specifically designed to help fill in the holes and deficiencies you might see if you’re adhering to a vegan lifestyle.

Created with lean, plant-based proteins, there’s plenty of great things happening with this weight gainer that make it an excellent option for anyone needing to build up some muscle mass without compromising their diet.

Everything in this vegan weight gainer is created with a multi-source plant protein blend, multi-source carb blend, and a complete profile of amino acids and digestive enzymes. All of these work together to deliver a powerful punch of necessary nutrition throughout the day and time you use the powder. 

While other masses and weight gainers pack in tons of calories to help you gain fast, this is categorized as a lean weight gainer so each serving provides fewer calories than other products on the market.

Each one is specially formulated to give you the best bang for your buck as well as skip the artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners that can quickly mess with your body.

The flavors on offer from the company are unique and include chocolate fudge cake and vanilla cream cake. The sugar count remains low and there are tons of different proteins including pea, sacha inchi, and quinoa included in the ingredients.

All of the active ingredients in the mixture make it easy to digest and there are plenty of amino acids, proteins, and macronutrients to make this an adequate meal replacement as well as a weight gainer.

What to Look For in a Vegan Weight Gainer

Weight gainer won’t get you to your ideal body but can help you balance your diet and fitness plans to get the best of both worlds.

There are some things you want to keep a careful eye on when searching for your next great vegan weight gainer.

Ingredient List

As always, you should check the ingredient list before you buy any product or food item!

There can be things hidden deep within the ingredient list that make it far from an ideal choice when picking up any product you’ll be putting into your body.

When it comes to weight gainers you’ll need to keep in mind the difference between macro and micronutrients and how they interact with your diet and lifestyle. The overall product should be more than just calories and should contribute something worthwhile to your fitness goals.

Taste and Flavors

Weight or mass gainers are used regularly and if the taste is not to your liking, there’s a good chance you’ll avoid using it thus defeating the entire purpose.

Often, weight gainers are sweet and can have tons of hidden grams of sugar in them so be sure you’re checking labels and ensuring empty calories aren’t on the menu.

A weight gainer that’s too sweet can end up putting you off as much as something that’s not appealing at all.

Find one that you can easily mix into your regular beverages without overindulging your sweet tooth throughout the process. Choosing different flavors also lets you add a whole new level of variety to your diet.

Value

When it comes to a good weight gainer, cheaper isn’t always better. You want to be sure you’re getting the best value for your money rather than just the cheapest product on the market.

Since most weight gainers are sold by weight, you’ll probably need to do a little math to figure out which one is the best value per ounce.

Once you know that you can quickly size up the competition and choose one that works best for your budget.

Brands

Certain brands are well-known and trusted in the vegan community and others might come across as a little bit sketchy.

Search out brands that are transparent and have plenty of reviews online and from outside sources. This can help you narrow down which weight gainers you want to invest in and which ones you’d like to use.

Some brands will also be more readily available for purchase or shipping than others and their accessibility is key when you need something fast.

If you’re stuck waiting around for weeks for a more highly sought-after brand to ship, you’re missing out on the same type of brands on store shelves that are immediately accessible.

Calories

Simply adding more calories to your diet won’t quite cut it when you want to build muscle mass. You’ll need to increase the amount of exercise by the calories you also take in.

Your weight gainer should give you about 100kcal per serving depending on the amount of weight and muscle you want to gain.

If you have a fast metabolism and workout a lot you’ll need to keep this level up and looking for these calorie counts within your weight gainer is one of the best ways to make a good choice.

Look mostly for weight gainers that have 300 or more calories per serving but adjust this to fit your body and exercise levels. Fast metabolism can have you using these higher calorie count weight gainers while a slower metabolism should have you looking on the lower end of the spectrum.

How to Use a Vegan Weight Gainer

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices for a vegan mass gainer and made your final purchase, you’ll need to use the stuff to build muscle mass over time!

There are several different strategies and tips you’ll want to employ to keep things moving forward.

Calorie Surplus

The first thing you’ll need to keep in mind as you set out to gain mass and weight is that you’ll need to keep your body in a calorie surplus. While most people who want to lose weight, let their diets and bodies dip into calorie deficits, to gain weight, the opposite is needed.

Calorie surplus can be achieved in several different ways and in conjunction with several things like the amount of food your body takes in and supplements like vegan weight gainer. You’ll also need to keep careful track of the energy you expend during the day so you can replace and exceed those calories burned.

Use After a Workout

All of the food you take in during the day is used up during a workout. After you’re done working out, your glycogen levels are low and need to be replenished. This can be done with your mass gainer and a good meal working in conjunction.

The micro-tears you’ve created in your muscle need to heal and the calories you take in helping to fix those tears more quickly. Once they’re fixed, they reveal themselves as bigger, more functional muscles throughout your body.

Taking your mass gainer right after a workout is when your body will absorb them the most readily and use them effectively. They can also help you balance your macronutrients and keep things moving at a good pace.

Use First Thing in the Morning

Your body can go into catabolism throughout the night which happens when your nutrition is off right before you fall asleep.

This makes it essential that you wake up and start the day off right with some quality nutrition in the morning.

In the morning, your body needs good nutrients most, and drinking or consuming your mass gainer during this time frame is a good way for you to end up seeing great results. You can blend it up in a smoothie or add it to your morning oatmeal as an easy way to consume it in the morning!

Recipes

Taking your vegan mass gainer may not be the problem but deciding on the best way to consume it can cause frustration.

There are several different ways to take your mass gainer no matter when you choose to take it and it can be mixed and matched to suit your tastes and dietary needs.

Water

The simplest way to take a vegan mass gainer is to mix it with water. You simply mix the serving size amount with the water and drink it down.

This method gives you a much need boost of macro-nutrients and high calories without adding in any other calories, fats, or sugars. It may not be the best tasting method though as the gainer powder can often become clumpy or not have the best taste when on its own.

The water makes it easily absorbable through and you’ll get the effects almost immediately. This is also an excellent option if you’re lactose intolerant.

Milk

Mixing up your gainer with some milk is a great way to add in some additional calories and protein. Essentially you’ll be making a shake that you can down and get the full effect from!

Using milk with your gainer is a great way to supplement your meals and even replace a few if needed. Your body likely won’t be able to process this method as quickly as it would with water so you might need to sip on this mixture over some time.

This is also best in the morning or sometime before your workout. Once your body is done working out you need an almost instant supply of protein and carbs to kick in and build muscle. The slower digestion of the milk will make it hard to digest quickly.

Yogurt

This simple food makes it easy to digest and utilize your mass gainer without adding tons of extra calories to your body in one fell swoop.

There are tons of great recipes around that give you ways to mix your mass gainer and yogurt to create a thick and creamy treat.

By utilizing yogurt over milk, you’ll see a lot of the same results and timing factors but there are more protein and thickness to the yogurt. Both of these aspects can make it easier to digest and utilize the gainer properly.

Other Food Items

Adding in other food items to your mass gainer meal help add in calories and give you more flavor. Things like raw oats, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, and fruits create a whole food effect that can make the mass gainer even more palatable for anyone struggling with the taste.

You’ll also be adding in some additional calories and protein when you choose your foods carefully and add them into the mass gainer shake or meal.

Keep in mind that most are flavored either plain, vanilla, or chocolate so it’s probably not a good idea to add them to your steak and potatoes!

Smoothies and shakes are the best way to use your gainer and keep it going in your system.

Keep your Goals in Mind

When you’re using a vegan mass gainer, it’s best to keep your overall goals in mind throughout the process.

Everyone’s health and fitness goals are different but when it comes to gaining mass, there are a few common elements you should consider.

Healthy Weight

If you refused to hit the gym and just ran to the fast-food store at the corner all of the time, you’d likely gain weight fast. But it wouldn’t be a healthy weight. Part of the reason you’ll want to jump in with a vegan gainer is to gain a healthy weight over time.

This is a slow process of building up your muscles through diet and exercise. You won’t get ripped overnight so be patient as you build-up to the final figure.

Lean Muscle

To reach your final goal of being bigger and stronger, you’ll need to start with lean muscle. These are the basis for bulking up that you’ll get later on.

Lean muscles help you with coordination, balance, and overall functionality so building these up is key to your overall health. Increasing your calorie count in conjunction with this building of lean muscle is the way to get stronger without getting too big.

Takeaway

When you want to gain muscle but you’re living that vegan lifestyle, it can be hard to get enough protein and calories to make up for the loss of animal products in your diet. Luckily, there are plenty of different vegan mass gainers on the market that you can start taking to supplement your diet.

Choosing one means taking a close look at the ingredient list and narrowing down a flavor you’ll enjoy.

You’ll also want to choose a recipe and time to take your gainer that fits your schedule and the results you want to see at the end of your time lifting and taking the supplement.

Being vegan doesn’t mean you need to skip out on gaining mass and muscle!