PSA for Anti-Morning People: We Tried Plnt Mushroom and Greens Powders, and They’re the Newest A.M. Hack

Your alarm blares. You hit snooze for the third (or thirteenth) time. You finally roll out of bed, and it’s a mad dash to get dressed and caffeinated before dashing out the door or logging onto your first Zoom meeting. Sound familiar? Listen—not everyone’s a morning person, and that’s more than okay.

Here’s the good news. There’s a simple addition to your routine that might make getting up feel less like climbing Everest: plnt^® mushroom and greens powders. Available at The Vitamin Shoppe, these blends are packed with nutrients to make your mornings a little more energized and help you take on the day without the jolt of a caffeine-packed energy drink.

“Greens and mushroom powders are gold when it comes to nutrition and may be an energizing add to any morning routine,” says Brittany Michels, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian with The Vitamin Shoppe. “Including a greens powder is one of the easiest ways to supplement an array of nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial compounds.” Add a stir-in to your daily routine, and she says you can expect to experience positive effects like mental clarity and energy*—plus the long-term benefit of filling in nutritional gaps.

Curious to see if these powders could really make a difference in the morning and beyond, three of our prone-to-hit-snooze editors added plnt^® to their daily lineups. From stirring a scoop into juice to mixing a spoonful with hot water and creamer, they tested just how versatile and impactful these superfood blends can be. Keep reading to get their honest reviews, stock up yourself, and usher in new levels of a.m. energy.

plnt® Mushroom and Greens Powders

plnt® Energizing Greens Powder $35

plnt® Organic Lion’s Mane Powder $32

plnt® Vital Greens Superfood Powder $50

For energy, efficiently

A typical morning with my one-year-old: Itsy Bitsy Spider on repeat, eating scraps off her high chair and calling it breakfast, and generally feeling like I’ve lived five lives before the clock hits nine. In other words, my schedule is no longer my own, and efficiency has taken on a *whole* new meaning.

Given my fallen-by-the-wayside daily nutrition and my general need for a nap, I jumped at the opportunity to give plnt^® Energizing Greens a try. “This [unflavored] green powder includes energy-producing* B vitamins from an array of organic leafy greens, natural caffeine from matcha and green coffee bean, and energy and endurance benefits* from the mushroom cordyceps,” Michels says. Adding caffeinated nutrition to my morning routine is, um, overdue—but the real draw for me is the ease of use. I’ve made it a habit to give myself exactly seven seconds (self care) to stir a scoop into a chilled cup of water or almond milk, and then—feeling nourished, newly energized*, and very accomplished—I turn my attention back to the little one. If only I’d found this powder a year ago. — Helen Johnson, Branded Content Editor

To help with focus and clarity, all day long

Stress and I are intimately acquainted (I’ve got a busy job, two little kids, and about a million messages from schools, doctors’ offices, and after-school activities—oh, and what am I going to make for dinner tonight?). Read: I’m often moving so fast, that my focus and clarity are not at their peak, especially in the morning.

So when I got the chance to try plnt^® Organic Lion’s Mane Powder, designed to offer adaptogenic stress support* and promote brain and cognitive health*, I was intrigued. The superfood formula is meant to be mixed into hot or cold water, and you can add creamer if you’d like—I do. The result is somewhere in between coffee and tea, with a slight caramel taste that goes down super smooth (it’s not mushroom-y at all, I promise). After one cup, I completed a long, in-depth brainstorm then started jamming on tasks with an efficiency I hadn’t experienced in… a while. Suffice it to say, it’s become my new post-breakfast beverage—no mid-morning slump here. — Eva Rohan, Senior Director, Content + Strategy

As a functional caffeine-free option

I’ve been off the morning caffeine grind for quite some time, but I still want a special bev to sip on in the mornings while my roommates drink their iced coffees—and if I can find one that puts the fun in functional (think: stress, immune, and digestive support*)? Even better.

Enter plnt^® Vital Greens Superfood Powder: Formulated with organic leafy greens, microgreens, and a blend of powerhouse vegetables like beets, broccoli, and kale, it’s designed to help promote energy* thanks to green tea leaf extract and antioxidant-rich fruits. Beyond the greens, it’s packed with adaptogens to help balance stress*, immune and liver-supportive* herbs, and a mix of digestive aids (including fiber, enzymes, and probiotics) for whole-body wellness*, Michels says. I’ve started mixing a scoop into a glass of lemonade for a refreshing way to sneak in extra nutrients while satisfying my sweet tooth (check, check). This nourishing powder has earned a permanent place in my morning routine, zero extra effort required. — Maeve McCormick, Assistant Branded Content Editor

Hey wellness seeker! Friendly reminder that—like all of wellness—the supplements you take are personal. Well+Good always recommends checking in with your health-care provider before adding a new supplement to your routine.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.