8 Ways to Eat More Protein

If you’ve been hearing a lot about protein lately, it’s for good reason.  Protein is a macro nutrient that is found in chicken, eggs, beef, plus several other sources.  But why are they so important?  For starters, proteins are in every single cell in the human body.  They are a vital part of our diets because our bodies use protein to build, repair, oxygenate, digest, and regulate.  They are the building blocks of our bones, muscles, cartilage, and even our skin. Bottom line, our bodies NEED protein.  But, how do we increase our protein without bars, shakes, and animal proteins?

Here are 8 ways to eat more protein.

1. Nutritional Yeast

   You can find Nutritional Yeast in the seasoning section of the grocery store.  At 8 grams of protein per serving, you can sprinkle this seasoning onto popcorn instead of butter or salt, stir into creamy soups, or add to your scrambled eggs in the morning.

2. Hemp, Flax, Chia, or Pumpkin Seeds

   These protein packed seeds add 6 grams per serving and are perfect to add to smoothies, salads, overnight oats, or even sprinkled over veggie.

3. Nuts

   A handful of your favorite nuts is not only a delicious snack, but depending on which one you reach for, you can add anywhere from 2 to 6 grams of protein per serving.

4. Nut Milks

   Nut Milks are a non-dairy milk alternative that are low in calories, high in fiber, and can increase your daily protein consumption.  Oat, Pistachio, and Walnut milk are going to give more bang for your buck but any variety is a great substitute.

5. Lentils

   This high fiber carb is an excellent and healthy swap for meat.  At 18 grams per serving this high protein option is a great addition to salads, soups, or make into burgers.

6. Edamame or Tofu

   Soybeans in general are a good source of various vitamins and minerals, plus contain close to 15 grams of protein per serving. Edamame and tofu are the most common types of soybeans and are commonly used in vegetarian diets as meat replacements.

7. Eggs and Egg White

   Even though eggs come from animals, it’s an easy way to get 4 to 8 grams of protein per serving and are full of nutritional benefits.  Eggs are an inexpensive source of protein and are extremely versatile making them easy to incorporate into our daily diets.

8. Black Beans

   A diet rich in black beans is shown to reduce your risks of several medical conditions.  They are protein packed, but also nutritionally powerful with antioxidants, fiber, and carbohydrates.  You can add them to a variety of recipes and swap them out as a meat alternative.

Whole foods are always the best options for our daily diets with protein being the shining star for cellular repair.  To learn more detailed information about protein and our bodies plus TWO bonus protein sources, head over to our video tutorial explaining more ways to eat more protein.