I’m really working hard to switch to a more plant based diet, but meeting protein needs can be difficult.
I did a little research and discovered these 12 alternate sources of protein that are sure to fill me up and keep me on track….and I thought you might find them helpful too!
12 Alternate Sources of Protein
1. Greek Yogurt – Just 6 ounces of Greek yogurt has 16 grams of protein. I like to make my own yogurt. Probably not as much protein but definitely a LOT less sugar.
2. Edamame Spaghetti – This edamame spaghetti has been kind of hard to sell at my house, but this stuff has a whopping 24 grams of protein per serving. I’m pretty sure it’s probably just like with quinoa – you’ve got to find the one secret that makes it especially tasty.
3. Quinoa – Just one cup of quinoa has 18 grams of protein. I struggled to get my family to eat it until I discovered the secret in my Black Beans, Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa recipe.
4. Spinach – Just 1 cup of spinach has 6 grams of protein. This is easy to put into a green smoothie or juice. And a great midday treat that will stick with you until dinner. You have to try this Garlic & Herbs Creamed Spinach recipe too.
5. Kidney Beans – We love kidney beans! They are perfect on nachos and just 1 cup provides 13 grams of protein.
6. Sprouted Grain Bread – I’m kind of new to the whole sprouted grains way of eating, but just 2 slices of bread can give you up to 10 grams of protein (depending on brand). I’m liking Macks Flax Sprouted Bread these days. It only has 6 grams of protein per serving, but they sell it at Target so it’s easy to find!
7. Lentils – Another hard sell at my house, but with 18 grams of protein per cup I’m going to try again. I just got a new pressure cooker and it has a lentils button. Perfect excuse to try again.
8. CousCous – My kids LOVE couscous. I think they might eat it every day if I’d let them. My only complaint is that it’s SUPER hard to clean up (but that’s why I have 3 dogs!) And at 6 grams of protein per cup, it’s worth the mess.
9. Kale – Kale is one of those things that’s kind of scary until you try it and with almost 3 grams of protein per serving it’s worth a try. We like is best dehydrated (check out my kale chips recipe), but it can be steamed (kind of like the spinach recipe from above) or just eaten raw in your salad. It’s a great thing to add to your green smoothie or juice.
10. Green Peas – At Costco the other day I found a big bag of snap peas and my 7 year old just sat and ate a bunch. These are an easy snack and have 3 grams of protein. Be sure and try green peas too. They have 8 grams of protein per serving making them a perfect addition to dinner.
11. Oatmeal – I’m not a big fan of oatmeal, but at 6 grams of protein per serving, I might try again.
12. Avocado – I saved the best for last! I have a quick avocado snack (olive oil & Dijon mustard on an fresh avocado) every day. One medium avocado has 4 grams of protein and loads of healthy fats to give your brain the tools it needs to work smarter.
I hope this list helps you understand that meat isn’t your only option for protein in a meal. Maybe try to do a Meatless Monday meal each week and include one of these forms of protein.
You can follow me on Pinterest for some great recipe ideas:
