5 Great Protein Sources
That Aren't Meat
By Corrie Pikul
Posted: 07/22/2014
You know you can easily meet your daily protein requirements with a steak or a platter of sashimi, but you can get the essential nutrient from these lesser-expected foods, as well.
1. The Best for Dieters
What They Are: Nuts and seeds
How Much Protein You Get: Almonds and pistachios have about 5–7 grams per ounce; macadamias and hazelnuts have 2–3 grams per ounce.
Why They're Great:
Packed with protein as well as healthy monosaturated fat and fiber,
nuts are surprisingly filling. This could be why studies keep finding a
relationship between eating nuts and dropping pounds. In one, people who
ate 70 almonds a day (in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet) lost 18 percent of their body weight.
One More Thing: The average 150-pound woman needs 60–100 grams of protein a day, says Lauren Schmitt, RD, founder of Healthy Eating & Training.
Instead of trying to get all of your protein in your entrées, eat
smaller amounts throughout the day, to better regulate your mood, hunger
and blood sugar levels, Schmitt says. Sprinkle nuts on foods like
cereal, oatmeal, salads and fruit.
2. The Best All-Purpose Alternative to Chicken
What It Is: Soy
How Much Protein You Get: One half-cup of soybeans has (are you ready for this?) about 34 grams of protein (in comparison, a half-cup of chicken has about 17 grams). In tofu form, a half-cup of soy has about 10 grams.
Why It's Great: Soybeans are the only plant food that are considered a "complete protein," which means they provide all the essential amino acids in the amounts needed for good health, says Sumner Brooks, RDN, founder of Not on a Diet. There's a reason vegetarians love soy: Tofu can rival chicken in stir-frys, and tempeh (which is compressed soy) is a ground-beef doppelganger in chili and sauces. Try roasted soybeans with pumpkin seeds for a convenient, filling, high-protein snack.
One More Thing: Processed soy foods, like veggie burgers or soy
dogs, are often made with soy protein isolate (SPI). While you are
getting protein, this means that you're not getting soy's other
nutrients or its soluble fiber, explains Brooks (and because of the way
the protein is isolated, you could be getting other unnatural chemicals
instead).
3. The Best Treat
What It Is: Dairy
How Much Protein You Get:
A cup of milk has about 8 grams, an ounce of cheese has 6–7 grams,
yogurt has 4–6 grams (per 6-ounce serving), Greek yogurt and kefir have
15–20 grams.
Why It's Great: Dairy foods are a
high-quality protein food, and a little goes a long way toward meeting
your amino acid and protein requirements. Greek yogurt and kefir are
veritable protein powerhouses, and a serving has as much protein as a
serving of lean meat.
One More Thing: Brooks says clients who talk about giving up dairy and replacing milk with nut milk are shocked to hear that almond milk is so diluted from the source of the whole nut that the liquid has little to no protein.
One More Thing: Brooks says clients who talk about giving up dairy and replacing milk with nut milk are shocked to hear that almond milk is so diluted from the source of the whole nut that the liquid has little to no protein.
4. The Best for Antioxidants
What They Are: Beans
How Much Protein You Get: A cup of cooked beans generally has between 12–16 grams.
Why They're Great:
They're low in fat and high in insoluble as well as soluble fiber,
which help promote a healthy digestive tract, lower blood cholesterol
levels and can reduce the risk of some types of cancer. A growing body
of research suggests that eating beans, as well as fish, chicken or nuts
in place of red meat can lower the risk of several diseases and premature death. Eat a mix of colors to get different types of heath-promoting, free-radical-fighting antioxidants.
One More Thing:
Beans are considered "incomplete," because they're missing essential
amino acids, explains Schmitt. Pair them with whole grains that have
complementary amino acids as well as extra protein. Good combos: Lentils
and quinoa, black beans and brown rice, hummus and whole wheat pita.
5. The Best Choice for Those Who Work Out a Lot
What They Are: Eggs
How Much Protein You Get: One large egg has 6 grams of protein (about 12 percent of the recommended daily value).
Why They're Great: Eggs are another perfect, complete protein, with all the amino acids your body needs, says Schmitt. What's more, they contain vitamin B12, which is involved in processes like fat breakdown, muscle contraction and promoting a healthy metabolism.
One More Thing: Most
of an egg's protein is found in the white, but don't toss the yolks,
says Schmitt. That's where you'll find vitamins A, B12 and D, as well as
calcium, folate and omega-3s. (And you know that eating an egg a day won't have any ill effects on your cholesterol level.)
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