Vegetarian Foods Packed with More Protein Than Meat (2024)

You already know that protein is an important part of ahealthy, balanced diet. But when you don’t eat a lot of meat, it can feel difficult to get in your recommended daily intake of protein. (The amount of protein you need will vary depending on a several factors, but protein should generally make up10 to 35 percentof your day’s total calories.) Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan or just an occasional meat-eater, there’s good news: You can get just as much protein as all the carnivores out there. Start by chowing down these seven foods.

1. BLACK BEANS.

They contain15g of proteinin just a 1-cup serving, more than the amount in achicken drumstick. Not only are black beans a great source of protein, but they’re also an excellent source of fiber and vitamins and minerals—plus they’re low in fat and have no cholesterol. Use them instead of chicken in aquesadilla.

2. LENTILS.

Much like beans, lentils check some important boxes for herbivores. One cup of cooked lentils has nearly18g of protein— more than the amount in ahamburger— and also contains a lot of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Thiscurried red lentil soupis ready in about an hour.

3. TEMPEH.

A fermented soybean product, tempeh is a tasty substitute for bacon or chicken. In fact, a cup of tempeh has about33g of protein; by comparison, a slice of bacon has just under4g of protein. Try asmothered tempeh sandwich.

4.SOYBEAN.

Soybeans take on many forms and are rich in amino acids and B vitamins. One cup of soybeans has about31g of protein, more than a4-ounce turkey burger. Use them in theseedamame quinoa burgers.

5. QUINOA.

Consider quinoa the king of protein-filled grains. Just ½ cup cooked quinoa contributes about4 grams of protein. And it’s versatile: It can be used in cookies, bars, salads, bowls and more; try it in thesealmond butter-quinoa blondies.

6.SPINACH.

No wonder a can of spinach made Popeye’s muscles bulge – just one cup is equivalent to nearly5 grams of protein. What’s more: This popular green is a fantastic source of folate, important for healthy cells andreproductive health. No need for protein powder when you’ve got spinach in yoursmoothie.

© Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

Vegetarian Foods Packed with More Protein Than Meat (2024)

FAQs

Vegetarian Foods Packed with More Protein Than Meat? ›

Lentils, beans (kidney, black, chickpeas), peas, and soybeans are all excellent sources. Aim for 1-2 cups cooked legumes daily. Tofu and Tempeh: Made from soybeans, these versatile options can be incorporated into stir-fries, scrambles, curries, or baked. A half-cup serving of tofu or tempeh packs a protein punch.

What vegetarian foods have more protein than meat? ›

VEGETARIAN FOODS PACKED WITH MORE PROTEIN THAN MEAT
  • BLACK BEANS. They contain 15g of protein in just a 1-cup serving, more than the amount in a chicken drumstick. ...
  • LENTILS. ...
  • TEMPEH. ...
  • SOYBEAN. ...
  • QUINOA. ...
  • SPINACH. ...
  • 8 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU'RE STUCK INSIDE. ...
  • 5 WAYS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CARING FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH.

What is the highest protein vegetarian food? ›

Some legumes with the highest protein content per 100 g serving include :
  • field peas (26 g)
  • cowpeas (24 g)
  • common beans (24 g)
  • mung beans (23 g)
  • pigeon peas (22 g)
  • chickpeas (21 g)
  • soybeans (13 g)

How to get 100g protein as a vegetarian? ›

For vegetarians, 100 grams of protein might look like:
  1. Four eggs (24 grams of protein)
  2. ½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams)
  3. Two tablespoons of peanut butter (7 grams)
  4. One tablespoon of hemp seeds (4 grams)
  5. ¼ cup of protein granola (10 grams)
  6. One scoop of plant-based protein powder (20 grams)
  7. Two snack cheeses (10 grams)
Jun 22, 2024

How to get 120g protein a day vegetarian? ›

My top sources in my day-to-day diet are:
  1. Whey Protein Powder (20g per scoop) (I use the MyProtein Whey Impact in the Chocolate Smooth or the Sticky Toffee Pudding flavour)
  2. Eggs (13g for a medium egg)
  3. Greek Yoghurt (10g per 100g of fa*ge Total 0%)
  4. Quorn Pieces (13g per 100g)
  5. Quorn Mince (14g per 100g)
  6. Tofu (10g per 100g)
Apr 2, 2019

How to get 70 grams of protein a day as a vegetarian? ›

Lentils, beans (kidney, black, chickpeas), peas, and soybeans are all excellent sources. Aim for 1-2 cups cooked legumes daily. Tofu and Tempeh: Made from soybeans, these versatile options can be incorporated into stir-fries, scrambles, curries, or baked. A half-cup serving of tofu or tempeh packs a protein punch.

How to get 140 grams of protein a day as a vegetarian? ›

Hold my protein shake while I show how easy it is to get 60–100 g of protein from vegetarian sources.
  1. Paneer: 100 g of Paneer has around 17 g Protein and 250 Calories.
  2. Milk (Skimmed milk for lesser fat and calories): ...
  3. Moongdal sprouts: ...
  4. Curd: ...
  5. Soya chunks: ...
  6. Beans and legumes: ...
  7. Peanut Butter: ...
  8. Oats:
Sep 7, 2019

What are six 6 vegetarian food sources for protein? ›

Today I'm going to share with you my favorite sources of protein for a plant-based diet.
  • Chia seeds. These tiny little nutritional powerhouses contain about 3.5 grams of protein per two tablespoons. ...
  • Tofu. ...
  • Sprouted Whole Grain Bread. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Hemp Seeds. ...
  • Peanut Butter Powder. ...
  • Oats. ...
  • Nutritional Yeast.

How to eat 50 grams of protein a day as a vegetarian? ›

How to get protein without the meat
  1. Pulses. Pulses are an inexpensive protein choice, are high in fibre and a source of iron. ...
  2. Soya beans. ...
  3. Quinoa. ...
  4. Nuts. ...
  5. Seeds. ...
  6. Cereals and grains. ...
  7. Quorn™ ...
  8. Dairy.

How do vegetarians get full protein? ›

Tofu, tempeh, and edamame are all made from soybeans and are excellent plant-based complete protein sources. Tofu is made from condensed soy milk pressed into white blocks. It comes in a variety of textures, including: silken.

What is the 30g protein breakfast myth? ›

One myth about protein is that the human body can only absorb or us 30g protein in one go. People who believe this say that if you eat anything more than 30g of the macronutrient protein in one meal, the rest will either turn to fat or will be excreted through urine.

Is tofu high in protein? ›

"Tofu has a high amount of protein in it, which makes it a really good alternative for animal [based] protein," says Jamie Mok, a registered dietitian nutritionist and national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

How to increase protein intake as a vegetarian? ›

How Do Vegetarians Get Enough Protein?
  1. Eggs. Eat your eggs however you like them prepared.
  2. Nut butter. Consider eating toast with almond butter, which is packed with protein and heart-healthy fats.
  3. Steel-cut oatmeal. Try making these no-bake protein bars.
  4. Green vegetables. ...
  5. Nuts and seeds. ...
  6. Beans. ...
  7. Soy products. ...
  8. Lentils.
Jan 16, 2019

How to get 30g of protein for breakfast vegetarian? ›

Recipes with 400-450 calories and 30g protein
  1. Veggie Scramble w/ Fruit. Makes 1 serving.
  2. Berry Kale Smoothie. Makes 1 serving.
  3. Yogurt Breakfast Bowl. Makes 1 serving.
  4. Quinoa Breakfast Scramble. Makes 1 serving.
  5. Berry, Banana, Avocado Smoothie. Makes 1 serving.
  6. Almond Raspberry Parfait. Makes 1 serving.

Which vegetable is high in protein? ›

Among the highest protein vegetables are chickpeas, corn, spinach, artichoke hearts, and edamame. To get all of the amino acids your body needs, aim to eat a variety of foods, such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables throughout the day.

Which food has the highest protein? ›

poultry – chicken, turkey, duck, emu, goose, bush birds. fish and seafood – fish, prawns, crab, lobster, mussels, oysters, scallops, clams. eggs. dairy products – milk, yoghurt (especially Greek yoghurt), cheese (especially cottage cheese)

What is the vegetable highest in protein? ›

And what are the best sources for protein?
  • Green peas. Green peas are at the top of the list of the most protein-filled vegetables. ...
  • Spinach. A big crisp spinach salad is certainly refreshing, especially on a hot day in the South. ...
  • Collard greens. ...
  • Sweet corn. ...
  • Mustard greens. ...
  • Lima beans. ...
  • Asparagus. ...
  • Broccoli.

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