5 Unexpected Sources of Protein
Protein is an essential part of a healthy diet. Protein rich foods should be part of each meal and a component of your snacks throughout the day. When choosing protein, the source matters. Go for the best quality protein you can find – think organic, grass-fed, wild caught, etc.
You know you’re supposed to eat protein, but here’s why: your body is literally made up of the stuff and every system in your body needs protein to do it’s job – your muscles, hair, skin, nails, bones, blood, organs, and so on and so on. Protein is made up of amino acids, and there are certain amino acids you can only get from your diet (they’re called essential amino acids, and they are the ones your body can’t make). So, eating a variety of protein sources is a great way to help your body work efficiently, build muscle, recover from workouts, stay fuller for longer, and so much more.
We can all think of some common sources of protein like chicken, fish, eggs, and meat, but what about other sources to add some variety to your day? Here are 5 unexpected sources of protein that you can incorporate into a healthy diet.
Collagen
Collagen peptides, like these from vital proteins, are a great source of protein, easily dissolved into a smoothie or coffee, and offer 18g of protein per serving. You may also see an improvement in your hair, skin, nails and gut health when you take collagen – just an added bonus!
Bone Broth
Yup, just some simple broth contains up to 10g of protein per serving. This one from kettle and fire is made with organic ingredients and, like any good bone broth, is packed full of collagen and nutrients. It would make for a great, protein-rich addition to any soup, or would be delicious to simply sip by itself.
Beans and Lentils
With about 12g of protein per servings, beans and lentils can add variety to your meals throughout the week. Add them to salads, make burgers out of them, or blend them up into a yummy dip – the possibilities are endless.
Nuts and Seeds
Although we typically think of nuts and seeds as a great source of fat (which they are), they are also a good source of protein. Just 2 tablespoons of almond butter has 7g of protein, and 3 tablespoons of hemp seeds has 10g of protein! So snack on some nuts, add some seeds to your salads, and spread nut butter on your apple for some added protein.
Plain Greek Yogurt
Just 1 cup of my favorite yogurt, Siggi’s, has 25g of protein. Yes, you read that right. That’s a lot of protein! So grab some whole milk, plain yogurt, add some fruit and nuts, and you’ve got a great protein-packed breakfast to start your day.