Where do I get my protein?

Where do I get my protein?

Decorative - potatoes and green beans and a steak is being removed from the plate

Maybe it's the false impression that a plant-based diet consists solely of raw veggies, or perhaps it's because many people think: "protein means meat." Whatever the reason, one of the most frequently-asked questions about plant-based eating is: "Where do you get your protein?"


If you're thinking of moving to a plant-based diet, or adding more plant-based meals into your repertoire, let us reassure you  -- it's not hard to get enough protein on a plant-based diet.


In this article, we start with the basics, describing what protein is and why it's necessary for your body. We dispel the myth that plants don't provide protein. Next we look at key plant-based protein sources, including the legume family, whole grains, and nuts and seeds.  


We show how you can create a protein-packed meal using layers of protein. Finally, we share how to calculate your protein requirements based on common guidelines, how to calculate calories by counting macronutrients, and where you can find nutritional information in our recipes


Read the article straight through or use the Table of Contents to link quickly to specific content. We hope you find it useful and we'd love your questions and comments. 

Sylvia

founder, not not nutritious.com

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What is protein?

Protein is one of the three macronutrients. Fat and carbohydrates are the other two. They're called macronutrients as we need to eat them in relatively large quantities. 


Our body also needs micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, but as the name implies, we need these in smaller quantities. 

What is protein?

Protein is one of the three macronutrients. Fat and carbohydrates are the other two. They're called macronutrients as we need to eat them in relatively large quantities. 


Our body also needs micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, but as the name implies, we need these in smaller quantities. 

Protein is essential:

Our bodies cannot create protein so we must get it by eating it.

Protein is important for:

  • gaining and retaining muscle
  • improving bone strength
  • aiding immunity
  • increasing metabolism
  • repairing injured tissues and organs
  • providing a back-up source of energy

Protein comes from plants and animals:

All animals and plants contain protein. For example, chicken has 27 grams of protein per 100 grams, while pistachios have 20 grams of protein per 100 grams. 

Dispelling the myth

While it's true that meat, poultry, and eggs are excellent sources of protein, it's not necessary to eat animal products to get protein.

All types of plants contain protein. For example, a whopping 67% of the calories in watercress come from protein. Other leafy greens, such as spinach, also contain high percentages of protein. 

However, the percentage of protein calories is just part of the equation. In the case of leafy greens like watercress and spinach, they also contain a very high percentage of water. Watercress is about 94% water. So, even though it's high in protein, relative to the two other macronutrients: fat and carbohydrates, a one cup serving (34 grams) contains less than 1 gram of protein (.782 according to USDA). You would have to eat about 77 cups to obtain the FDA's recommended daily average of 50 grams of protein.

Watercress has a whopping 67% of its calories as protein calories. However, watercress is also 94% water.* Every cup of watercress has less than 1 gram of protein. It would take a small mountain (about 77 cups!) to obtain a daily requirement of 50 grams.


*Water has no calories and is not included in the macronutrient calculation.


So if you want to eat plant-based but don't want to spend your whole day eating, what type of plants should you eat?

One word: Legumes

Legumes include beans, lentils, peas, and soybeans. They are high in protein - on average they have about 31% protein calories - and they have less water content than leafy greens.

The takeaway: foods in the legume family are one of the most important protein sources for plant-based eaters. 

The legume family and protein 

All categories of plants contain some amounts of protein, and foods within the legume category are the best single source of protein in a plant-based diet. The infographic below shows common foods from the legume family, grouped by category. The categories don't match perfectly with their scientific classifications. Instead, they are grouped by familiar names.

Infographic: Common foods in the legume family

Click or tap each button to take a closer look at each of these categories. 

Beans

Description

Beans are a type of legume. While there are an estimated 400 types of beans in the world, this list represents some of the more commonly used beans in North America. 

  • Black beans: Black beans are often used in Mexican-style food, but they are mild in flavour and pair well with a variety of seasonings. Black beans are also called turtle beans. 
  • Butter beans: These are cream-coloured beans that have a mild, buttery flavour and a creamy texture. 
  • Cannellini beans:  Common in Italian cuisine, these are mild flavoured beans that are large, white and kidney-shaped. They are also called white kidney beans..
  • Chickpeas aka Garbanzo beans: These are round beige beans that are mildly flavoured and versatile. If you've eaten hummus, a dip with Middle Eastern origins, you've eaten chickpeas. 
  • Fava beans:  These brown beans are large and flat and have an earthy, grassy flavour. Some people taste a bitter undertone.
  • Great Northern beans: These are white beans that are kidney-shaped. They are mildly flavoured and similar to Cannellini beans.  
  • Navy beans: These beans were part of the US Navy's diet in the 1800's, hence the name. They are small white beans, also called pea beans, or Boston beans, as they are the beans featured in Boston Baked Bean recipes.
  • Pinto: Pinto beans are oval-shaped, beige beans with darker speckles.  Their name comes from the Spanish word for painted, "pinto," since the speckles look like they've been painted on. Pinto beans have a mild, nutty flavour and a creamy texture when cooked. 

Buying and preparing

You can buy beans in dry, uncooked form, or cooked in cans or jars. While both uncooked and cooked beans are relatively inexpensive, purchasing dry beans is less expensive than purchasing cooked. However, cooked beans are ready to eat out of the can, while dry beans are usually soaked overnight and then cooked, meaning a longer preparation time.

Soaking:  

  • reduces the cooking time
  • removes some of the compounds that negatively impact the absorption of nutrients
  • makes them easier to digest
  • helps remove any contaminants

After soaking, beans typically take at least an hour to cook stove-top. Depending on the age and type of the bean, it might take up to 3 hours.

You can speed up the cooking time by using a pressure cooker, insta-pot, or similar device. However, even if you're cooking them in a regular pot, the upside is that they don't need a lot of tending to. 

After soaking and cooking beans expand to 2-3 times their original size.

Protein Amounts

Here's the protein content per 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of uncooked beans.

Top down view of uncooked black beans

Black beans

26 grams

Top down, close up view of uncooked butter beans

Butter/Lima

21 grams

Top down view of uncooked chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, in a white bowl

chickpea/Garbanzo

19 grams

Top down view of uncooked kidney beans in a white bowl

kidney beans

24 grams

Top down view of uncooked navy beans in a bowl

Navy beans

22 Grams

uncooked pinto beans

pinto beans

19 grams

Recipe ideas

Beans are very versatile and pair well with different flavour combinations. 

Garlicky, full of leafy greens, sweet tomatoes, and spicy plant-based sausage, this cozy soup is a hearty, protein-rich meal-in-a-bowl. Perfect ...

Garlicky White Bean Soup with Plant-Based Sausage

A plant-based, meal in a bowl made with canned crushed tomatoes, coconut milk, pineapple, and spices, this 1-Pot Spicy Black ...

1-Pot Spicy Black Bean Soup

Fast, filling, and flavourful, this Thai-inspired Chickpea Curry features red curry paste, coconut milk, ginger, pineapple, and tomatoes. You can ...

15-minute Thai Chickpea Curry (Vegan or Pork)

This 3 ingredient sun-dried tomato hummus is perfect for when you need something quick flavourful, and filling.  Preparing 3-Ingredient Sun-Dried ...

3 ingredient Sun-dried Tomato Hummus

Infographic: Using beans in plant-based cooking


Beans are a versatile, inexpensive source of protein, and are often used to replace meat in plant-based cooking.


You can buy beans dry/uncooked or cooked. Uncooked is less expensive but takes more preparation time, as they are typically soaked before cooking. 


You can click or tap the infographic to enlarge it and zoom in. 

Infographic: Using beans in plant-based cooking

Lentils

Description

Lentils are a type of legume. There are a variety of different colours of lentils. 

  • Black Beluga: Considered a speciality lentil, Black Beluga lentils are small, round dark black lentils with a rich, earthy flavour.
  • Brown: These lentils have a mild, earthy flavour. 
  • Green: These are cream-coloured beans that have a mild, buttery flavour and a creamy texture. 
  • Puy: This is a speciality lentil that comes from the Le Puy region in France. The lentils are round, greenish-grey and have a rich and peppery flavour. They're also called French Green lentils. 
  • Red: Red lentils are small and flat. They are mild in flavour and cook quickly.  
  • Yellow: Yellow lentils are small and flat. They have a mild taste and cook quickly. 

Buying and Preparing

Lentils are sold in dry, uncooked form, and also in cans, cooked. Unlike beans, lentils do not need to be soaked before cooking. Lentils cook relatively quickly, with red lentils cooking in about 5-15 minutes, depending on their age and the preferred final texture. 

After cooking, lentils will expand about 2 and a half times their original size. Lentils will also lose some of their colour when cooked. Some lentils get mushy easily, such as red lentils, while others will hold their shape (Black Beluga, and Puy). 

Top down of split bowl showing uncooked red lentils on one side and cooked red lentils on the other

Uncooked versus cooked red lentils. 

Protein

Here's the protein content per 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of uncooked lentils. 

Top down view of Black Beluga Lentils in a wooden bowl

Black Beluga

26 grams

Top down view of brown lentils in a wooden bowl

Brown

21 grams

Top down view of green lentils in a white bowl

Green

22 grams

Top down view of Puy lentils

Puy (French Green)

24 grams

Top-down view of uncooked red lentils in a white bowl

REd

22 grams

Top down view of yellow lentils in a wooden bowl

Yellow

19 grams

Recipe ideas

Calling all Indian-food lovers! Meet your new favourite recipe -- a make-it-all in one pot, plant-based bowl of goodness: A ...

1-Pot Indian Red Lentils (Dal)

Lentil, Lemon, and Dill Soup is a hearty and flavourful soup that you can make in 1-pot without much effort. ...

Lentil, Lemon, and Dill Soup

This flavourful 1-pot vegan soup is laden with red lentils and vegetables. We used equal quantities of leeks, carrots, potatoes, ...

1-Pot Coconut Lentil Vegetable Soup

Soybean and related foods

Soybeans are part of the legume family.

Soy products are very common in plant-based eating. You've likely heard of tofu and soy milk, but that's not where the influence of soybean ends. Soy is also the only ingredient in two of the original meat replacements: textured vegetable protein (TVP) and soy curls

Tofu: Description

There are many different kinds of tofu, including: soft, silken, medium, medium-firm, firm, and extra firm. You can also find tofu desserts, which are usually variations on soft or silken tofu. There's also speciality tofus, such as flavoured or smoked products.

Soft tofu, as the name implies, is softer in texture than other tofu. The difference in types of tofu is in the water content, with soft tofu having the most water and extra firm the least. While all tofu contains protein, soft tofu has less protein per weight than firmer tofu types.

Different types of tofu are suitable for different recipes. For example, soft or silken tofu is often used for desserts or to thicken drinks and sauces. We use medium or medium-firm for our Salty Crispy Tofu recipe

Tofu: Buying and preparing

Most larger grocery stores will sell tofu and related products. Tofu can spoil so you'll see it sold in a refrigerated section.

While many recipes call for cooking tofu, it's actually already cooked when you buy it. Tofu is made from soybeans, which are "soaked, boiled, and made into soy milk." This soy milk is then cooked and a thickening agent (often calcium sulfate) is added. It may then undergo further processing, such as pressing and pasteurization.

All of that means, yes it's fine to eat tofu straight out the package. However, tofu is bland on its own, and some people don't find the texture appealing, so usually recipes call for some sort of modification.

uncooked tofu cubes on a red plate

Tofu: protein amounts

Here's the protein content for 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of various types of tofu. These are averages, specific brands of tofu may contain varying amounts. 

An easy way to remember which type of tofu has more protein, is to remember that the softer the tofu, the more water, and therefore less protein by weight. 

Type of Tofu

Protein per 100 grams (3.5 ounces)

silken tofu

4.4 grams

soft tofu

7 grams

medium firm tofu

7 grams

firm tofu

8.2 grams

extra firm tofu

10.1 grams

Edamame beans

Edamame beans are young (immature) soybeans that are green and soft.

Edamame beans can be purchased in their pod, or shelled. Look for shelled edamame beans in the freezer section of the grocery store. 

Edamame beans are larger and firmer than green peas, with a buttery, slightly nutty taste. They make a great addition to soups and salads. 

One cup of cooked edamame beans has 17 grams of protein.

Top-down view of edamame beans in a green bowl

Edamame beans

SoY Curls

Soy curls is a trade-marked, commercial meat replacement product created by Butler foods. They come dry and must be rehydrated before adding to a dish. Once rehydrated, soy curls look like shredded chicken. They don't have a lot of flavour on their own, but do absorb seasoning well. 

They are a one-ingredient product, made from soybeans. They are difficult to find in standard grocery stores but you can purchase them online or in some health food stores. 

Close up view of dry (not rehydrated) soy curls, along with a green pea for perspective on size
Uncooked soy curls. The green pea is included for perspective. 

SoY Milk

Drinking soy milk, or using it in your cooking, is another way to get soy protein. For example, one cup of Silk brand unsweetened soy milk contains 8 grams of protein. Each brand of soy milk will have a different amount of protein, so be sure to check the label. 

top down view of a glass of soy milk and some soy beans

Textured Vegetable Protein

Textured Vegetable Protein or TVP is a one-ingredient meat-replacement made with soy flour. Also called Textured Soy Protein, or TSP, it's one of the original meat replacements. TVP is inexpensive and mild in flavour. It's typically rehydrated before using and easily absorbs seasoning, so it can be used in a variety of recipes. 

Recipe Ideas

A light and creamy hummus that you can make in minutes, featuring fresh basil, lemon, edamame beans, and chickpeas. Perfect ...

Edamame Hummus

La-la-sagna! GREEN lasagna that is! Just as cheesy as regular lasagna, plus it’s packed with all sorts of glorious green ...

Green Lasagna

Packed with veggies in a thyme-scented cream sauce, this dairy-free Veggie Pot Pie is quintessential comfort food. Prep time is ...

Dairy-Free Veggie Pot Pie

Make it easy to feed a mixed group of eaters with these Buddha Bowls with Pineapple Brown Butter Teriyaki Sauce. We’re going ...

Buddha Bowls w/ Pineapple Brown Butter Teriyaki Sauce

Smoky and spicy with maple undertones, you’re going to love these vegan bacon bits sprinkled all over veggies, salads, and ...

Vegan Bacon Bits in 60 seconds!

Perfectly salted, crispy on the outside, soft and eggy on the inside, this Salty Crispy Tofu is going to change ...

Salty Crispy Tofu

Infographic: Soy in a plant-based diet


Soy products are very common in plant-based eating. You've likely hard of soy milk and tofu, but did you know that edamame beans are actually young, immature soybeans? 


Soy is also the ingredient in textured vegetable protein, or TVP, one of the original meat replacements. We've used it to make our Vegan Bacon Bits in 60 seconds, and Lettuce Wraps: Vegan or with Pork. 


You can click or tap the infographic to enlarge it and zoom in. 



Infographic: Soy and plant-based eating

Peas

Description

Peas are part of the legume family.

Green peas and split peas are the same food. However, green peas are fresh, while split peas are dried and split. Because one-side of the split pea is flat, they are sometimes confused with lentils. 

Top down, close up view of green peas on a wooden spoon

Green peas

Top-down close up view of split peas on a wooden spoon.

Split peas

Protein 

Green peas are a good source of protein, containing about 8 grams of protein per cup, cooked.

Split peas are an excellent source of of protein, containing about 16 grams of protein per cup, cooked.

recipe Ideas

La-la-sagna! GREEN lasagna that is! Just as cheesy as regular lasagna, plus it’s packed with all sorts of glorious green ...

Green Lasagna

Homey and satisfying, this Beyond Beef Shepherd’s Pie has a meaty base and a rustic topping of buttery mashed potatoes. ...

Beyond Beef Shepherd’s Pie

Packed with veggies in a thyme-scented cream sauce, this dairy-free Veggie Pot Pie is quintessential comfort food. Prep time is ...

Dairy-Free Veggie Pot Pie

Packed with zucchini and protein-rich green peas, these fritters are surprisingly rich for a plant-based recipe. As well as being ...

Zucchini and Green Pea Fritters

Two words: Whole grains

Whole grains and protein 

Whole grains are the second major category of plants that are a good source of protein.

Grains include wheat, rice, oats, corn, barley, millet and rye. Although technically a seed, quinoa is usually classified as a whole grain.

Grains are frequently broken into two subgroups: whole and refined. Whole grains are more nutritious than refined grains and tend to be higher in protein. 

The following infographic shows common whole grain products and how much protein they provide, per 100 grams uncooked. (100 grams is about 3.5 ounces.)

Infographic: Whole Grain Protein Sources

Three words: Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds 

Description

Nuts and seeds are our third category of foods that are excellent sources of protein. 

Nuts include:

  • Almonds, which come whole raw and roasted, slivered, ground, and turned into flour. Almonds have a light nutty flavour. We use almond flour as one of the 4 ingredients in our versatile Mother Mix - a DIY dry mixture that's the base of many creamy recipes. 
  • Cashews, which come whole raw and roasted, in pieces raw and roasted, and ground into flour. You can also buy or make cashew butter. 
  • Hazelnuts, which are typically sold whole with their skins on.
  • Macadamia nuts, which are sold whole, in both raw and roasted form. 
  • Peanuts, which come raw with their skin off or on, and roasted, whole or in pieces. You can also buy all natural peanut butter, which usually includes only peanuts, and sometimes salt.  
  • Pecans, which come raw and roasted. They're typically sold in halves, or pieces. 
  • Pistachios: which are sold shelled and unshelled, usually in whole pieces. Pistachios have a beautiful green-yellow hues.
  •  Walnuts, which come raw and roasted. They're typically sold whole or in pieces. 

Editorial note: Seed section is coming soon.

Protein Amounts

Type of Nuts

Protein per 100 grams (3.5 ounces)

Almonds

21 grams

Cashews

18 grams

Hazelnuts

15 grams

Macadamia nuts

8 grams

Peanuts

26 grams

Pecans

10 grams

Pistachios

21 grams

Walnuts

15 grams

recipe ideas

Perfect for breakfast on the go, these 1-bowl Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Muffins are full of goodness: toasted walnuts, nutty hemp ...

1-Bowl Zucchini Chocolate Chunk Muffins

Light and lemony, these 1-bowl white chocolate chip cookies have a pale green hue from the not-so-secret ingredient: avocado. You ...

Lemon Pistachio and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

This Indian-inspired cashew sauce smells and tastes delicious! Featuring a mix of warm Indian spices, cashews, and cream or coconut ...

Indian-Inspired Cashew Sauce

If you're new to plant-based eating, you might be looking for alternatives to dairy to use in creamy recipes. While ...

The Mother Mix: Your new plant-based pantry staple

This vegan ricotta cheese is rich, creamy and a little bit sweet — just like traditional dairy ricotta. Using almond ...

1-Minute Vegan Ricotta Cheese

Nut butter with attitude. Your choice of creamy or crunchy.  All spiced up with cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, hot chili ...

Spicy Cashew Butter

Infographic: Using nuts in plant-based cooking


Nuts are an excellent source of protein. You can eat them out of hand, or add to salads, stir-fries, and grain bowls for flavour, texture, and protein content. They can be added to cookies and other baked goods. They can be turned into nut butters and ground into flour. To jumpstart creamy, dairy-free recipes, try our almond-flour based Mother Mix. 


Nuts are also used to make plant-based cheeses, such as our 1-minute Plant-based Parmesan, or 1-minute Vegan Ricotta


You can click or tap the infographic to enlarge it and zoom in. 



Infographic: Using nuts in plant-based cooking

Four Final words: Multiple proteins are key

How to get a protein-packed plant-based meal

If your goal is a protein-packed, plant-based meal, then the key is to layer proteins.

For the base of your meal choose a whole grain, such as brown rice or quinoa. Next in the layer go for a legume, such as black beans or chickpeas. Then add a few different vegetables (all have some protein) into the mix. Finally, bring everything together with a sauce  (our example is made from soy milk and blended nuts) and top off with a sprinkle of nuts

The infographic below provides an example of a meal with over 32 grams of protein (the recommended daily average is about 50 grams).

Infographic: How to make a protein-packed plant-based meal

How much protein do I need?

There's no consensus on how much protein an individual needs.

Typically, people use one of two methods for determining their protein requirements:

01

Government guidelines

02

Diet specific guidelines

Many diets state protein requirements as a ratio compared to fat and carbohydrates, the other two macronutrients. This is sometimes referred to colloquially as "macros." 

For example, the whole food plant-based diet (WFPB) recommends 10% of your calories come from protein, 10% from fat, and the remaining 80% from carbohydrates.

Once you determine the percentage of your diet that should consist of protein, you can quantify the amount in grams per day based on your calorie requirements. See a sample protein calculation

Sample protein calculation

This is Julie. She wants to eat 2000 calories a day and wants to calculate how many grams of protein she needs to eat to meet these requirements. 

step 1

Determine desired calorie intake

Julie's desired calorie intake is 2000 calories a day.

Your calorie intake will vary depending on your age, sex, and activity level. 

step 2

Determine desired ratio of protein to fat and carbohydrates

Julie wants to follow the whole- food plant-based macronutrient guidelines of 10% protein, 10% fat, and 80% carbohydrates.

step 3

Calculate the number of protein calories needed

10% of 2000 calories = 200 calories of protein needed

step 4

Calculate the grams of protein needed to equal the amount of calories

Note: 1 gram of protein = 4 calories

To determine how many grams of protein you need, divide the 200 calorie allotment by 4 (as each gram of protein is 4 calories).

200 divided by 4 = 50 

Therefore, Julie needs to eat 50 grams of protein to meet her nutritional requirements.

Sidebar: calculating Calories by counting Macronutrients

You can calculate how many calories are in a specific food if you know how many grams of protein, fat, and carbohydrates it contains. Protein has 4 calories per gram, as do carbohydrates. Fat has 9 calories per gram.

Protein

4 calories per gram

Fat

   9 calories per gram

Carbohydrates

4 calories per gram

For example, one serving of Lentil, Lemon, and Dill Soup has 20 grams protein,  19 grams of fat, and 42 grams carbohydrates. 

Protein

Fat

Carbs

20 g x 4 calories =  80

19 g x 9 calories  =  171

42 g x 4 calories = 168 

   Total calories = 419

Finding nutritional information in recipes

Recipes on not not nutritious include nutrtitional information in the Recipe Card. 

  • The serving size and calories per serving appear after the recipe description
  • The Notes section includes details on what is included in the calculation
  • Detailed nutritional information, including the amount of protein in grams, is at the bottom of the recipe card
  • All information is an estimate. 
Key to nutritional information

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