We are often told that meat and eggs are good sources of protein. Many bodybuilding and muscle-building diets tell you to eat more high-protein meals. In the past, this might have meant a diet where you ate a lot of chicken as a main part of your meals. But what if you can’t eat meat or other animal products because of the way you eat?
Getting the right amount of protein into your diet when you’re a vegan might seem hard, but it’s actually a lot easier than you might think.
Why do we need protein?
Protein is very important to the body because it helps the body repair itself. This is very important when you are bodybuilding or doing any kind of fitness program because you are putting more stress on your muscles.
Many fitness plans include a diet and nutrition plan that helps you eat more protein to make up for the stress you’re putting on your body. This helps you avoid injury, repair muscle, and build muscle mass.
This could mean eating more often during the day to give you more energy, following a strict nutrition plan, drinking protein shakes before or after a workout, or taking extra protein supplements. If you’re vegan or vegetarian and don’t eat some of the most common sources of protein, you might find it hard to find the right ways to add more protein to your diet. But if you want to start a fitness plan that requires you to pay more attention to what you eat, you should talk to your trainer or an expert at your gym first to get the right advice.
Great vegan-friendly protein sources
As we’ve already said, protein is often thought to come from meat, eggs, and other animal products. However, there are many other ways to get more protein if you only eat plant-based foods, such as:
- Nuts
- Tofu
- Lentils
- Pulses
- Beans
- Green veg (such as spinach)
These are packed with protein and give vegans a great source of nutrients to help maintain a healthy diet.
There are also a number of vegan-friendly ways to add more protein to meals. There are some supplements, powders, and vegan protein bars that can help you get more protein quickly before or after a workout.
Protein bars can be eaten as a quick snack during the day. Protein powders, on the other hand, can be used in a number of ways to add more protein and nutrition to different recipes. By swapping out some of the flour in a pizza dough recipe or cake mix, for example, you can make a tasty treat that also has more protein.
Or, you could mix the powder with peanut butter, cocoa, and your choice of dried fruit and desiccated coconut to make great protein bites that set in the fridge and don’t need to be baked.
Versatility is very important because eating the same thing every day just to make sure you get enough protein can get boring. This can make it hard to enjoy your meals, which can make it hard to stick to a diet if you’re trying to live a healthier life, for example.
If you only eat plants, it’s important to find ways to get more protein in your diet. Look for ways to add protein-rich foods to your meals, like adding firm tofu to a stir fry or lentils or beans to soups or pasta sauces. By adding a few simple things to your favorite meals, you can boost their nutritional value and give them a new twist.
