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You’ve probably noticed that your workouts alone are not sufficient in maintaining a healthy weight or overall lifestyle. Staying active is important, but you also have to make sure you’re fueling your body with the right nutrients. This can be especially challenging if you have any dietary restrictions like vegetarianism, or allergies to animal products.
The food that you fuel your body with is an essential part of an active lifestyle. Consuming protein before and after exercise is important in getting the most out of your sessions. Protein is crucial in supporting your body’s endurance during a workout and ensuring a healthy recovery for your muscles afterwards. Without it, your muscle tissue could break down from all the wear and tear.
Many people’s first instinct is to turn to meat or other animal products to get protein. But have no fear, vegetarians and vegans! Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of delicious vegetables, nuts, and legumes that serve as excellent sources of protein as well.
When talking about proteins, it is important to consider amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. While your body produces many of them on its own, there are nine that must come from your diet. These specific amino acids are considered "essential" and can be found in many different plant-based proteins!
Now that you know WHY it's important, here are some examples of plant-based foods that are packed with protein below:
🫛Peas: Just one cup of peas can have 8 grams of protein! They're also rich in antioxidants, making them a great addition to any meal!
🫘 Beans: All sorts of beans—like chickpeas, black beans, or kidney beans—can have upwards of 15 grams of protein per cup!
🍄🟫 Mushrooms: One cup of cooked mushrooms can have 3 grams of protein, a delicious veggie to add to your meals!
🍠 Sweet Potato: A cup of cooked sweet potato can have 4 grams of protein and is a great source of different vitamins, like B6 and C!
🥦 Broccoli: Just one cup of raw broccoli has 3 grams of protein, and cooking it will help to increase the amount you can get per serving!
In addition, certain combinations of plant proteins, such as lentils and beans with grains, can help you obtain all essential amino acids that are crucial for your health!
Check out one of our blogs that details a recipe for quinoa salad with avocado, which has a great source of protein from the quinoa.
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