BE KIND & CO

  • HOME
  • ABOUT BE KIND & CO
  • LU PARKER
  • SPEAKER
  • BLOG
    • WISDOM
    • HEALTH & FITNESS
    • 4 LEGGED FRIENDS
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • CONTACT

Cruelty-Free Protein Options

by Aimee Aristotelous / Monday, December 03 2018 / Published in Fitness, Food & Beverage, Health & Fitness, Wisdom

One of the most popular questions I encounter as a nutritionist is “Where do I find my protein?” This question is especially recognized in the vegan community, as it is common for vegans to consider ample protein intake a hard task to achieve, but it actually doesn’t have to be as daunting as it may seem. If you’re vegan and you struggle to meet your protein requirements or maybe you are just looking for some more options, I have six superior and varied protein sources for you.

QUINOA

Protein Amount: 8 grams per cup

Sometimes mistaken for a grain, quinoa is actually classified as a seed. It contains more (and higher quality) protein than most grains and unlike many plant foods, it has all nine essential amino acids which are the building blocks of protein. An added benefit, quinoa is also a low-glycemic carbohydrate source which will give you energy while helping to maintain even blood sugar levels.

LENTILS

Protein Amount: 18 grams per cup

A pulse found in the legume family, lentils are packed with protein, boasting nine grams in only one half of a cup! Cooking up in only 15 minutes, a bag of dry lentils is convenient, inexpensive, and can be made in large batches ahead of time. Lentils are also a god source of fiber, folate, iron, vitamin B-6, Potassium, and Magnesium.

COOKED SPINACH

Protein Amount: 6 grams per cup

At only 46 calories per cup, cooked spinach is packed with protein. One cup of cooked spinach does contain more protein than one cup of raw spinach due to the density of the greens after they have undergone the cooking process. If you prefer a raw spinach salad, you will still obtain adequate amounts of protein as long as you use a few cups of the raw leaves for your salad.

BUCKWHEAT

Protein Amount: 11 grams per 1/2 cup

Commonly referred to as a cereal grain, buckwheat is actually a fruit seed that is a cousin of rhubarb. Despite its name, buckwheat actually isn’t a wheat product so it is higher in protein and lower in calories (and suitable for gluten-free individuals) than typical grains. Buckwheat is also a great source of fiber, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper manganese, and selenium.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST

Protein Amount: 8 grams per 1/4 cup

If you’re not familiar with nutritional yeast, it has a cheesy and nutty taste–you can sprinkle it on things like potatoes, popcorn, beans, and pasta. A food additive made from a single-celled organism, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, it is grown on molasses and then harvested. Besides its protein content, nutritional yeast is one of the only vegan foods that is a great source of vitamin B-12, which is traditionally found in animal products.

APRICOTS

Protein Amount: 4 grams per cup

If you’re a fruit lover, at 2 grams of protein per half cup, apricot is one of the highest protein fruits. Fortunately, apricots are also a low sugar fruit so the beneficial protein in take will not be offset by an abundance of sugar.

There are hundreds of vegan foods that contain protein so you do have an assortment to choose from in order to meet your personal food preferences. The above mentioned vegan proteins just happen to be some of my favorites with regard to protein per calorie, other added benefits, and variety. If you know of a must-have vegan protein, we would to hear from you so please comment below!

Click here to learn more from Aimee and buy The Whole Pregnancy: A Complete Nutrition Plan for Gluten-Free Moms to Be.

 

 

Facebook Comments

Aimee Aristotelous

About Aimee Aristotelous

Aimee Aristotelous is a certified nutritionist, specializing in prenatal dietetics and gluten-free nutrition. In addition to her Nutrition and Wellness certification through American Fitness Professionals and Associates, Aimee has a bachelor’s degree in business/marketing from California State University, Long Beach. She is the author of The Whole Pregnancy: A Complete Nutrition Plan for Gluten-Free Moms to Be.

What you can read next

Motivational Speaker Lu Parker Teams Up with Berkshire Hathaway HS
Kindness and Masculinity
Bee Kind.

MOST RECENT

  • Your Fence is Broken

    When we moved into our house four years ago, we...
  • Learning to Grieve

    The month of October was a difficult one for me...
  • Live a Life You Are Proud Of

    Who knew you could find practical advice on bei...
  • Helping Our Pets Age With Grace

    As a veterinarian, I work with a number of resc...
  • Do you have the answer?

    I have worked in the television news business f...
  • Redefining Kindness

    It’s your strength, not your weakness. Re...
  • Kindness and Masculinity

    As a man who supports people in cultivating ful...
  • Trust Kindness.

    Have you ever felt like your life has become a ...
  • Bee Kind.

    Bees are my favorite insect. They are industrio...
  • Celebrating ‘National Love is Kind Day’

    I was married for 18 years before I realized I ...
  • Burnout Is Real

    It may feel like more and more people are hitti...
  • Turning Your Passions into Great Purpose

    As a Hollywood stunt woman, professional scuba ...
  • Make Every Day Earth Day

    We celebrated Earth Day last month, but why not...
  • Eliminate These 3 Words To Improve Your Relationship

    Our relationships really hinge on the words we ...
  • Motivational Speaker Lu Parker Teams Up with Berkshire Hathaway HS

    On March 11, 2019, Lu Parker hosted two Univers...
  • Kind Sources of Calcium

    The most common mineral found in the body ...
  • Boots, Books & Beautiful Friends

    I am grateful every day when I open my eyes and...
  • Eco Glam V-Day Gift Ideas

    Valentine’s Day is a time to spread love so why...
  • Proud To Be Me

    At the age of eleven,  I went through some...
  • HOME
  • ABOUT BE KIND & CO
  • LU PARKER
  • SPEAKER
  • BLOG
    • WISDOM
    • HEALTH & FITNESS
    • 4 LEGGED FRIENDS
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • CONTACT

BE KIND & CO NEWSLETTER

Get inspired weekly with the Be Kind & Co Newsletter.

We never spam!

  • ABOUT
  • SPEAKING
  • LU PARKER
  • CONTACT
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2019 Be Kind & Co. All Rights Reserved.

TOP