Top 10 Vegan Protein Sources

Since I decided to follow a plant-based vegan diet, my main focus was getting enough protein so that I would be full and not get headaches I am prone to when I don’t eat enough. But it turns out there are a lot of really yummy vegan protein sources that keep me full and satisfied for hours! I love it when I find healthy recipes that taste delicious.

Vegans and vegetarians are often bombarded with questions about how they get enough protein. Many parents, peers, teachers, and coworkers will insist that without meat, vegans are certainly protein deficient. This argument may be used to convince vegans about the health dangers of their diet, and even nutrition stores will try to convince vegans that they need protein supplements. However, it is a proven fact that vegans naturally get enough protein if they eat a varied diet – they just need to focus on good vegan protein sources.

Since plant proteins are different from meat proteins, vegans should aim to consume 0.41 grams of protein per pound each day. This amounts to almost 10% of daily calorie intake. So, an average 180-pound male vegan should consume 74 grams of protein each day.

10 Common Ways to Find Vegan Protein Sources

1. Grains

   Tons of grains have protein, including oats, wheat, rye, barley, corn, and rice, to name a few! Think about all the grains you eat per day. One cup of oatmeal has 6 grams of protein, two slices of whole wheat bread has 7 grams of protein, and one cup of brown rice has 5 grams of protein.

2. Legumes

   This includes beans, peas, and lentils. 1 cup of kidney beans has 13 grams of protein alone, and a cup of lentils provides 18 grams!

3. Nuts

   Peanuts, almonds, cashews, and even peanut butter, are a great source of protein. Two tablespoons of almonds contain 4 grams of protein, and two tablespoons of peanut butter contain 8 grams.

4. Seeds

   Sunflower and sesame seeds, make a great snack and are very healthy for you. Seeds are commonly consumed on breads and with other grains. One tablespoon of pumpkin seeds contains 2 grams of protein, and a tablespoon of flax seeds contains 1.5 grams.

5. Vegetables

   Common in a vegan diet, veggies are a great way to get protein. One cup of broccoli contains 4 grams of protein, one cup of portabello mushrooms contains 5 grams, and one cup of spinach provides 6 grams.

6. Fruits

   Vegetables are known to be a rich source of protein, but few realize that some fruits also contain a considerable amount of protein. One cup of dates contains 3.6 grams of protein, a medium avocado contains 4 grams, and one cup of guava contains 4.2 grams.

7. Tofu

   1 cup of tofu provides an impressive 20 grams of protein. People are more likely to consume only about a half a cup at a time, but still, that’s an easy 10 grams of protein.

8. Soy Milk

   Providing 7 grams of protein per cup, soymilk is a great, delicious source for your protein.

9. Veggie Burgers and Other Meat Substitutes

   These are becoming increasingly popular, especially ‘veggie’ burgers made for vegans. Did you know that one veggie patty provides you a whopping 10 grams of protein?

10. Quinoa

    Quinoa is considered the king of whole grains. 1 cup of cooked quinoa will get you 18 grams of protein!

The Key Is A Varied Diet

As you can see from the list above, it’s quite easy to consume the proper amount of Vegan Protein Sources on a daily basis. Let’s say for breakfast you have a cup of oatmeal and a banana, for lunch you have a veggie burger with soymilk, for a snack you have some peanuts, and for dinner you have lentil salad with spinach, half a cup of cooked tofu, and kidney beans. That’s 82 grams of protein!

Here are some great vegan recipes I’ve found recently:
Homemade Chocolate Larabars
Raw No Bake Chocolate Oat Balls Recipe
Vegan Peanut Butter and Jelly Overnight Oats
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites