How to Reach Your Daily Protein Intake on a Vegan Diet

How to Reach Your Daily Protein Intake on a Vegan Diet : A vegan diet is a plant-based one, and it excludes all animal products. Since animal products are high in protein, vegans might wonder how to alter their diet to get enough protein. However, as a vegan, you can easily reach your daily protein intake by incorporating various high-protein plant-based foods into your meals.

Read on for examples of high-protein vegan foods and tips on how to get enough protein as a vegan.

Protein Sources for Vegans

Your body relies on proteins for many functions, making the nutrient vital. It is used in building and repairing tissues, producing enzymes, and transporting oxygen. Unlike animal-based protein sources, protein sources for vegans tend to be lower in some essential amino acids. However, vegans can still meet their daily protein requirements. The World Health Organization recommends that adults consume approximately 0.8 grams of proteins per kg of body weight.

There are several ways vegans can meet their daily protein intake. Here are some tips:

Incorporating protein-rich foods in snacks: You meet your daily protein requirements by incorporating protein-rich foods into your snacks. For example, you could snack on a handful of nuts, a protein bar, or a hummus dip with veggies.
Choose high-protein plant-based foods: Another tip is to choose plant-based food high in protein for your meals. Eating high-protein vegan foods will go a long way in ensuring you meet your daily protein intake.
Combine different protein sources for optimal nutrition: Combining different protein sources for optimal nutrition is also helpful. For example, combine lentils and quinoa in a salad or add tofu and almonds to your stir-fry.
Use vegan protein supplements: If you find it difficult to meet your daily protein needs through food alone, consider vegan protein supplements. Many vegan protein powders are available in the market made from ingredients such as pea protein, brown rice protein, and hemp protein.

Examples of High-Protein Foods for Vegans

Here are examples of high-protein foods vegans can try out:

Legumes: Chickpeas, beans, and lentils are reliable protein sources. A serving of lentils has 18 grams of protein, making it essential for vegans.
Grains: Grains like quinoa, brown rice, and oats are good protein sources. A cup of cooked brown rice contains approximately 5 grams of protein, while a cup of cooked quinoa contains approximately 8 grams.
Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds such as almonds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds are packed with protein. One ounce of almonds comes with approximately 6 grams of protein. You can also opt for mixes of nuts varieties that are often richer in proteins due to more diverse protein sources.
Soy-based products: Soy-based products like tofu, tempeh, and edamame are also excellent protein sources for vegans. One cup of cooked edamame comes with approximately 18 grams of protein.

Conclusion

Meeting your daily protein needs on a vegan diet is easy if you know which plant-based foods to incorporate into your meals. By following these tips and incorporating high-protein vegan foods into your diet, you can ensure that you are meeting your daily protein requirements.