Muffin Top-Less

Protein for Vegetarians!

I was a vegetarian for 21 years, so I know what it’s like! It’s important to consume enough protein each day to maintain and/or build lean muscle. Remember, the more lean muscle you have on your frame, the faster your metabolism will be. Try to get between 1-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight.

Remember that although some foods do contain protein, not all of them are COMPLETE proteins. In other words, some foods are considered incomplete proteins if they are missing one of the essential amino acids. That’s why as a vegetarian, it is important to eat a wide variety of protein rich foods so as to get ALL of the 9 amino acids. These 9 amino acids include: tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine+cystine, phenylalanine+tyrosine, valine & histidine.

Good sources of protein for vegetarians:

• Eggs
• Greek Yogurt
• Milk
• Cheese
• Most dairy products
• Tofu
• Black beans
• Kidney beans
• Quinoa
• Most other legumes 
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Most other nuts & nut butters
• Soy products

There are many other options besides those I just listed, but do some research to find alternatives if these are not your favorites. Keep in mind that many of the “fake meat” products are highly processed. While it’s fine to eat these in moderation, try not to rely solely on them for your protein intake!