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.
Many foods contain protein that people would not typically expect, as discussed in the next section. Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advise that each person only needs approximately 0.4 grams of protein per pound of their weight each day.
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. Therefore, an average 180-pound male vegan should consume 74 grams of protein each day.
10 Common Ways That Vegans Consume Protein
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 seven grams of protein, and one cup of brown rice has five grams of protein.
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.
Nuts – Nuts, including peanuts, almonds, cashews, and even peanut butter, are a great source of protein. Two tablespoons of almonds contain four grams of protein, and two tablespoons of peanut butter contain eight grams.
Seeds – Seeds, such as 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 two grams of protein, and a tablespoon of flax seeds contains 1.5 grams.
Vegetables – Vegetables, common in a vegan diet, are a great way to get protein. One cup of broccoli contains four grams of protein, one cup of portabella mushrooms contains five grams, and one cup of spinach provides six grams.
Fruit – 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 four grams, and one cup of guava contains 4.2 grams.
Tofu – One 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 is an easy 10 grams of protein.
Soy Milk – Providing seven grams of protein per cup, soy milk is a great, delicious source for your protein.
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?
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 for a vegan to consume the proper amount of daily protein. Let s say for breakfast you have a cup of oatmeal and a guava, for lunch you have a veggie burger with soy milk, 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.
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