One of the biggest debates about people opting to go vegan is that they won’t get enough protein. Anyone who has been on a vegan diet will tell you that they do, indeed, get their protein in their diet with other options than your typical meat options.
Today we’re going to share some of the ways that vegans get enough protein to help you understand this diet option. We’ve heard that a record number of people are vegan. The number is somewhere around 9.6 million Americans that are eating vegan rather than a diet that we’ve grown accustomed to over the years.
Is it hard to get protein as a vegan?
It’s rarely that difficult for you to get protein as a vegan. As long as you’re eating enough calories and a varied amount of food throughout your day, then chances are you’re able to maintain a healthy weight and consume enough protein as necessary for your body.
That’s a lot of people eating vegan, so surely there must be some amazing benefits to this diet as we don’t see people starving to death or not getting enough nutrients, right!? Here are just a few ways that vegans get enough protein so that you can determine whether this diet plan is right for your new weight loss goals or not.
How do vegans get proteins?
Nuts, Seeds, and Nut Butter
Vegans typically consume a lot of nuts, seeds, and nut butter. These three food categories provide enough protein for the vegan to consume their daily requirement. This is the easiest category of vegan food to consume for protein because you can keep them on hand as a snack throughout the day.
Tofu
Tofu that’s made from soybeans is an excellent source of nine amino acids and helps vegans keep their protein levels healthy. Tofu usually packs about 18 grams of protein per serving, so this is by far the second most popular way that vegans get protein.
Beans and Legumes
These high in fiber and high protein vegan foods are great to use in many vegan recipes and soups. Beans and legumes will help you maintain proper fiber too, which is a much-needed part of natural human function.
Chickpeas and Lentils
Another way that vegans get protein is through the consumption of chickpeas and lentils. There are 19 grams of protein in 100 grams of chickpeas and 26 grams of protein in 100 grams of lentils. Chickpeas are the more popular of the two options as they’re pretty versatile.
Vegan Meat
A new trend is to eat vegan meat. Many brands have shown up in the market now so that anyone can buy a vegan meat option at their local grocery store. Simply look for plant-based meats and select a few to try as you venture into being a vegan to get protein from vegan meat.
These are just some of the options that vegans have to consume the proper amount of protein during their everyday diet plans. We hope that this list has inspired you to look at the vegan diet in a different light. Whether you or someone you know is thinking about going vegan, we’re confident this list of protein-rich foods will help everyone stay healthy during their transition to a vegan diet.