8 MetPro Approved Creative Sources of Protein
Are you tired of eating the same sources of protein day in and day out? You’re not alone. Whether you're tired of boiled chicken or looking for more meatless ways to get your protein, we have come up with 8 different options that can improve your protein variety!
Chickpeas
1/3 cup = 0.5 protein (MetPro breakdown: + 1 meal carb)
Saying we love chickpeas would be an understatement! We usually enjoy adding them to salads or any time we make pasta. They are also delicious roasted and seasoned, making them a tasty snack or added on top of a salad–instead of a crouton.
Try these MetPro approved chickpea recipes:
Grilled Zucchini Chickpea Tacos
3 Bean Veggie Chili
Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Black Beans
1/3 cup = 0.5 protein (MetPro breakdown: + 1 meal carb)
Black beans are a great option to incorporate within your “Taco Tuesday”, soups, stuffed into bell peppers, or even included within a cold salad.
Try these MetPro approved black bean recipes:
Quinoa Black Bean Tacos
Black Bean Chili
Black Bean Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Lentils
1/3 cup = 0.5 protein (+ 1 meal carb)
We always keep cooked lentils on hand and enjoy cooking them with salted water but you could also cook them with vegetable broth to add additional flavors. Nothing is more boring than lentils and broccoli when you are on a low phase, so try making a soup or adding lentils to a salad to get some variety!
Try this MetPro approved lentil recipe:
Slow Cooker Lentil Soup
Peas
2/3 cup = 0.5 protein (+ 1 meal carb)
Peas are one of those vegetables we can eat a bunch of without getting tired of them. They are little but pack a great nutritional punch! These are great to eat when you are on a higher phase because they are not as filling as something like broccoli.
Try this MetPro approved pea recipe:
Meatless Split Pea Soup
Tofu
5 oz = 1 protein (+ 0.5 fat)
Often times many people have a hard time with the consistency of Tofu, but we think you can use this to your advantage! Some of our favorite ways to incorporate Tofu are baking it, roasting it with a variety of vegetables, or throwing it into a stir fry. Don’t’ be afraid to add a variety of seasonings to Tofu, it’s a blank slate and can take shape of whatever you're craving!
Try this MetPro approved tofu recipe:
Tofu Spinach Breakfast Scramble
Greek Yogurt
5 oz= 1 protein (+ 0.5 meal carb)
For our breakfast parfaits, a trick we like to share is to line up multiple mason jars and then fill them up with greek yogurt and different fruits in each jar so you have different flavors every morning. Sprinkle in some flavorless protein powder or peanut butter (if you need extra macros). Next, take the immersion blender and mix everything up. It makes the yogurt sweeter because all of the fruits get mixed together! If you like a chunkier yogurt, just set a little fruit aside and add it when you are ready to eat.
Cottage Cheese
1/2 cup = 1 protein
When we don’t get enough protein in our macros, we often turn to cottage cheese. Usually, we’re only off ½ protein, so ¼ of a cup is a really small serving. Try simply grabbing a measuring cup and eat it in the kitchen (not really with a meal) but there is no shame in grabbing a quick low-maintenance snack! Cottage cheese and avocado on top of toast almost makes for a delicious breakfast or lunch.
Try these MetPro approved cottage cheese recipes:
Cottage Cheese Avocado Toast
Spinach and Cottage Cheese Frittata
Egg Whites
4 = 1 protein
Eggs are not just for breakfast. When we feel like we’re having a hard time coming up with something to eat mid-week, breakfast for dinner is always a huge hit! Try gathering your favorite veggies and build-your-own egg scrambles or omelets.
Try these MetPro approved egg white recipes:
Egg White Muffins
Avocado and Egg Toast
Next time you’re tired of the same old meal or looking for ways to get your protein outside of eating meat, we hope you will find this list of protein options helpful.