Protein is a vital nutrient that you should eat every day. After all, this nutrient can help maintain and grow your muscle mass. Plus, it is also essential for healthy hair, nails, and skin. Unfortunately, the most common source of protein is animal products. You may have a hard time getting enough proteins, especially if you’re new to the vegan diet. Even so, you can get sufficient amounts of this nutrient even if you prefer plant-based foods. So, here are some ways to get protein on a vegan diet.
1. Eat Quinoa
Cereals are breakfast essentials. However, experts recommend opting for quinoa instead of cereals. Although quinoa is a pseudocereal, it has enough nutrients to fuel your body in the morning. Plus, it contains the “nine essential amino acids,” making it an excellent source of complete protein.
Quinoa has several varieties, including black, white, and red. Whichever type you choose, you have to make sure that you wash this healthful product before cooking or baking. The reason is that quinoa is coated with saponin, which can make it taste soapy or bitter.
2. Include Pulses in Your Daily Meals
One of the best ways to get protein on a vegan diet is to include pulses in your daily meals. As you may know, pulses are edible seeds that grow in a pod. As such, there are numerous types of pulses you can choose. Plus, they are budget-friendly, making them an affordable source of protein.
Pluses include lentils, beans, and peas. Some popular pulses you can opt for are chickpeas, soybeans, kidney beans, garden peas, and pinto beans.
3. Drink Plant-Based Milk
Keep in mind that plant-based proteins are not limited to foods. Today, you can find a lot of nondairy milk made from sesame seeds, oats, and nuts. The most popular plant-based milk is soy milk. In fact, it is one of the best alternatives for cow’s milk because of its high protein content.
Plant-based milk is available in various flavors. Aside from that, it has several uses. Aside from being a tasty drink, you can also use this product to make smoothies, soups, and flavored coffee.
4. Snack On a Handful of Nuts and Seeds
The last on this list of the best ways to get protein on a vegan diet is to snack on a handful of nuts and seeds. As you know, these healthful products are handy snacks that you can bring anywhere. Plus, they are loaded with protein and other nutrients. Some nuts and seeds with high protein content are chia seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and almonds.
Keep in mind that nuts and seeds are also high in fats. For this reason, experts recommend limiting your consumption of nuts and seeds to a handful to avoid gaining weight.
