Vegetarians and Proteins
When someone hears you're a vegetarian, one of the first questions they ask is, "But how do you get enough protein if you don't eat meat?"
While meat is certainly a great source of protein, there are plenty of non-meat forms of the macronutrient, as well. A vegetarian who eats a wide variety of healthy foods will have no problem meeting the daily requirements.
How much protein do you need? There's a complex formula to determine that, using a scale of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. For a 150-pound adult, that comes out to about 56 grams of protein, or 4 ounces, each day. Four ounces is less than one serving of chicken breast. Obviously, most of us consume much more than the recommended daily minimum!
Beans, peas, soy, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, dairy and eggs all contain significant amounts of protein. There's no need to combine foods in certain ways—simply eating a wide variety each day will take care of all your body's needs.
Published 08/19/09
