New Year, New You: Protein Trends

A recent Food and Health Survey found that 67% of people are actively trying to consume protein and that 18% are following a high protein diet. Protein is also getting more attention on menus and food packages for a variety of foods. Let’s dig into whether this trend of focusing on protein is worth trying.

Do you need more protein?

Everyone’s favorite answer applies here…it depends. On average, most Americans get enough protein each day. Some people need more than others and some need to limit their protein more than others. One of the key roles of protein is supporting growth and repair, so if you are growing, recovering from illness or injury or working on increasing your overall weight, you may need more protein. If you have kidney issues, you may need to limit your protein. How do you know where you fall? Talk to your primary health care provider or a Registered Dietitian. (Please do not consult Dr. Google.)

Which foods provide protein?

When most people hear the word “protein” they think meat, eggs and all things animal origin. While these foods do contain protein, they certainly aren’t the only source. Protein can be found in plant foods too. Here are some examples:

Bottom line? Try it (but only part of it)

Is a high protein diet worth trying? Probably not. Is it worth trying new sources of protein? Definitely. There are some benefits to mixing up your proteins. Plant sources come with a different mix of nutrients than animal proteins and provide more fiber. Plant foods tend to require fewer water and land resources to produce, so there is an environmental bonus, too. Here are some tasty dishes to try out that provide about 15-20g of protein (roughly what you would get from a serving of chicken) from mostly plant sources.