How to Include Quality Plant-based Protein in Meals

updated 3/31/18

Today I'm happy to share food tips, ideas, and information about how this plant-based eater amps up quality protein in her meals.

High Protein Salad of Mixed Beans, Brown Rice, Red Lentils, and Salad Greens

Since I made the decision to be a vegetarian (37 years ago) and vegan (10 years ago), my journey to create a healthy lifestyle has been filled with exciting food adventures.

I've explored nutrition research, read cookbook recipes and invented my own, consulted with the experts, and listened to my body and intuition many times too. 

I've discovered legumes including dried cooked beans, lentils, and dried split-peas are a low fat source of quality protein and fiber. Legumes contain important vitamins and minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, and folate. Compared to animal sources of protein, whole food plant-based protein is usually lower in cost. 

Protein is the building block of cells, but not the only element to consider when planning a sound vegan eating plan. It's key to eat a variety of whole plant-based foods that are colorful, and rich in nutrients. 

I get protein from complex carbohydrates including grains, veggies, fruits, pulses and legumes, and make sure to drink adequate water during the day. 

To add digestion, elimination, and not gain weight, I eat only a smidgen of plant-based foods that contain fat including avocado, black olives, pumpkin seeds, and a teaspoon of raw almonds or other nut.

Many brands of tofu, tempeh, and soy and nut milks are packed with protein and fortified with other nutrients such as calcium, iron, and vitamin B12, so I get my fill of those too.

To Get More Specific, Here's a List of Vegan Foods with Protein Count Per Serving:

Organic Tofu. Protein: 8 to 15 grams (depends on how it's made) per 3 oz serving

Organic Edamame. Protein: 18 grams per 1-cup serving, cooked

Organic Tempeh. Protein: 3 oz. supply 15.77 grams cooked

Black Beans. Protein: 39 grams per cup, cooked

Mixed Salad Greens. Protein. 2 cups raw provides 2 grams

Spinach. Protein: 1-cup serving provides 1-3 grams, depending on whether it's raw or cooked.

Broccoli. Protein: 1-cup chopped serving provides 2.6 grams

Zucchini. Protein: 2.9 grams in one zucchini

Kale. Protein: 1 cup chopped kale has 2.9 grams

Kidney Beans. Protein: 13.44 grams per 1 cup, cooked

Chickpeas. Protein: 1 cup cooked provides 15 grams protein

Chickpea Hummus. Protein: 2 Tablespoon provides 2 grams

Lentils. Protein: 9 grams per 1/2 cup, cooked

Split Green Peas. Protein: 16 grams per cup, cooked

Sweet Potatoes. Protein: 1 cup provides 2.1 grams

Almonds. Protein: 1 oz of raw almonds provides 6 grams 

Brazil Nuts. Protein: 6 raw nuts or 1 oz provides 4.1 grams

Pecans. Protein: 1 oz raw provides 2.6 grams

Walnuts. Protein: 1 oz raw walnuts provides 2.6 grams

Almond Butter. Protein: 2 Tablespoons raw unsalted 7 grams

Cashew Butter. Protein: 2 Tablespoons raw unsalted 6 grams

Peanut Butter. Protein: 2 Tablespoons raw unsalted 8 grams ( I don't eat peanuts, but include this for your information)

Sunflower Seeds. Protein: 1/2 cup provides 14.5 grams

Chia Seeds. Protein: 1 oz or about 2 Tablespoons provides 4 grams

Flax meal. Protein: 1 oz or about 2 Tablespoons provide 12 grams

Pumpkin Seeds. Protein: 1/4 cup 9 grams

Barley. Protein: 1 cup of cooked hulled barley provides 22.96 grams

Brown Rice. Protein. 1 cup of cooked brown rice provides 5 grams

Quinoa. Protein: 8 grams per cup, cooked

Cornmeal. Protein: 1 cup of cornmeal provides 11 grams

Buckwheat. Protein: 6 grams per 1 cup serving, cooked

Nutritional Yeast. Protein: 3 Tablespoons supply 12 grams

Whole Grain Bread, Escarole and Bean Soup, Edamame, Kale Red Pepper Butternut Squash Salad

My health and happiness increases with intentional eating, mindful self-care including exercise and stress reduction techniques, nutritional study, trial and error,  and consistent, patient implementation of this style of meal planning every day including holidays. 

I'm still adding a new trick or two and read everything I can get my hands on about health and a healthy lifestyle.

I eat many servings of both fresh (raw) and cooked veggies and fruits every week. I use the fresh stuff in salads, veggie juices, and fresh food snacks, and incorporate others into sautéed, baked, and broiled dishes. 

Greens, black eyed peas, sprouts, and carrots

These are some plant-based foods I love: broccoli, collards, beets and beet greens, carrots, red cabbage, chard, kale, blueberries, apples, and arugula. I even put certain veggies or fruits into dips, soups, and casseroles.


Dare to excel and use tempeh and tofu as toppings for salads, add to sauces, or as part of the filling for tacos, enchiladas, veggie burgers, or veggie loaf. 

What I don't eat and suggest you not eat either, are processed foods, "fake" foods, and empty calories from soda, fried foods, or highly salted or sugar laden ingredients. These empty calories lower the body's natural ability to maintain optimal health. 

A whole food plant-based eating plan raises your body's natural inclination to stay healthy. In the long run, eating all your fruits and veggies cuts down on medical expenses.

Did you know spices add a touch of protein as well? In fact, garlic is a stand alone spice. It works well with just about everything. If you'd like, roast the entire clove and eat it as a side dish. One teaspoon of garlic contains .2 grams.

When you make planning for a whole food plant-based diet a priority, you care for yourself in a very special way. 

Rest assured that this lifestyle can help prevent chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Eating all your fruits and veggies also elevates your mood and increases your sense of well-being. Be happy, eat whole foods that are plant-based and get your fill of energy from plant-based protein.

The quote for today follows:  “A plant-based diet is more likely to produce good health and to reduce sharply the risk of heart problems, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, gallstones, and kidney disease.” – T. Colin Campbell, PhD

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Tofu Magic: How to Make Tasty Tofu

Salad with Broiled Tofu from obloggernewbie.blogspot.com

Knowing how to handle and prepare tofu is still a puzzlement to many people. It doesn’t have to be that way. This blog will show you how easy it is to put together a tasty tofu dish, even if you’ve never made one before. Tofu (plain tofu) is gluten free, has only 70 calories in each 3 oz. serving, and is an excellent source of vegetable protein (8 g). One portion contains 6% RDA of iron and 15 % RDA of calcium. Tofu is naturally cholesterol free and bland tasting. A trick to pack it with flavor is to combine it with lots of herbs, spices, vegetables, and seasonings. Sprinkle on spices like chili powder, oregano, or paprika generously to assure your taste buds sing.  

I offer tofu tips and recipe suggestions, especially for those who want an awesome change-of-pace meal, or are moving toward a more plant-based lifestyle. Read on to discover how economical, fun, and easy it can be to prepare tofu dishes you and your family will enjoy.

Transform Meals with Tofu

Lasagna or Stuffed Shells       

Follow your customary recipe, but instead of using ricotta cheese, use organic silken or organic soft tofu for half or all the ricotta cheese. Top with grated organic soy cheese instead of Parmesan.

Wraps, Soups, Chili       

Add pureed, highly seasoned organic tofu or spicy cubed organic tofu to traditional fare to stretch a recipe and be kind to your pocketbook. Substitute crumpled tofu with added spices and herbs for chopped beef, poultry, or dairy in recipes to reduce cholesterol without losing taste.

Flavorful Sandwiches and Salads

Mix chopped firm organic tofu with Sloppy Joe sauce, BBQ, or Old Bay seasoning. Blend equal amounts of organic tofu with canned tuna or crab meat, boiled eggs (use whites only for lower cholesterol), or combine tofu and paprika mashed garbanzo beans. Then enjoy. When making sandwiches, remember to use whole grain roll or bread.

One of the secrets of improving the texture of water packed tofu and heightening its taste is to remove all excess water. Place a brick of firm or extra firm organic tofu on a plate. Cover tofu with another plate and place a weight such as a large can on top of all. Refrigerate for at least one half hour. When you're ready to begin, pour off liquid and follow your recipe. 

Water-packed organic tofu can be found in the dairy, produce, or Asian food case of your supermarket or health food store. It also is offered for sale in aseptically wrapped packages. This form of tofu doesn't need to be refrigerated before opening, has a long shelf life, and is already drained. Prices for organic tofu list from $1.99-$2.50 lb. Figure a portion at 3-4 oz. of tofu per person. How's that for good value? 

Ta-dah! Now, on to my recipe.

Nancy Andres' Broiled Tofu

Ingredients:

1 package firm or extra firm Organic Tofu (approx. 14-16 oz.)

2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

4 Tablespoons Braggs Liquid Aminos (gluten free)

2 teaspoons grated fresh garlic

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

What to Do:

This recipe requires advance prep time, but the actual cooking time is only 6 minutes. Early in the day, set up the tofu to drain as shown here and refrigerate. 

Simple way to drain the water out of a brick of tofu from obloggernewbie.blogspot.com

After a half hour or when all the water is drained out of the tofu, slice it into ½ in. slices. Place the tofu in a large container (one where you can lay the tofu slices out flat without overlap). In a small mixing bowl, blend all the remaining ingredients together to make a marinade. Use a pastry brush or spoon to coat pieces of tofu with marinade, cover container, and refrigerate for one hour or more. The longer tofu marinates, the tastier it gets.

My method for marinating tofu

When you're ready to broil the sliced tofu, put it in a broiling pan. Use a pastry brush or spoon to coat the surface of the tofu with the extra marinade left in the container. Broil 3 minutes on each side or until the tofu is lightly browned.

Broiled Tofu, Sweet Potato, and Kale from obloggernewbie.blogspot.com

Serve tofu with brown rice or sweet potato, green veggies, and a tossed 

green salad. Tofu is a complete protein and is gluten free. This recipe 

serves 4-6  hearty eaters, depending on what foods you serve with it.

One fabulous way to use leftover broiled tofu is to place a few strips on 
top of a tossed salad for a quick energy lunch (pictured at the top). Another idea is to put a few slices of tofu on rye bread, add sauerkraut and mustard, and you have a tasty sandwich.  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: In the United States, almost all tofu that is not marked non-GMO or organic is genetically modified. Genetically Modified seeds have their genes manipulated, changed, and put into other species that normally they would not grow in. Incredible results have been produced. Some include mutations, diseases, abnormalities and trigger other diseases that otherwise may have remained dormant. Little testing has been done on the health effects of humans ingesting and using genetically modified products. Tests that have been done on animals that naturally refuse to eat Genetically Modified feed, but are being force-fed the Genetically Modified feed, develop lesions, abnormalities, disease…and some have died.

Following is information from Green America about soy products. I have obtained permission to quote them.

"Soy Has Been Genetically Modified since 1996

How widespread: 94 percent of the US soybean crop was genetically modified in 2011, according to the USDA.

What to watch for: Soybeans show up in many traditional (i.e. not organic) soy products, such as tofu, soy milk, soy sauce, miso, and tempeh, as well as any product containing the emulsifier lecithin (often derived from soybean oil), such as ice cream and candy." Green America Website

Do you already make tofu part of your eating plan? If you have a favorite recipe or tofu tips, won't you share it with my readers and me? Comment in the area provided below please.

Spreading the word about this post on social media is greatly appreciated!

The quotation for today follows: "We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are." Adelle Davis

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5 Dynamite Ways to Eat More Calcium Rich Foods Today

Everyone knows that calcium helps build and maintain strong bones. That's why it seems strange that 75% of Americans are calcium deficient, even though many men, women, and children eat dairy, fish, and stuff that's known to contain calcium. See link.

md-health.com advisory about calcium deficiency

and read the Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis

Without further ado, here are ideas to help you review your "food and lifestyle" habits and information about plant based foods that contain high levels of calcium. 

Remember...

http://obloggernewbie.blogspot.com photo

Here's My List...

5 Dynamite Ways to Eat More Calcium Rich Foods Today

1. Stop eating processed foods and don't fool yourself by thinking vitamins and other supplements can make up for nutrient deficient meals. Most processed foods, whether served at home or in fast food restaurants, are highly salted, overly sweetened, and contain empty calories that leave you robbed of nourishment. 

2. Drink plenty of water as it helps your body stay hydrated and absorb minerals like calcium. A recent study shows that mineral waters containing calcium are recommended as a supplemental source of calcium to achieve optimal calcium requirements, especially in aged people with lactose intolerance. 

Here's the link Mineral Water and Calcium

3. Learn which plant based foods are high in calcium. Specific examples appear below in point number 4. Take note that they are plant-based and do not contain cholesterol like animal sources do. If possible, eat 5-7 servings of vegetables and 2-3 servings of fruit each day. As long as you don't add fats (including more than a handful of nuts and seeds or more than 1 tablespoon of salad dressing at each meal), creamy sauces, cake, cookies, and other processed snack foods, you'll probably never have to watch calories either. Whole foods that are plant based (WFPB) are simple to prepare and include fresh veggies of every kind, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, berries and all other fruits. 

4. Select and prepare high-calcium leafy greens like collard greens, kale, Chinese/Napa cabbage, and broccoli. Other powerhouses of calcium are almonds, asparagus, blackstrap molasses, carob, figs, filberts, kelp, mustard greens, oats, prunes, sesame seeds, tempeh, calcium-set tofu, turnip greens,  and watercress. In fact, the link below shows why watercress is the most nutritious green leafy vegetable available today.

cress from obloggernebie.blogspot.com

Learn why watercress is so good for you at this link

 Watercress is a super supplier of Calcium.