Protein is an important nutrient for muscle well being, immunity, and lots of different vital processes. It additionally helps you are feeling full between meals, which may assist weight reduction and wholesome weight upkeep.
Whereas protein bars are the standard go-to snack or meal, many comprise components like added sugar, synthetic sweeteners, and preservatives. The truth is, many different meals pack extra protein than protein bars.
Listed below are 17 meals that may hold you feeling fuller longer than a protein bar.
- Protein: 21 grams per 31.5-gram serving
Selfmade protein shakes made with whey protein sometimes comprise extra protein than a mean protein bar.
Whey protein could be blended with different wholesome components, like frozen berries and nut butter, to create a creamy protein shake.
- Protein: 23.3 grams per cup
Cottage cheese has extra protein than many protein bars and could be added to different high-protein meals, like eggs and protein shakes, to spice up its protein content material.
A cup of cottage cheese additionally offers excessive quantities of B12, calcium, selenium, and phosphorus.
- Protein: 25 grams per cup
Greek yogurt has greater than twice the quantity of protein present in common yogurt.
Greek yogurt can also be excessive in important vitamins, like calcium, which performs vital roles in bone, coronary heart, and hormonal well being. A cup of Greek yogurt covers 21% of the Each day Worth (DV) for calcium.
- Protein: 40.6 grams per can (172 grams)
Canned tuna is a handy substitute for protein bars. It is also a wonderful supply of omega-3 fats, nutritional vitamins, and minerals, like B12 and selenium.
Canned tuna could be loved by itself as a snack or added to meals like salads and grain bowls to spice up its protein content material.
- Protein: 18.4 grams per cup
Edamame are immature soybeans which might be full of protein. A cup of edamame offers 18.4 grams of protein per cup, exceeding the quantity present in most protein bars.
Edamame can also be excessive in fiber, a nutrient that performs vital roles in intestine and coronary heart well being. A cup of edamame packs 8 grams of fiber.
- Protein: 14.5 grams per cup
Roasted chickpeas are crunchy, filling, and transportable, making them a good selection for a high-protein snack.
Chickpeas are additionally a superb supply of a number of different vitamins, together with fiber, magnesium, manganese, and folate.
- Protein: 18 grams per 20-gram scoop
Collagen peptides could be blended into cold and warm drinks, resembling espresso and smoothies, and recipes, resembling oatmeal and chia pudding.
For instance, a 20-gram scoop of Important Proteins Collagen Peptides packs 18 grams of protein, making it a extra concentrated supply of protein than most protein bars.
Strive whipping up a candy, high-protein collagen sizzling chocolate by mixing cocoa powder, collagen, and a sweetener of your alternative with common or plant-based milk.
- Protein: 26 grams per 4-ounce serving
Chicken breast has 26 grams of protein per 4-ounce serving, making it top-of-the-line sources of protein you’ll be able to eat. It’s additionally a superb supply of a number of nutritional vitamins and minerals, like B6, phosphorus, zinc, and selenium.
Rooster breast could be loved in some ways, together with as a high-protein topping for salads and grain bowls.
- Protein: 17.9 grams per cup
Lentils are a wonderful supply of plant-based protein and are additionally excessive in fiber, B nutritional vitamins, magnesium, zinc, iron, and potassium.
For a high-protein snack, strive roasted lentils or whip up a lentil salad by mixing lentils with chopped herbs and an olive oil French dressing.
- Protein: 20.4 grams per three-ounce serving
A 3-ounce serving of shrimp has a excessive protein content material and offers a number of vital vitamins, together with B12 and selenium.
Strive snacking on grilled shrimp or including shrimp to dishes like salads, pasta, and stir-fries.
- Protein: 19.6 grams per 3-ounce serving
A 3-ounce serving of canned salmon has almost 20 grams of high-quality protein, and can also be wealthy in nutritional vitamins and minerals like B12, selenium, and potassium, in addition to the omega-3 fats.
Canned salmon is shelf-stable and extra reasonably priced than contemporary salmon, making it a good selection for these on a price range.
- Protein: 12.5 grams per two massive eggs
Eggs are a handy supply of protein. Two massive eggs have a protein content material much like that of many protein bars.
Onerous-boiled eggs can be utilized as a conveyable protein supply and pair properly with different high-protein snack foods, like cheese and nuts. Eggs are additionally excessive in different important vitamins, like vitamin B12, selenium, and vitamin A.
- Protein: 15 grams per 3-ounce serving
For those who’re following a vegan or vegetarian diet, seitan is a great protein alternative. Seitan is a meat various produced from wheat gluten, making it secure for these following plant-based diets.
A 3-ounce serving of seitan offers 15 grams of protein, making it a greater supply than many protein bars.
- Protein: 15.2 grams per cup
Black beans are top-of-the-line plant-based proteins you’ll be able to eat. They’re additionally excessive in fiber, masking over 54% of your every day fiber wants.
They’re additionally excessive in nutritional vitamins and minerals, like folate, iron, copper, and magnesium. Strive incorporating black beans into salads, grain bowls, and soups for a lift of protein.
- Protein: 19.9 grams per 100-gram serving
Tempeh is a protein-packed meals produced from fermented soybeans. A 100-gram serving of tempeh simply offers extra protein than what’s discovered in lots of protein bars.
Tempeh can also be excessive in a number of nutritional vitamins and minerals, like riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, and manganese.
Protein: 19.6 grams per 3-ounce serving
Canned salmon is larger in protein than most protein bars. Plus, it is wealthy in a number of vitamins not generally present in protein bars, like calcium, selenium, potassium, and omega-3 fat.
Strive utilizing canned salmon to spice up the protein content material of salads and grain dishes.
- Protein: 13 grams per ounce serving
For those who choose savory meals, turkey jerky could also be a superb substitute for protein bars. It may be paired with different high-protein foods, like hard-boiled eggs, cheese, and nuts, for a filling and nutritious snack.
When looking for jerky, remember that some merchandise are excessive in salt and added sugars, which may hurt well being if overconsumed.
- Protein: 10 grams per third-cup
Bob’s Pink Mill Protein Oats comprise 50% extra protein than common oats, making them a greater choice for hitting your protein targets.
Oatmeal could be topped with different high-protein meals, like seeds, collagen powder, and Greek yogurt, for a protein-packed snack or meal.
The RDA for protein is at the moment set at 0.8 grams per kilogram of physique weight (0.36 grams of protein per pound).
The RDA is the minimal quantity of protein vital to fulfill your physique’s amino acid necessities and forestall points like muscle losing. Nevertheless, it’s not meant for use as a suggestion for optimum protein consumption.
Most bodily energetic individuals who often train have to take between 1.2 and a couple of.0 grams per kilogram of protein per day (0.54 and 0.9 grams per pound) to take care of muscle mass. Chances are you’ll want extra protein when you’re making an attempt to construct muscle or lose body fat.
For those who’re undecided how a lot protein you want, discuss to a healthcare supplier like a registered dietitian.
Protein bars are a superb supply of protein, however there are various different wholesome meals which might be full of protein, generally greater than what’s present in a protein bar.
Greek yogurt, eggs, lentils, rooster breast, collagen peptides, and salmon are just a few examples of high-protein meals that comprise as a lot or extra protein than protein bars.