Suggestions to increase protein intake?

rhflower

I'd love to hear suggestions to get in more protein. I am a self confessed carb junky and need to adjust my macronutrient ratios.

dtf88

Meat, Beans, Cheese, Milk, Peanut Butter, Whey protein are some examples of protein sources. Some will make it harder to hit your total macro numbers than others, so your optimal choice of increasing just protein is with a very lean meat such as chicken breast, or whey protein, i.e if your goal is to increase protein and not have other macros be greatly affected.

craigineson

I use chicken, turkey, and canned tuna.
I somehow manage to get my 230g a day on a workout day from that...

Dee_84

Cottage Cheese, greek yogurt, string cheese, hemp seeds, edamame, protein powder, milk, any kind of meat, fish, seafood...

RedHeadDevotchka

Greek yogurt, peas, tuna, cottage cheese, any type of meat, whole wheat pasta and bread has more protein than regular white pasta and bread so you could have that with your meal to up the protein too.

Raya1980

I mix spinach in almost everything I eat.

faceoff4

I use lots of lean meats like chicken, turkey and lean beef. For snacks I try to do nuts, protein drinks, or bars that have a good protein ratio. I was a lifelong carb junkie so I know your battle. Also, your body still needs carbs, just try to do clean carbs and avoid the bad carbs and that will also help a lot too. Good luck!

MumOfADuo

I use chicken, turkey, and canned tuna.
I somehow manage to get my 230g a day on a workout day from that...

you eat that many grams of protein??? How the HECK do you do that???? I struggle lol

Firefox7275

Base every meals around protein and veggies, add the carbs on at the end instead of starting with a substantial portion of pasta/ cereal/ rice/ bread and wondering what to have with that. Females particularly often don't have protein at breakfast and many don't have much at lunch either. Start the day with eggs, cottage, cheese, bacon, almonds, peanuts, low fat soft cheese or a combination thereof.

bradwwood

Cottage Cheese, greek yogurt, string cheese, hemp seeds, edamame, protein powder, milk, any kind of meat, fish, seafood...

you actually eat those?

kcaffee1

Glad I found this thread. I've been looking for a way to boost my protein counts without making the carbs climb through the roof. I just have problems with breakfast. I HATE mornings with a passion, and have 8 am classes, which makes cereal so appealing! Any ideas for overnight (or VERY fast fix) breakfasts that would help along the way, and don't include cottage cheese? (About the only cheese I CAN'T stand.)

TravelDog14

I like cashews, almonds, Fage 0% yogurt, sardines (yep, love 'em) and lots of salmon and halibut.

ambervaldez79

I adjusted my diet to reduce my protein. I was going by MFP's recommended protein values. According to my report, I was eating too much protein so now I'm trying to keep it within 50-65 grams a day. Is this enough?

DrenRigs

24 OZ of chicken before you eat lunch

kcaffee1

@ambervaldez79

Depends on which lifestyle plan you are looking at. And, what you feel best with. If I get too carb heavy, I am always tired and "loggy", but if I keep my protein counts high, I feel like I could bounce around the world without stopping.

NikoM5

Protein shakes are the simplest whey to ingest more protein. They easiest way to cut back on your carbs is to try and limit your gluten intake, bread, pasta, etc. Also avoid pop, juice, or any other sugary beverage. Yes, 100% fruit juice is a sugary beverage as far as your body is concerned

Dee_84

Cottage Cheese, greek yogurt, string cheese, hemp seeds, edamame, protein powder, milk, any kind of meat, fish, seafood...

you actually eat those?

I sometimes eat granola with hemp seeds in it. And just last week I was grocery shopping wih my husband and he pointed out the high protein content of hemp seeds.
They consist of about a third protein (30g have 11g of protein).

johnny059qn

Canned Sardines. I love 'em. They make a great protein snack!! High in omega 3's, fatty acids.

WendyTerry420

Cottage Cheese, greek yogurt, string cheese, hemp seeds, edamame, protein powder, milk, any kind of meat, fish, seafood...

you actually eat those?

I eat them every day. They are nutrient rich, being primarily made up of essential fatty acids and protein.

Gramps251

If I'm pretty full and need more protein I'll have a quest bar. Around 200 calories and 20g of protein. (and a rediculous amount of fiber if you're looking for that.)

iluvprettyshoes

I've gotten a few ideas on here...add protein powder or cottage cheese to things. I stirred cottage cheese into my spaghetti sauce the other day and it was actually pretty good! Got extra calcium too.

Amanda82691

Meat, Beans, Cheese, Milk, Peanut Butter, Whey protein are some examples of protein sources. Some will make it harder to hit your total macro numbers than others, so your optimal choice of increasing just protein is with a very lean meat such as chicken breast, or whey protein, i.e if your goal is to increase protein and not have other macros be greatly affected.

Nice answer!

ecw3780

I eat half my body weight in protein. The only way I can do it is to plan my meals in advance, and try to get each one to 20 grams of protein. I eat a lot of eggs/egg whites, boneless/skinless chicken, protein shakes with low carbs, cheese, peanut butter, and my gluten free bread has omega 3's and flax added to it.

elliottsmith

I use, whey protein (big surprise), tuna, tilapia, EGG WHITES, don't forget to make egg white in a carton too.

ecw3780

I adjusted my diet to reduce my protein. I was going by MFP's recommended protein values. According to my report, I was eating too much protein so now I'm trying to keep it within 50-65 grams a day. Is this enough?

I think the numbers on MFP for protein are too low, but it depends on your lifestyle. I wasn't loosing weight until I up'd my protein to 90grams (half my body weight). Also, protein helps keep you full- so that's helpful.

harlanJEN

May I suggest an article ?

Protein - it's just not all about meat

www.GetWithItForLife.com/blog

CincinnatiDEIFan

Dannon has an 80 calorie Strawberry Greek yogurt that I use as my "dessert". :-)

blackmantis

I use 10oz 100% liquid egg whites with 2cups of protein powerder and that gives me around 83g of protein in one cup. Then I will eat turkey, chicken, rabbit, salmon and albacore tuna low sodium in the can.

richardheath

Protein shakes are the simplest whey to ingest more protein.

I see what you did there :laugh:

lindajay3

Bump

FitandFab33

I eat something like 200g protein within 1800 calories per day (I recently upped my calories to 2300 on heavy lifting days so I guess I'll be eating a little more protein those days too).

Chicken breasts, tuna, lean pork loin, tuna steaks, whole eggs/egg whites, nuts, and protein powder (and some days just MEAT: lamb, beef tenderloin etc).

Quinoa, buckwheat, and soy are veg complete proteins, and combining beans and nuts, beans and seeds, or beans and grains completes their protein as well. :-) New studies even show that the foods can be combined within a two day period to be used as complete proteins... (i.e. beans for dinner one night and grains the next night can STILL function together as a complete protein).