The Ultimate Vegan Protein Thread

I've noticed some threads lately about vegan protein sources - I give you the Vegan Protein Bible. Don't assume that this list is just for vegans - they are great for "Meatless Monday" menus, or just for anyone looking to add a little variety to their diet!



1. Seitan: If you're not gluten-intolerant, seitan is da bomb dot com. Affectionately dubbed "wheat meat", an 85g serving of seitan packs 90 calories, 1g of fat, and 18g of protein (for those of you keeping track, this is pretty comparable to most MFP listings for the same amount of grilled chicken breast).

Even though I have cut meat from my diet, I'll be the first to say it: meat is delicious. I know, I know, a vegan saying that meat is delicious? I just call it like I see it, man - just do me a favor and don't tell PETA. That's where seitan comes in - with a chewy, toothsome texture, seitan lends itself well to a variety of dishes, from being "chunked" in a stew, to the stuffed star of a vegan Thanksgiving feast. Just look at that sample picture - all the deliciousness of ribs, easy on your conscience (and waistline!)

Seitan is easy to make at home (not to mention that vital wheat gluten is mad cheap on Amazon), but you can also pick up prepared seitan at the grocery store.

If You Only Try One Seitan Recipe, Try This: Seitan Roast Stuffed with Shiitakes and Leeks over at www.theppk.com.



2. Tempeh: Tempeh is a little higher fat and calorie option than seitan, but it is probably my favorite on this list. You wouldn't know it from listening to what it is (fermented soy cake), but it has a very nutty and savory flavor (I've been known to microwave a serving and slap it on a roll - bam, chickenless burger). Trader Joe's makes an incredible 3-grain tempeh. One half of the 8oz. package contains 240 calories, 11g fat and 20g protein. BBQ tempeh was the very first dish my boyfriend ever cooked for me, so maybe that's why it has a special place in my heart.

The vegan community is pretty fond of tempeh in its reuben sandwiches, but I am pretty fond of it all the time.

If You Only Try One Tempeh Recipe, Try This: Tempeh Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato ("TLT") Sandwiches at www.blog.fatfreevegan.com



3. Tofu: I think out of all the foods in the world, tofu has the worst reputation. "It's slimy," they say. "It jiggles!" Most people who aren't into tofu have just probably never prepared it right. Someone once tried to justify their hate for tofu to me by telling me that it didn't taste good "straight out of the package". Well duh, neither does chicken breast. You have to marinate the tofu, drain the tofu, love the tofu. I promise, it's worth it. Don't be scared - I'm here for you.

I'm one of those freaks that likes tofu out of the package (sprinkled into a salad with roasted beets and almonds? Giiiiiirl.), but tofu really is just a blank canvas waiting to be transformed. Tofu can be used for nuggets, stir fries, tofu-ricotta cheese, blended up in smoothies, made into tasty chocolate pudding, or really anything else you can think of. It comes in three different forms: silken, soft, and firm, with the silken being used for smoothies and such, and the firm being used for stir-fries and nuggets.

100g of firm tofu has 70 calories, 4g fat and 8g protein.

If You Only Try One Tofu Recipe, Try This: Blackened Scrambled Tofu & Garlicky Grits from www.theppk.com (Can you tell I have a girl crush on this blog?)



4. Meat Replacements: I'm all for a whole-foods approach to food, but that's not to say that you can't ever indulge in some processed goodness. A quick trip down your frozen foods aisle will open up a world of veggie burgers, "chicken" strips, veggie crumbles, and pretty much anything else your little heart desires.

Meat replacements vary by brand, but my favorite for backyard BBQs is the Boca Vegan Patty, which has 100 calories, 1g fat and 19g protein per patty. They're so delicious, sometimes I even have two.

Honorable Mentions:
The following mentions don't pack as much of a protein punch as the first four, but they are still worth adding to your diet!

1. Beans & Legumes: Black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and all the rest are tasty additions to soups, stews, and burritos, or just mixed with rice and veggies. One cup of black beans contains 227 calories, 1g fat, 41g carbs and 15g protein.

2. Protein Powder: When I'm not living in China, I use a blend of gemma pea and brown rice protein from trueprotein.com - it winds up being 118 calories and 24.5g protein per scoop. Don't be afraid to supplement, or add this to oatmeal, smoothies, whatever.

3. Almond Butter: I'm not suggesting that people rely on nut butters (heh heh, nut butter) for their protein intake, but adding 1-2 tablespoons to smoothies, breakfast cereals or oatmeal can boost the protein content of any meal, if you have the room in your calories to do it. Two tablespoons of almond butter contains 190 calories and 6g of protein.

Please feel free to add anything I may have forgotten!