Protein rich foods have a lot of health benefits, including helping with weight loss. Protein is a building block of muscles, and has been shown to reduce hunger and boost metabolism. Talk about winning with food! When protein is combined with a consistent and effective workout plan, it surely helps with weight loss goals.
Have you heard the saying “food is fuel”? Well, proteins are essential nutrients that come from food and help to fuel our bodies for our busy days. Wanna keep going day in and day out? Make sure you’re getting enough daily protein. Anyone that is working out will want to get enough protein since protein is important for muscle repair.
Benefits of Protein
Here’s another protein benefit to consider – your hair and nails are mostly made of protein, so the more protein, the better condition your hair and nails will be in. Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. In addition to protein, I have been trying out a new collagen product to increase my nail strength and hair quality. Learn about that here.
Plan for Protein Rich Foods Meals & Snacks
Where do you get your protein? Are you getting protein at every meal and snack? Take a look at your weekly meal plan or take a few minutes and review what you ate yesterday. How much protein did you get? What foods are you eating to be able to reap the benefits to keep your body fueled and healthy? Read on for a few foods you may not have known about to give you a protein boost!
Remember, protein can help with weight loss, if that is a goal! It’s worth the time and effort to make sure your daily and weekly menu is working for you and not against you.
6 PROTEIN RICH FOODS THAT HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS
AVOCADOS
Avocados are a superfood. They are surely different than other fruits – yes, avocados are scientifically a fruit – avocados are packed with healthy fats and protein and low in sugars. Add some sliced avocado to a salad, a wrap or simply mashed on toast.
QUINOA
Quinoa is a whole grain that is considered a “healthy” carb. Quinoa is also a great source of protein with 14 grams per serving and it also provides all the essential amino acids for added weight loss benefits. Quinoa is easy to add into prepared meals like chili, sloppy joe and even taco meat, works great in salads and as a side dish. A yogurt parfait with quinoa is a double dose of protein and can work as a snack or a treat! The quickest and most reliable method I have found to prepare quinoa is in the Instant Pot. You can get my easy to follow recipe in my 10 Easy Instant Pot Recipes cookbook here.
BROCCOLI
Broccoli is nutrient-rich and very low in calories. A single stalk of broccoli contains over four grams of protein. Because broccoli has a lot of healthy fiber, you will feel fuller longer, too. Broccoli at lunch can help you curb those afternoon cravings!
CHIA SEEDS
Chia seeds are a powerful superfood. Chia seeds have almost 16.5 grams of protein per 100 grams. They contain high amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and fiber as well. Chia seeds stimulate fat burning and keep hunger at bay! Here’s an awesome recipe for energy bites with chia seeds!
COCONUT
There are easy ways to add coconut oil to your diet. One of my favorite is a teaspoon or so added to a bag of frozen veggies instead of butter. Besides containing a decent amount of protein, a medium-sized coconut includes a whopping 36 grams of dietary fiber! Coconut is a great way to keep everything moving if you know what I mean! 😉
EGGS
Eggs are an easy protein to get and can be prepared in so many ways. Hard boil a few for snacks, prepare a veggie omelette or frittata or go old school and scramble with cheese. Studies show that eggs are nutritious, help us feel full longer and may help with weight loss. Eggs are rich in protein at about six grams per large egg. Here’s a recipe for protein pancakes – another breakfast option loaded with protein!
