Let me start by saying, I'm not a vegetarian by choice. My parents are thought and only cook vegetarian meals at home, but when I go to restaurants, I'm free to eat all the chicken I like. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made that impossible, and I'm craving protein, as many of you all must be as well. And it's important to keep that up. Through the past 6 months, I've come up with 5 sources that I thought I should share:
Protein shakes/protein powder
We usually see these in those heavy lifting gym Instagrams, with the caption: "Fueling up for my workout". Well, news flash: no matter if you workout or not you need protein. I drink Orgain, which has lower amounts of sugar, but if you prefer taste over nutrition (which is completely understandable) I'd recommend Core Power, which comes in many different flavors. My friend also recommended having a protein shake with coffee, to mask that lovely protein powder flavor.
Nuts
I have to admit, I've become nuts about nuts. Everything but cashews, I'd say, is a delicious snack or part of a meal. And they're definitely a good source of protein. A couple of trail mixes a day, and you should be on your way!
Milk and Dairy
You'd be surprised, milk actually has a LOT of protein. I believe one glass has about 11 grams of protein. And if you're a yogurt or cheese fan, just make sure you're including lots of dairy in your meals!
Eggs
I've found that while one egg by itself doesn't contain the most protein, eggs can be very versatile. For example, you could have two eggs for breakfast in any shape or form, an egg salad or egg sandwich, and there are loads of pasta and foreign dishes that incorporate eggs, not to mention cake:)
Hummus
Saved the best for last.. pita chips and hummus are the BEST snack, prove me wrong. And it's so high in protein. I'd also recommend those naans you get from Costco. But yes, hummus is a great source of protein, and is once again very versatile.
Side note: Meditteranean food
who doesn't love a good falafel?
I hope this helped! Remember that just because you're a vegetarian, does not make you any worse off in terms of calories, nutrition, or health! You've just got to choose the right foods:)
