There are a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to protein in vegetarian diets. Over the years, I've gotten quite a few emails from new vegetarians wondering how much protein they need and how to get it. Since I'm not a nutritionist, I've asked McKel to address some of these questions in her post this month. If you have other nutrition-related questions for McKel, you can leave them in the comments or submit them here and she might answer them in future posts! -Kiersten
Today, I’m here to tackle some of the most common questions asked relating to protein and a plant-based diet.
First, let’s break down some of the different plant-based lifestyles:
- Lacto-Ovo Vegetarianism (consumes both eggs and dairy products)
- Lacto-Vegetarianism (consumes dairy products, but no eggs)
- Ovo-Vegetarianism (consumes egg products, but no dairy)
- Pesca-Vegetarianism (consumes fish but no other animal flesh--may include dairy and eggs)
- Vegan (abstains from all animal flesh foods and animal-derived products, i.e. honey, dairy, and eggs. This can also be extended into lifestyle, such as avoiding leather, shoes, or other materials made from animals.)
While there are differences in these diets, the foundation of all of them is the same: fruits and vegetables, whole grains (or gluten-free grains), healthy fats, and plenty of water.
People say that vegetarians can't get enough protein in their diets because they don't eat meat. Is this true?
No … and yes. Let’s start off with the first part of this answer, no. Vegetarian diets, and even vegan diets which are a bit more restrictive, can contain more than enough plant protein for your body to thrive and for you to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle, as long as your diet is planned properly.
One of the biggest problems I encounter with my clients who practice plant-based eating is the lack of overall protein in their diet, including plant protein sources. Getting adequate amounts of plant protein is extremely important as protein is the building block of our cells, muscles, tissues, and so much more. Protein plays many roles in the human body; it's responsible for a myriad of functions, including transportation and storage, as a structural component (collagen, muscle tissues, etc.), messengers (hormones, etc.), enzymes, and antibodies.
Protein should be high priority in all diets, but especially in plant-based ones. Making sure you have enough protein throughout the day is key to long-term success. My tip is to make sure you include a vegetarian plant protein source at every meal--this will help round out your overall intake of amino acids throughout the day (which are the building blocks of protein). Check out the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics position paper on vegetarian diets for ideas on what to eat in order to ensure you're taking in sufficient amounts of protein and other often-overlooked nutrients.
What are the best sources of plant protein?
There are plenty of great sources of plant protein for vegans and vegetarians. Remember the different types of vegetarianism? Well, the proteins consumed will be dictated by which lifestyle someone is practicing. No matter what your lifestyle, the following foods are good sources of plant-based protein:
(Not included in this list are processed vegetarian food products, like soy burgers, hot dogs, etc. These contain protein, but they should be eaten in limited quantities since they tend to be high in sodium.)
If your diet is not strictly plant-based, you can include other sources of protein: 1 whole egg provides 6g of protein (an egg white is 4g), and dairy products have varying amounts of protein.
Also note, many vegetables, carbohydrates, and some fruits naturally contain trace amounts of protein as well (2-5g per serving, depending on the food). These shouldn’t be considered reliable sources of protein unless you’re eating incredibly large amounts of them.
How much protein should I be getting every day?
This is a great question, with many answers. It depends on your lifestyle, goals, digestion, diet, etc. In general, 0.8g of protein per kg of your bodyweight is the recommended daily allowance (RDA) guideline recommended by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I would actually go a bit higher, as vegetarian and vegan proteins are digested a bit differently and are not as bioavailable as animal proteins. For example, a 140lb woman would need: 140lbs / 2.2 (conversion from lbs. to kg) = 64kg. 64kg x 0.8g protein = 51g of protein per day. Let’s say this female was eating 2000 calories/day, protein would make up roughly 10% of her intake--this is fairly low in my opinion. Again I highly recommend meeting with a qualified practitioner or Registered Dietitian who can set specific protein ranges for your lifestyle and goals (if you'd like to work with me, I offer Nutrition & Health Coaching through my website).
Is it true that vegetarians have to combine certain foods in order to absorb protein?
No. Combining vegetarian proteins to make a “complete protein” or “complementary protein” is a theory of the past. We now know that our bodies store amino acids (i.e. the building blocks of protein), and they can be utilized to make up for any limiting amino acid in a vegetarian food. It is important however to consume a wide variety of vegetarian proteins and foods rich in nutrients throughout the entire day, but it doesn't have to necessarily be in the same meal. On the other hand, some foods, like those rich in vitamin C, do help your body absorb the plant-based iron sources (non-heme iron)--for example, think of eating red bell peppers with beans or an orange with nuts or seeds.
Should I be adding protein powder to my diet?
Possibly. If you’re an athlete, active, or engaging in fitness training it may be a smart idea to supplement your diet with good quality vegetarian based proteins to make up for your demanding needs. Notice the word supplement--this is not meant to be the bulk of your protein intake. Protein powders are used to supplement (i.e. make up the deficit in) the diet overall.
Even if you’re not very active, protein powder still may be a great option to incorporate into your diet to make sure you’re meeting your needs. There are many quality brands out there that can easily be mixed in with water, almond milk, coconut milk, smoothies, etc. Vega
I hope that answers some of your initial questions about plant-based protein. I want to hear from you: do you still have questions about plant protein, minerals, or overall nutrition in a plant-based diet? Post your questions below so I can address them in an upcoming post!
Lisa says
Thank you for the helpful info McKel! I took a nutrition course at my university last year and was taught about complete or complementary proteins. I was considering trying out a vegetarian diet for a week or so just to see how I feel with it, but I felt overwhelmed by having to plan out all my meals in a way that adhered to the recommended food combinations to get complete protein. Perhaps I'll have another go at it now. Thanks!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
I'm glad this resource has helped shed some light on protein sources. If you ever need additional guidance I'd be more than happy to help you out with a consultation. Feel free to email me!
zea says
what do you think of bee pollen as an added source of protein/minerals? Thanks!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
Hi Zea,
I actually have a blog post where I briefly talk about bee pollen. It's not an excellent source of protein (you would have to eat very large amounts to get protein, which I wouldn't recommend), but it does contain amino acids and nutrients! Check it out here: http://nutritionstripped.com/stripped-green-smoothie-bowl-superfoods-101/
dishing up the dirt says
Thank you for such an informative post McKel!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
You're very welcome dear!
lillian says
I Often forget about my daily protein intake. Thanks for the info!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
You're very welcome, glad you enjoy!
betsy shipley says
Check out Ginny Messina's: the vegan RD. Ginny is a registered dietician .
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
Hope you enjoy the post! I am a Registered Dietitian and health & wellness coach 😉
Julia says
McKel,
Great post! I had read several other places that it is no longer necessary to "combine" proteins or eat complementary proteins at the same meal but, that over a course of a day, you should try and eat a wide variety of foods to insure you are getting all the essential amino acids. Is that a correct understanding? Thanks!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
Hi Julia,
You're correct, that's exactly what I'm saying 🙂
Letty Flatt says
This is a fabulous and very helpful post to help us explain how we veg-heads get our protein. I sent it out on Twitter and posted it on my Pinterest board.
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
Wonderful, thank you Letty! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Joanne says
The first reaction I get from people when I tell them I'm veg is "what do you eat for protein"...it's crazy! In general, I think people believe they need to eat way more protein than they actually do. But with greek yogurt, beans, and eggs at my fingertips...I feel like I get more than enough!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
There you go! Well said Joanne
Elisa @ Insalata di Sillabe says
Super helpful post! Thanks you so much!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
You're very welcome!
Martina @ snapshotsandwhatnots says
Very informative post - I often forget of all of the different plant based sources for protein and end up relying on my old favourites like quinoa. Just another idea that could be useful if you track your food with a program like my fitness pal it will break down your intake into carbs protein fats etc (and you vitamin and mineral intakes too) and you can check and make sure you're on track for your protein intake. When I did this I found that I was eating far too many carbs...it's interesting 🙂
Martina
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
I'm glad you enjoyed the post Martina! Yes myfitnesspal.com can definitely be useful in determining and staying on track once you know how much protein you should be consuming a day based on your needs!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
This post is such a great resource! I know I need to up my protein intake, so this will help immensely!
McKel Hill, MS, RD | Nutrition Stripped says
So glad this will help!
Megan says
Thanks for this; even after 11 years of being a vegetarian and one of vegan, I still forget to get my protein in! This simple breakdown is great, and will be on my fridge door tonight!
Amy says
Really well thought out post, madame! Thanks for sharing.
Allison @ Clean Wellness says
This guide is incredible! I've bookmarked it for future reference. Love the graphic too, really helpful and easy-to-follow. I also like that you emphasized that protein powders are supplemental additions, I think that's really important info for all vegetarians and vegans -food first!
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
Thank you for this post! I just realised that though I'm thoroughly enjoying being a vegetarian and I love all the above, I need to be incorporating a lot more to get the protein I need.
elle says
McKel, great article! Just wondering where you received your coach training? I am interested in that path as well. Thanks for the continued inspiration 🙂
Sarah says
I reviewed the paper you posted from the Academy of Nutrition and Diabetics. This is what it states regarding B-12 vitamin, which is vital for neurologic function.
"Vitamin B-12
The vitamin B-12 status of some vegetarians
is less than adequate due to
not regularly consuming reliable
sources of vitamin B-12 (12,46,47).
Lacto-ovo-vegetarians can obtain adequate
vitamin B-12 from dairy foods,
eggs, or other reliable vitamin B-12
sources (fortified foods and supplements),
if regularly consumed. For
vegans, vitamin B-12 must be obtained
from regular use of vitamin
B-12-fortified foods, such as fortified
soy and rice beverages, some breakfast
cereals and meat analogs, or Red
Star Vegetarian Support Formula nutritional
yeast; otherwise a daily vitamin
B-12 supplement is needed. No
unfortified plant food contains any
significant amount of active vitamin
B-12. Fermented soy products cannot
be considered a reliable source of active
B-12 (12,46).
Vegetarian diets are typically rich
in folacin, which may mask the hematological
symptoms of vitamin B-12
deficiency, so that vitamin B-12 defi-
ciency may go undetected until after
neurological signs and symptoms
may be manifest (47). Vitamin B-12
status is best determined by measuring
serum levels of homocysteine,
methylmalonic acid, or holotranscobalamin
II (48)."
What do you make of this peer reviewed evidence that a vegetarian diet has to be supplemented with vitamins to be healthy?
Kiersten Frase says
I'm not sure where you're getting the evidence that a vegetarian diet has to be supplemented - from your own quote, it says "Lacto-ovo-vegetarians can obtain adequate vitamin B-12 from dairy foods, eggs, or other reliable vitamin B-12 sources (fortified foods and supplements), if regularly consumed." It's vegan diets that require supplementation, not vegetarian.
Rise Shine Cook | Ashley Madden says
Fantastic summary of this ongoing debate! Many people are stuck on the "how much protein" and "do I need to combine". Thanks for this great post, great tool to pass along to clients!
xo
Ashley
Urban Vegan says
Super in-depth - thanks so much. We're always trying to educate people about vegan proteins at Urban Vegan and just how easy they are to get on a vegan diet. Glad to see others doing the same!!!
P.S - love the site.
virginia wade says
I am very confused about the plant based diet when it comes to different articles I have read about a plant based diet/lifestyle includes no oils but I see recipes that do contain oils. can you answer this for me
Katie Trant says
Hi Virginia, plant-based diets definitely include oil and healthy fats. Some people choose oil-free diets for various reasons, but that has nothing to do with vegetarianism.
Vegan Protein Lab says
I think your answer regarding protein powder is spot on.
It's nice and convenient, and really useful for an athlete trying to consume a large amount of protein, but if possible, beans, lentils, and other unprocessed sources are better.
Alex says
Thanks for sharing, McKel!
Simple and to the point! This article will solve many misconceptions for new plant-based explorers.
Keep up the great work!
P.S. Heading over to your blog ASAP 🙂
nagendra says
I always struggle with my protein intake because I skinny guy so it is very useful for me to full fill my protein needs.