Okay, so you’re sick and tired of chicken breasts, you couldn’t possibly stomach yet another egg, and the thought of chugging down one more protein shake is making you gag just thinking about it. How else are you supposed to get your protein? After all, we all know that protein is found in meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, so what can you do if you cannot consume these things, or if you simply do not want to consume these things? Well, you could consider the foods that we’re about to look at. The following foods are much higher in protein than people realize, and they’re extremely good for you too. Here are 4 healthy foods surprisingly rich in protein.
Whole wheat pasta
Pasta is made from whole grains, and we know that whole grains are high in carbs. Pasta is predominantly though of as a carbohydrate, yet what many people don’t realize is that certain pastas are actually rich in protein too. Whole wheat pasta provides 7.5 grams of protein per cup, which is nearly the equivalent of two eggs. As well as being a good source of protein, whole wheat pasta is also rich in B vitamins, fiber, and minerals such as potassium, copper, and zinc.
Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes have a distinctly sweet taste (who knew?) and they are largely considered a carbohydrate. Sweet potatoes are also packed full of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin A, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and more besides. They also have a low glycaemic index, despite having a sweet taste. Needless to say, sweet potatoes are very good for you. You might also be interested in hearing that sweet potatoes have an impressive protein content. One cup of cooked sweet potatoes will provide 4 grams of protein, which is not to be sniffed at.
Peas
Peas are not only a fantastic vegetable side dish that go very well with all manner of savoury dishes, it turns out that peas are also surprisingly high in protein. Peas may not be as rich in vitamins and minerals as other green vegetables, but they still provide impressive amounts – especially vitamin C. Peas actually provide more protein per cup than any other vegetable. One cup of cooked peas will provide 8 grams of protein. Fresh or frozen peas will work extremely well, so be sure to stock up the next time you’re in the grocery store and are looking for a healthy protein fix.
Natural peanut butter
Peanut butter is rich, creamy, calorific, and high in fats. Does this make it unhealthy? Absolutely not! If you go with a natural peanut butter made from nothing but pure peanuts, it is extremely good for you. Peanut butter provides healthy monounsaturated fats, it is rich in amino acids, and it is a great source of protein. One tablespoon of peanut butter provides an impressive 4 grams of protein. Be sure to go for 100% peanut butter, as some generic brand names contain things such as: added salt, added sugar, hydrogenated oils, and palm oil, which many people believe should be banned. Your peanut butter should contain 100% ground peanuts. That is all.
