Protein Foods Variety

In general, a person needs 5 to 7 ounces of protein foods per day. You can get your protein intake from either animal or plant sources or both. Here are 10 tips to help you vary your protein sources.

Widen your choices

Every week, try to expand your protein intake to various foods in the protein group. Do some experiments with your main dishes.

Go for seafood

Instead of meat or poultry, you can switch to seafood twice a week. Go for seafood that is high in good fats and low in mercury such as salmon and trout.

Lean meats only

Your meats should be as lean as possible. Choose fat-cut meats that are 90% lean at least. If your meat has some fat, try to trim it off and remove the skin of your poultry.

Have an egg

One egg per day will do your body good. If you are worried about the fat, throw out the yolk then you can enjoy your egg whites as much as you please.

Choose plant protein foods

Switching to beans and peas is a nice change. Soy products are also great since they contain a high amount of good fats and fiber.

Add nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds go well with almost any food. They can be served as a snack or the main dish. All nuts are nutritious, but unsalted ones are better for your health, though.

Do it differently

If boiled meat bores you, try roasting, broiling, or baking it. Cook you meat however you like, just make sure you do not add more fat to it. However, you should avoid breading when it comes to meat or poultry since it may add calories.

Sandwiches can be healthy, too

Bologna or salami is tasty, but they contain a high amount of fat and salt. So, do not eat them too often. For a healthy sandwich, choose turkey, roast beef, tuna, or peanut butter.

Avoid over-eating

You can eat what you like, but keep your portion small. Too much protein will not be good for your health. When you cook or order, keep in mind you only need a petite dish.

Be aware of the salt

Salt is available in many processed foods. Read the nutrition labels on the packages carefully before you decide to buy anything so that you will not exceed your sodium limit.

Hopefully, those tips can help you vary your choice of protein sources for your diet. If you have special needs (for example, if you are pregnant), make sure to consult with your doctor first to figure out what your best choices.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnose or treatment.