6 Tips To Get More Protein in Your Diet

Protein is essential to your health and wellness. This slow-burning nutrient takes longer to digest, so it keeps you feeling full — good news for people trying to lose weight. It’s also a champion for your muscles, helping your body build and maintain them.

“Protein should represent about 10% to 35% of your daily calories, depending on your overall health and activity level,” says registered dietitian Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD.

For example, the average healthy adult should have 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein each day per kilogram of body weight.

So, how can you increase your protein? Patton shares tips on how to get more protein in your daily diet.

Incorporate protein into every meal

“It’s best to eat a consistent amount of protein during the day rather than load up at one meal and go without for other meals,” says Patton. “Your body loves consistency, especially in protein intake.”

To get more protein, start by building your meals around protein options, like chicken, fish, eggs, lentils and dairy.

A good example? Use salmon to create a dish. While the fish is the star of the show, you can add beans or grains for an additional protein punch. And then top with whatever veggies you have on hand.

“Leading with protein will help you reach your goals,” she adds. “If you’re having a hard time coming up with protein-forward meal ideas, talk to a registered dietitian. They can design a meal plan that works best for you.”

Look for complete proteins

Protein is made up of essential and non-essential amino acids. A complete protein source is one that contains all nine essential amino acids to support human dietary needs.

“Not only does a complete protein contain all essential amino acids, but it also contains them in perfect proportion in terms of biological function or what your body needs,” explains Patton.

Examples of complete proteins include:

• Dairy
• Lean meat
• Fish
• Poultry
• Egg whites
• Soy (like tofu, edamame, tempeh and miso)

Rethink your snacks

Having a midmorning or afternoon snack is a good way to get more protein into your diet.

Instead of grabbing a bag of chips or a cookie (or two), try options like:

• Cottage cheese and fruit
• Greek yogurt and berries
• Unsalted nuts, like almonds
• Hard-boiled egg
• Peanut butter on celery
• Dry-roasted edamame

The goal is to sneak in some extra protein while keeping your total calorie count between 150 and 170 calories per snack.

Make smart protein swaps

Take a look at what you plan to eat this week. Are there simple swaps you can make to up your protein intake?

For example, instead of chicken and white rice, sub in ancient grains like quinoa, barley and amaranth. These options have more protein per serving than white rice.

Grabbing a salad for lunch? Make sure you add protein like grilled chicken, salmon or tuna.

And if you tend to drink a fruit smoothie each morning for breakfast, try to incorporate chia seeds, hemp seeds and Greek yogurt to up the amount of protein.

“You can also use chickpea or lentil pasta instead of white pasta,” suggests Patton. “I also like using plain Greek yogurt as a mayo substitute in recipes.”

Consider meal prep

Cooking and prepping certain ingredients ahead of time will make it easier for you to have all the necessary parts of a healthy, protein-forward meal that you can store in your fridge or freezer.

For example:

• Cook a large batch of chicken.
• Cook a few servings of grains, like spelt, farro and quinoa.
• Make hard-boiled eggs.

“Having the option to add a protein source to your meal will make it easier for you to hit your protein goals,” encourages Patton.

Some people like to take Saturday or Sunday to plan and prep their meals for the upcoming week. Find a time that works best for you.

Make your drinks count

If you don’t like other protein-rich foods, protein powder is a great addition to smoothies, especially if you’re on the go.

“But be careful not to consume protein powder in addition to eating a meal to avoid gaining weight,” stresses Patton. “Use it on its own as a post-workout recovery drink or as a quick meal replacement.”

Why protein is so important

Getting protein from the foods you eat each day is key to giving your body the nutrients it needs.

You don’t have to overhaul your meals to get more protein each day. Instead, focus on making small, simple changes — like adding a high-protein ingredient to your meal — to up your protein intake.

“If you focus on prioritizing protein early in your life,” concludes Patton, “it will help you as you age to prevent chronic conditions associated with muscle loss and weight gain, allowing you to live a longer, healthier life.”