Protein for vegetarians!

When people used to think about vegetarians, they conjured up images of skinny people dressed like hippies. They would have almost said it’s impossible to be muscular, fit and even a little fat as a vegetarian… This could not be further from the truth! Vegetarian athletes, like Maarten Tjallingii, Rich Roll and Alberto Contador, have changed this stereotype. They have proven that you can still get enough protein and vitamins from plant foods to build muscle. So, (part-time) vegetarians and vegans pay attention: here’s a list of organic products that are good sources of plant-based protein.

Vegetables
Did you know that 300 grams of cooked spinach contains 7.5 grams of protein? The same portion of green beans provides just as much. A serving of cooked kale or peas even provides 15 grams! These foods also all score bonus points for high vitamin content as well!

Nuts, seeds and nut pastes.
I’m a true nut and seed addict. Cashews, almonds and walnuts are examples of healthy nuts that are full of protein. A handful of unsalted, raw, mixed nuts is a great snack! I also love sesame paste (tahini) and almond butter. I eat both with crackers or bread and add slices of banana. Yummy!

Hemp
I make a smoothie almost every morning and it usually contains this superfood. Using 30 grams of hemp seeds or hemp seed powder, you can make yourself an amazing protein shake. A recipe for a hemp smoothie is listed at the bottom of this post.

Almond, quinoa and hemp milks
With one of these milk alternatives and some delicious muesli, you can create a tasty and complete vegan breakfast.

Legumes
Ahh, so many choices! Lentils, chickpeas, black beans, brown beans, white beans, peas… It’s not a coincidence that most meat substitutes contain one legume or another. They’re rich in protein and are a great addition to a healthy vegan or vegetarian diet.