The Advantages of Replacing Animal Protein with Vegetable Protein in your Diet

With so many of us trying to follow a high protein diet plan these days, you have to begin to wonder if eating all that red meat and cheese is really good for us.  Because along with the high protein found in meat and cheese, you get lots of saturated fat and cholesterol which is not good for your heart.  Therefore a switch from animal based protein to vegetable based protein may be in order.

Legumes, such as soybeans, pinto beans, lima beans and others, do offer a good source of protein.  They are high fiber and high protein foods.  Some people wonder if the quality of protein from legumes compares to that of animal protein.  Well, some legumes, such as soybeans have protein that is equal in quality to most red meats.  Plus, the advantages of low fat, low cholesterol, and high fiber.

Whole grains, such as wheat, brown rice, and oats, provide a valuable source of protein with all of the same advantages found in legumes.  The protein in whole grains is of lesser quality, therefore you have to consume a larger amount of whole grains in order to equal the same amount of protein found in animal sources.  The advantage of including whole grains in your list of high protein foods is that they are inexpensive compared to animal protein, they are healthier for you overall, and they are easy to prepare.

Let's take a look at some vegetable foods high in protein:

Corn                                                             3 grams protein
Collards                                                       2 grams protein
Sweet Potato                                               2 grams protein
Broccoli                                                        2 grams protein
Bean Sprouts                                               1 gram protein
(All values are for 1/2 cup servings)

Here are some whole grain foods high in protein:

Whole Bagel                                                 8 grams protein
Cup of Brown Rice                                       6 grams protein
One Pancake                                                4 grams protein
Slice Whole Grain Bread                             3 grams protein
1/2 cup oatmeal                                            3 grams protein

Although protein values are lower for vegetables and whole grains than for meat, they are healthier overall and an important part of a balanced, high protein diet.

No one should begin a high or low protein diet, vegetarian or otherwise, without seeking the proper medical advice of a physician.