Plant based protein... what is it? Where can I find it?
Tofu
Edamame beans
Kidney beans
Black beans
Nuts & seeds
Tempeh (fermented soybeans)
Lentils
Soy milk
Chickpeas
Why plant based though?
Not only do plant based proteins provide an excellent source of protein, they commonly contain more fiber and less saturated fats than animal proteins. Both increasing fiber and reducing saturated fats can improve your heart health, amongst a whole whackload of other benefits.
The new Canada's Food Guide, that came out in 2019, recommends choosing more plant based protein, and includes a variety of other nutrition advice and resources that can be helpful to every individual & family.
This is not to say that every single meal should have plant based protein and that eating animal products is bad (except for those who are vegetarian or vegan and limit animal products for that reason). Included in the new CFG recommendations is including other protein sources rich in healthy fats - one of the best being fish!
Personally, I have been trying out many recipes with chickpeas and lentil based foods. I recently found a package of lentil pasta at Costco - PACKED with protein, that I have been using in my spaghetti! Side note... lentils are also a great source of iron! There are also more brands of chickpea based pastas coming on the market, which are typically also gluten free. I also just learned how to roast my own crispy chickpeas... so there are bowls of crispy chickpeas to snack on almost everywhere in my house right now.
Curious about some recipes that include plant based proteins? Check out my instagram @embracingintuition for more ideas.
