The Truth About Protein

When people are starting a vegan diet one of their biggest concerns, along with everyone they tell they are starting a vegan diet, is how will they get enough protein. The main reason for this is that people believe that all protein comes from meat and other animal products. Actually all plant foods contain protein to some extent. If they didn't they couldn't grow. Legumes, beans, nuts and seeds, vegetables and grains are all great sources of protein. A healthy vegan diet is based on whole plant based foods so in reality it can be higher in protein than a diet that is based on processed foods, sugary sodas and snacks and other junk foods. Some people believe that animal proteins are of a higher quality than plant proteins but there is no scientific proof for this belief. This belief is also no longer supported by current medical opinion.

Animal protein contains all 10 of the amino acids necessary for proper health while plant foods do not. For this reason it is very important to eat a diet containing a wide variety of high protein foods daily and not to become stuck in a dietary rut. The old rule of combining certain foods in every meal is not necessary. If you are eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans or beans products everyday you needn't worry about not getting enough protein.

Protein Content of Many Vegan Foods

Description Weight (g) Measure Content per Measure (g) Alfalfa seeds, sprouted, raw 33 1 cup 1.32 Artichokes, (globe or French), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 120 1 medium 4.18 Asparagus, canned, drained solids 72 4 spears 1.54 Asparagus, cooked, boiled, drained 60 4 spears 1.55 Asparagus, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 180 1 cup 5.31 Avocados, raw, California 28.35 1 oz 0.60 Avocados, raw, Florida 28.35 1 oz 0.45 Beans, baked, canned, plain or vegetarian 254 1 cup 12.17 Beans, baked, canned, with pork and tomato sauce 253 1 cup 13.05 Beans, black, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt 172 1 cup 15.24 Beans, Cowpeas (Blackeyed), immature seeds, boiled, without salt 165 1 cup 5.23 Beans, Cowpeas (blackeyed), immature seeds, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 170 1 cup 14.43 Beans, Cowpeas, common (blackeyes, crowder, southern), mature seeds, 172 1 cup 13.30 Beans, Kidney beans, red, mature seeds, canned 256 1 cup 13.44 Beans, Kidney beans, red, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt 177 1 cup 15.35 Beans, Lima beans, large, mature seeds, canned 241 1 cup 11.88 Beans, Lima beans, large, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt 188 1 cup 14.66 Beans, Mung beans, mature seeds, sprouted, cooked, boiled, without salt 124 1 cup 2.52 Beans, Mung beans, mature seeds, sprouted, raw 104 1 cup 3.16 Beans, Navy beans, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt 182 1 cup 15.83 Beans, Pinto beans, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt 171 1 cup 14.04 Soybeans, mature cooked, boiled, without salt 180 1 cup 22.23 Beans, Snap beans, green, canned, regular pack, drained solids 135 1 cup 1.55 Beans, Snap beans, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 125 1 cup 2.36 Beans, White beans, mature seeds, canned 262 1 cup 19.02 Beet greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 144 1 cup 3.70 Beets, canned, drained solids 170 1 cup 1.55 Broccoli, raw 88 1 cup 2.62 Broccoli, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 156 1 cup 4.65 Beets, cooked, boiled, drained 170 1 cup 2.86 Beets, cooked, boiled, drained 50 1 beet 0.84 Cabbage, Chinese (pak-choi), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 170 1 cup 2.65 Cabbage, Chinese (pe-tsai), cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 119 1 cup 1.79 Cabbage, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 150 1 cup 1.53 Cabbage, raw 70 1 cup 1.01 Cabbage, red, raw 70 1 cup 0.97 Carrots, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 156 1 cup 1.70 Carrots, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 146 1 cup 1.74 Carrots, raw 110 1 cup 1.13 Cauliflower, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 124 1 cup 2.28 Cauliflower, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 180 1 cup 2.90 Cauliflower, raw 100 1 cup 1.98 Celery, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 150 1 cup 1.25 Celery, raw 120 1 cup 0.90 Corn, sweet, white, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 77 1 ear 2.56 Corn, sweet, yellow, canned, vacuum pack, regular pack 210 1 cup 5.06 Corn, sweet, yellow, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 77 1 ear 2.56 Corn, sweet, yellow, frozen, kernels cut off cob, boiled, drained, without salt 164 1 cup 4.51 Corn, sweet, yellow, frozen, kernels on cob, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 63 1 ear 1.96 Cucumber, peeled, raw 119 1 cup 0.68 Cucumber, with peel, raw 104 1 cup 0.72 Dandelion greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 105 1 cup 2.10 Endive, raw 50 1 cup 0.63 Garlic, raw 3 1 clove 0.19 Lentils, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt 198 1 cup 17.86 Lettuce, cos or romaine, raw 56 1 cup 0.91 Lettuce, iceberg (includes crisphead types), raw 55 1 cup 0.56 Lettuce, looseleaf, raw 56 1 cup 0.73 Mushrooms, canned, drained solids 156 1 cup 2.92 Mushrooms, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 156 1 cup 3.39 Mushrooms, raw 70 1 cup 2.03 Mustard greens, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 140 1 cup 3.16 Okra, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 160 1 cup 2.99 Okra, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 184 1 cup 3.83 Olives, ripe, canned (small-extra large) 22 5 large 0.18 Onions, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 210 1 cup 2.86 Onions, dehydrated flakes 5 1 tbsp 0.45 Onions, raw 110 1 whole 1.28 Onions, spring or scallions (includes tops and bulb), raw 100 1 cup 1.83 Parsley, raw 10 10 sprigs 0.30 Parsnips, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 156 1 cup 2.06 Peas, edible-podded, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 160 1 cup 5.23 Peas, edible-podded, frozen, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 160 1 cup 5.60 Peas, green, canned, regular pack, drained solids 170 1 cup 7.51 Peppers, hot chili, green, raw 45 1 pepper 0.90 Peppers, hot chili, red, raw 45 1 pepper 0.90 Peppers, sweet, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 136 1 cup 1.25 Peppers, sweet, green, raw 119 1 pepper 1.06 Peppers, sweet, red, raw 119 1 pepper 1.06 Potato, baked, flesh and skin, without salt 202 1 potato 5.05 Potatoes, baked, flesh, without salt 156 1 potato 3.06 Potatoes, boiled, cooked in skin, flesh, without salt 136 1 potato 2.54 Potatoes, boiled, cooked without skin, flesh, without salt 135 1 potato 2.31 Potatoes, hashed brown, home-prepared 156 1 cup 3.78 Pumpkin, canned, without salt 245 1 cup 2.70 Pumpkin, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 245 1 cup 1.76 Radishes, raw 4.5 1 radish 0.03 Spinach, canned, drained solids 214 1 cup 6.01 Spinach, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 180 1 cup 5.35 Spinach, frozen, chopped or leaf, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 190 1 cup 5.97 Spinach, raw 30 1 cup 0.86 Squash, summer, all varieties, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt 180 1 cup 1.64 Squash, summer, all varieties, raw 113 1 cup 1.33 Squash, winter, all varieties, cooked, baked, without salt 205 1 cup 1.82 Squash, winter, butternut, frozen, cooked, boiled, without salt 240 1 cup 2.95 Sweet potato, canned, vacuum pack 255 1 cup 4.21 Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt 146 1 potato 2.51 Sweet potato, cooked, boiled, without skin, without salt 156 1 potato 2.57 Tomatoes, red, ripe, canned, stewed 255 1 cup 2.42 Tomatoes, red, ripe, canned, whole, regular pack 240 1 cup 2.21 Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average 180 1 cup 1.53 Tomatoes, sun-dried 2 1 piece 0.28 Tomatoes, sun-dried, packed in oil, drained 3 1 piece 0.15 Watermelon, raw 286 1 wedge 1.77 Description Weight (g) Measure Content per Measure (g) Buckwheat flour, whole-groat 120 1 cup 15.14 Buckwheat groats, roasted, cooked 168 1 cup 5.68 Bulgur, cooked 182 1 cup 5.61 Bulgur, dry 138 1 cup 11.70 Cornmeal, degermed, enriched, yellow 140 1 cup 17.21 Cornmeal, whole-grain, yellow 122 1 cup 9.91 Noodles, chinese, chow mein 45 1 cup 3.77 Oat bran, cooked 219 1 cup 7.03 Oat bran, raw 94 1 cup 16.26 Peanut butter, smooth style, with salt 16 1 tbsp 4.03 Quinoa, cooked - 1 cup 11 Rice, brown, long-grain, cooked 125 195 5.03 Rice, white, long-grain, regular, cooked 158 195 4.25 Spaghetti, cooked, enriched, without added salt 140 1 cup 6.68 Spaghetti, whole-wheat, cooked 140 1 cup 7.46 Tempeh 225 1 cup 31 Tofu, firm, prepared with calcium sulfate and magnesium chloride 81 1/4 block 6.51 Wheat flour, white, all-purpose, enriched, bleached 125 1 cup 12.91 Wheat flour, whole-grain 125 1 cup 16.44 Wheat flour, white, bread, enriched 125 137 16.41 Whole wheat bread 2 slices 2 slices 5 Veggie burger 1 patty 1 patty 5-24

*Chart is borrowed from Fatfreekitchen.com