No matter why you want to try more sources of vegan protein, you’re certainly not up against a shortage of options.  You could be living a plant-based lifestyle, cutting back on your animal-based foods or even just seeking to try – or learn – something new. They’re all perfectly great reasons to discover more ways to get the macronutrient balance you need within a category of foods that you feel is appropriate for you.

Vegan Protein Options are Abundant

One of the first questions many people have when they decide to have a meatless meal, let alone choose a plant-based lifestyle, about where they will find the best sources of vegan protein.  Those among us who were raised with meat in our lives are used to thinking that the main way to get this macro is through meats, poultry, eggs, or dairy.  Oh yes, and tofu.  There’s always tofu.

That said, tofu is far from the only source of vegan protein. In fact, you can easily have a year’s worth of nutritious plant-based meals without touching the stuff if you don’t happen to like or want it. You might even be surprised to learn that you’ve been eating some top sources of this macro, totally meat-free, for your entire life.

Vegan Protein Isn’t Hard to Find (even without tofu)

Let’s take a closer look at some top vegan protein options.

Green Peas

That’s right! Regular fresh, frozen or canned green peas are a fantastic source of vegan protein.  They’re cheap, they’re readily available, and they’re surprisingly versatile. Just 160 grams – a small amount – will top up your meal with another 9 grams of protein. Eat them fresh out of the shell like a snack, sprinkle them on a salad, or boil them and add them to curries, soups, stews, or as a side on their own.

Nutritional Yeast

Unless you’ve gone plant-based, the odds are that you haven’t even tried this. The good news is that it’s awesome! It tastes like cheese, so you can use it to turn your dishes into a cheesy treat while remaining plant-based and without adding more fats and calories than your meal needs for its nutritional balance. A teensy 16 grams of nutritional yeast will add a whopping 8 grams of protein to your meal.

Soy Milk

If you’re looking to substitute for dairy milk, soy milk will give you a great 6 grams of protein for just over a cup (244 ml). You can use it in all the same ways you’d have otherwise used dairy milk, such as on your morning bowl of cereal, drinking a glass of it, or using it in your baking.