5 Ways to Get Protein in Your Diet Without Eating Meat

People may choose to stop eating meat for a variety of different reasons, but the two biggest reasons are diets and lifestyles. Some people may choose to go without meat because it's high in calories and fat, while others choose to be vegetarians because they don't agree with the slaughtering of animals. Regardless of why people choose meat free diets, they should still be concerned with getting protein into their diets. Protein helps to build muscle and muscle keeps bones strong, but most protein comes from meat. Fortunately, there are several ways to get protein into your diet without eating meat.

5 Ways to Get Protein in Your Diet without Eating Meat #1: Cottage Cheese

The average person needs around 70 grams of protein every day. When you choose to go without meat, it maybe hard to get that much protein, luckily there are foods like cottage cheese that have several grams of protein in each serving. Cottage cheese has 28 grams of protein per 1 cup. While cottage cheese maybe boring on its own, cottage cheese can make the perfect breakfast if you add fruit, such as peaches.

5 Ways to Get Protein in Your Diet without Eating Meat #2: Tuna

Many vegetarians will still eat fish and why not? Fish, such as tuna and salmon, are very heart healthy because they contain Omega-3 fatty acids. Tuna is the perfect choice for getting protein into your diet without eating meat. Tuna contains 40 grams of protein per 6 ounces. The only thing you should be careful of, when eating tuna, is mercury. It's especially important to limit your intake of fish and seafood when you are pregnant because of their mercury content.

5 Ways to Get Protein in Your Diet without Eating Meat #3: Tofu

Why are you turning your nose up? Get back here and read this. Yes, tofu is far from glamorous, but tofu does pack a high protein punch. A half of a cup of tofu has 20 grams of protein. There several different ways to add flavor to tofu. You can marinate tofu and then bread and fry. You can even make tofu ice cream, which is great for people who are lactose intolerant. Tofu takes on the flavor of whatever it's cooked with, so be creative and turn this meat substitute into a tasty dish.

5 Ways to Get Protein in Your Diet without Eating Meat #4: Cheese Pizza

Not only is it healthy to choose cheese pizza over pizzas topped with meat, but two slices of cheese pizza also contains 15 grams of protein. If you make pizza at home or choose a pizzeria that uses whole wheat flour, you can get another 15 grams of protein per 1 cup of whole wheat flour. This is a very easy lunch to prepare at home, especially if you use whole wheat pita bread. Simply add sauce and cheese and bake at 350 until the cheese melts.

5 Ways to Get Protein in Your Diet without Eating Meat #5: Parmesan Cheese

Pasta becomes very popular to people who cut meat out of their diet, luckily there is a way to add protein those delicious Italian meals without adding meat. One ounce of Parmesan cheese has 10 grams of protein. Not only can you add this to the top of your pasta, but you can also make Parmesan crisps as a snack. Simply place Parmesan cheese on a non-stick cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes. Allow to cool, remove from cookie sheet, and enjoy.