We all know and understand the importance of protein in our lives. But if you know the loopholes in our ideal protein snacks, it would help you to implement protein into your system through THOSE gaps in a more efficient manner.
From my personal experience, I can conclude that, every one of your preferred items can be tweaked to be healthy, using different ingredients. And the more time passes, the better these get, so you will definitely find these to be well suited if you are trying to eat healthy.
You can improve your protein intake by taking protein powders as well.
Table of Contents
What Is an Ideal Protein Food?
An ideal protein food is one that contains all the essential amino acids in the correct proportions. These foods are typically animal-based, such as meat, fish, poultry, and dairy products. However, some plant-based foods, such as quinoa, can also be considered ideal protein foods.
The essential amino acids are those that our bodies cannot produce on their own and must be obtained through our diet. They are used for a variety of functions, including building muscle, repairing tissues, and producing enzymes and hormones.
A food that contains all the essential amino acids in the correct proportions is considered a complete protein. Animal-based foods are typically complete proteins, while most plant-based foods are not. This is why it is often recommended that vegetarians and vegans include a variety of protein-rich foods in their diets, such as beans, nuts, and seeds, to ensure they are getting all the essential amino acids their bodies need.
While an ideal protein food contains all the essential amino acids in the correct proportions, there are other factors to consider when choosing protein-rich foods. These include the quality of the protein, the digestibility of the protein, and the bioavailability of the amino acids.
When choosing protein-rich foods, it is important to consider all of these factors. Animal-based proteins are typically the best source of complete, high-quality, and easily digestible protein. However, there are a variety of plant-based protein-rich foods that can also be a part of a healthy diet.
What Does Taking in Protein Efficiently Mean?
Well, when you are taking in protein, there are a lot of other nutrients getting into your system, some of which you need, and some you don’t, like an excess of fat. And this is precisely why every girl who hits the Gym does not always come out with a body like Kate Upton.
Say, for instance, you weigh around 140 pounds, and you need to take in 125 grams of protein to bulk up. In terms of food, you will find that kind of protein content in 2 whole chickens or 23+ eggs.
Now, the numbers and the respective protein sources mentioned above would be excellent for consumption if protein was the only thing you ingested. Still, you wouldn’t want to stick to JUST boiled chicken and eggs and in huge portions like that, so what we can do, and this is the main essence of the article, is that sneak in protein through shortcuts.
When you want to treat yourself to a nice cold glass of milkshake, go for protein shakes.
Ideal Protein Hacks
1. Drink Protein Smoothies & Shakes
Not only are these getting popular with each passing month, but these genuinely work as well. And you have a wide variety of options to choose from. Your options aren’t limited to JUST flavors, but the protein source as well.
I once went through a vegan phase, where I only took in protein through ‘Orgain Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder.’ The protein that is used in this particular protein powder brand is derived from a natural plant-based protein source.
These protein shakes come in liquid form as well. When I ran away from veganism, I switched to something that takes no time to prepare, a ready made protein shake. And my go-to ready-made source is Premier Protein Shake.
All these powders and ready-made protein shakes come in a wide variety of flavors to make the protein ingestion as effortless and enjoyable as possible.
Here is a protein shake review in case you want to know more about one.
2. Try Protein Bars For Munchies
This is the most popular source of protein to take in, other than your meat, dairy, and eggs. In fact, these ideal protein bars were sought out and used by most folks, even if they weren’t involved in working out.
Quest Nutrition Protein Bars came highly recommended. After I checked them out, I was genuinely surprised by the vast number of flavors this protein bar came with.
So you can use these on the go, or even while you are working out and need to power booster to finish an intense drill. Munching on one, and you get the energy to power through your training.
- Multi-layered protein bar that delivers balanced nutrition and a soft
- Crunch texture all in a gluten free package
- Packed with 16 grams of protein in each multi-layered bar
- Contain no GMOs and is low in sugar (5 grams) and only 12 grams of net carbs
- May be too high in protein for some people
- Some people may not like the texture of the bar
3. Replace Your ‘Pleasure Carb’ with Quinoa
Keri Gans, a renowned registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and also the author of The Small Change Diet, says that Quinoa is mother nature’s healthy and protein-rich substitute for your pleasure carb cravings.
Like pasta? Replace it with Quinoa. Craving Rice? Replace it with Quinoa. Plus, once you get familiar with Quinoa’s unique taste, you will start enjoying it a lot more.
It is also rich in fiber. You can expect around 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein in half a cup of this ideal protein food.
- USDA certified organic ingredients
- Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
- Vegetarian Friendly
- More expensive than non-organic rice
4. Tweak Your Sweet Tooth
This is a master hack. I know, you will never be able to replace sugary treats like ice cream, but what you CAN do is adapt to something similar. Think Yogurt.
This is the best thing that happened to us Sugar Junkies, after protein shakes. Firstly, these yogurts come in many flavors, so that will be a massive help for you to stay on this path to fitness.
My choice of yogurt brand has always been Chobani Greek Yogurt. It boasts the same high protein content of Greek Yogurt, but with less sugar. Chobani has a great many fun flavors to choose from.
5. Snack on Protein Chips
Yes, I, too, was just as surprised when I stumbled upon these protein-rich chips. Science for the win!
Anyway, various brands offer these healthy, high protein, low carb chips. I am only familiar with Quest Nutrition’s Protein Chips. It’s the same brand that makes the protein bar I suggested earlier on this list.
The ratio of Protein-to-Carb is the best thing you see in this pack of chips, I promise. So each pack comes with 4g of net carb, and a whopping 18g of protein. That’s a chip you can indulge on without any guilt.
6. Edamame Rich Food
This is one of the biggest things right now for vegans. Most plant-based foods come low in protein content.
A cup(approx.150 grams) of Edamame packs 18.5g of protein. That isn’t the only good trait of this super bean. These come in the form of spaghetti, ideal protein chips, and even meatless meats.
Edamame is yet another excellent way to replace your favorite carb. If you crave pasta, you can always indulge with some edamame fettuccine. It’s surprisingly popular in amazon and received mostly positive reviews. I would definitely suggest you to try it out.
Bottom Line
Protein is not as challenging to take in like it was back in the day, and you have a wide variety of options to choose from. No matter what your taste is, you can always find the right protein source to supplement yourself with, so go out there and start building muscle.
Why not match your increased Protein intake with a hardcore workout: HIIT For Beginners – The Ultimate Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it bad to drink multiple protein shakes a day?
Ans: Yes, per day you can have more than one protein. If you are vegan and want to hit your daily diet routine with protein, you can add extra protein.
Q: How much weight do you lose per week on ideal protein?
Ans: The amount of weight you lose on Ideal Protein will depend on factors like your starting weight, how closely you stick to the program, and your metabolism. However, many people who follow Ideal Protein report losing around 3-5 pounds per week.
