Healthy Eating: The Best High-Protein Vegetables To Add To Your Diet
If you’re a vegan or merely fond of consuming vegetables, you can get your daily protein intake without switching to animal products. Cruciferous and leafy veggies, lentils, and peas are considered rich sources of protein.
Our body needs a healthy supply of nutrients to function properly. Protein is an essential macronutrient that helps in building and repairing tissues. It also stimulates our metabolism and cellular activity and maintains muscle mass.
While eggs and meat are high in protein content, eating certain veggies will help you make up for your body’s protein requirement. Have a look at all the high-protein vegetables that you can add to your diet to stay healthy and active.
Edamame
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Edamame is packed with a powerhouse of nutrients, including protein, fiber, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. You can obtain about 9 grams of protein from half a cup of cooked edamame.
Lentils
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Lentils are a staple food and can easily be incorporated into our daily diet. They are rich in protein, fiber, iron, potassium, and folate. You can prepare an array of delightful recipes with them. Half a cup of cooked lentils contains 8 grams of protein.
Chickpeas
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Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are widely popular because of their unique taste and delightful flavor. They are rich in protein, folate, phosphorus, and fiber. You can add them to soups, salads, rice, and a myriad of other dishes.
Half a cup of cooked chickpeas will give you about 7 grams of protein.
Green Peas
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Who doesn’t love green peas? These tiny green balls are packed with a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B1, C, and K, calcium, and iron. Half a cup of cooked peas will give you 4 grams of protein.
Spinach
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This leafy green vegetable is a rich source of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. It contains vitamins A, C, K, iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. You can obtain 6 grams of protein from one cup of cooked spinach.
Broccoli
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This cruciferous veggie is rich in protein and contains iron, fiber, calcium, selenium, and vitamin B. It is considered a popular recipe in salads and as a side veggie served with steaks and barbecues.
One cup of cooked broccoli supplies 5 grams of protein.
Mushrooms
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Mushrooms are low in calorie content but high in proteins, fiber, zinc, and potassium. They are a top-favorite option for pizza toppings and salads. You can get 3 grams of protein from half a cup of cooked mushrooms.