Protein Ideas

I am on a high protein low carb kick and am shooting for at least 60-80% protein day.  I am finding trouble in getting that amount in so I wanted to throw it out to all you intelligent, active CCers. 

What is your favorite protein?

What is your favorite protein bar?

Got some wonderful suggestions from a fellow CCer already this morning: tofu, tempeh, salmon, tuna, beans, nuts, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, PB2.

Any more suggestions?  I already do a huge amount of boneless chicken breast and egg whites.  (please note, however I do not eat beef).

Thanks in advance - you all are the BEST!

I love the MetRx bars.  These are meal replacement bars and are around 400 cals each, so I cut them into halves or thirds for snacks.  I also love the Pure Protein bars in Chocolate Peanut Butter and Smores.  Those are around 180-190 cals each with 20g protein.

My ice cream replacement is a scoop of chocolate protein powder and frozen strawberries blended into a smoothie.

Don't forget edamame (soybeans).  They are delicious with just a sprinkling of salt and black pepper.

I think I get a majority of my protein from cottage cheese, chicken breasts, tuna fish (<-I could live off tuna), almond slices, and Kashi Go Lean.  Pretty boring, but I'm always looking for new protein sources.

I too like the pure protein bars. If you are into Beef jerky Like products there is something called OS-TRIM check em out.

I get mine mostly out of eggs (hard-boiled), tuna, and Muscle Milk (2 scoops mixed in water is 32g protein/300cal).  When I'm trying to boost it I adjust something in there.  Guess I'm kinda boring too!

Quinoa and salmon are my favourites.

Don't forget turkey and shrimp.  May I suggest a nice chicken, shrimp, vegetable stir fry?  How about some unsalted, dry roasted peanuts?

Do you consider lean pork red or white meat (it's the "other" white meat). :)

I like the EAS 100% whey protein powder (chocolate) and drink one of those myoplex shakes after a workout.  For protein bars, I like GNCs Procrunch brand, but those may not be high enough protein for you.

Search for "protein" in the CC food search tool and look at the pie charts to estimate > 60% for each item.  60-80% protein is challenging,  good luck.

Most 'protein' bars I have seen are at least 1/2 carbs.  I am currently eating GNC's cinnamon almond crunch bar, which is only about 1/3 protein, more than 1/2 carbs, but it is really good.  Especially if you like cinnamon as much as I do.  If I am feeling serious about protein, I like making shakes with skim milk and protein powder but even that is only about 50% protein.

60-80% protein seems really high to me.  I am trying for 50% and really struggling to eat something resembling a balanced diet with that much protein.  To hit 80% you would have to eat nothing but low fat meats and egg whites.

the most AMAZING protein bar in the WORLD (according to me) is the APEX Chocolate chip cookie dough. They are kinda pricey though, cheapest I've found them was 17.99 for a box of 12.

And you gotta love the first four ingredients

Ingredients: High fructose corn syrup, sugar, corn syrup, high maltose corn syrup

I guess that's how they taste so amazing!

And I LOVE beans. My trainer gave me a fabulous salad recipe

1 to 1-1/2 cups Spinach

2oz tuna

1/2 cup beans (I use kidney)

2 tbsp Salsa

1 oz shredded mozzerella

and she had vinagrette and avacado on there too, but I don't like vinagrette, and you really don't need it with the salsa, and avacado doesn't keep well so I just don't bother with that... but oh my gosh it's only like 300 cals, and it's delicious and filling and awesome.

And at my grocery store they used to have this amazing fruit-flavored tofu. I put it in smoothies. It was glorious. Don't have it anymore though :[[[[ Maybe I'll try regular silken tofu.... hmmm

I am a vegetarian on a high protein diet. After looking around for a while I found TVP granules from Bob's mill. I rehydrate them in the sauce/broth I plan on cooking with and add it to all my meals. It soaks up all the liquid and thickens the soups. It has 8g protein in every 1/4c serving.

Chili made with lean ground turkey and lots of beans.  I also drink protein water occasionally, I like the pink lemonade Special K2O water best.

Good luck!

Snehathle- do you find this TVP in the grocery store? Ours has Bob's Red Mill items, it is dry, correct?

Thanks (I am mostly veg and trying to increase protein without eating meat or poultry)

Thanks for all the suggestions.  Will be scouring the grocery store for the beans and tvp granules :-)

i do not eat protein bars but i do have this snack bar i take to work with me called "apple soy rocks", it has 10g protein... but i will usually eat chicken every day, on the weekends if FH and i go out to eat i will get fish like salmon... also eat yogurt as a snack, ff cheese on my sandwiches, skim milk in my coffee, etc..

Pure Protein bars have 20g of protein.  They run about 180-200 calories.  Give them a try...you can find them in a walmart.

80% or even 60% protein is extremely high and definatley unessessary. Maybe shoot for 30-35% (still really high)? Either way, here are some great, protein-rich foods that do not contain many or any carbs.

• Canned tuna packed in water (preferably unsalted)
• Lean white fish
• Salmon (the fats are all good)
• Shellfish
• Chicken breast trimmed of all fat
• Lean ground turkey or chicken breast
• Low-fat cottage cheese (choose low-salt)
• Greek yogurt
• Low-fat cheeses
• Isolated whey or soy protein powders
• Egg whites
• Tofu and tempeh
• TVP (although it's highly processed and not all that healthy)

For my goals....60-80% is pretty standard.

You can find the TVP in the grocery store in a  dry granule form or in frozen food section already cooked. You can find it online too.

I am on a very high protein diet too... roughly 60 to 80 % as well! I am obsessed with grass-fed red meats... and while I see you do not eat beef... what about game like bison, elk, ostrich, venison...? All super high in protein & lean & "mean" ha ha! Also how about fish? Fish is my staple, especially salmon, mackerel, tuna, sable fish, eel, shrimp, scallops, sardines, clams, oysters, lobsters, trout, etc.