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Meatless Challenge Day 5: Find Out How Much Protein You Need Each Day

By Kerri-Ann Jennings, May 3, 2012 - 12:07pm

A common concern when people cut back on—or eliminate—meat from their diet is whether they are getting enough protein. But actually, as long as you have a varied diet it’s not hard to get enough protein, especially if you’re eating milk and eggs. In general, most people need 0.8 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 gram per pound. To account for differences in the way the body processes plant proteins, nutrition experts sometimes up this a bit—to 1 g/kg or 0.45 g/lb—for vegans. (You can easily meet these needs by including some source of protein—beans and other legumes, whole grains, nuts, fortified “milks”—at every meal and snack.)

Find out why vegetarian protein sources are healthier for you and the environment.

*Make sure to visit the Meatless Challenge page to participate in today’s Lundberg giveaway.

What are your favorite vegetarian protein sources? Tell us what you think below.

TAGS: Kerri-Ann Jennings, Meatless Challenge

Kerri-Ann Jennings is a registered dietitian with a master's degree in nutrition from Columbia University. She is the former associate nutrition editor for EatingWell Magazine.