These days, it seems like everyone in the wellness world is waxing poetic about protein.
You may have noticed that grocery stores are now full of new protein-packed products. Yes, protein is certainly the current nutrition darling. Overall, this is a positive shift in focus. Eating enough protein is an essential part of healthy aging and getting stronger with time—after all, our muscles are literally built of the stuff.
While protein is well known for its muscle-building role, that’s far from its only function. Protein is present in every cell in the human body and plays an important role in bone, joint, and skin health, not to mention supporting the immune system. Protein also promotes satiety to make sure we remain feeling full, no matter where the day takes us.
When you prioritize protein, you’re giving your body the tools it needs to feel strong, recover better, and stay satisfied for longer, so it’s important that we are consciously making sure we are eating enough protein each day. Luckily, there are plenty of nutritious animal- and plant-based foods that make it easy to go bigger on protein from morning to night.
Want some high-protein inspiration to muscle up your meals? From breakfast to dinner to the snacks in between, these protein-rich recipes are easy to make, full of nutrition, and undeniably delicious.
Whipped Cheesecake Bowls with Peanut and Granola Crumble
Creamy, crunchy, and packed with protein, this big bowl of nutrition is morning satisfaction. The sweet potato provides the whipped cottage cheese with plenty of natural sweetness. Both the whipped cheese and granola can be made up to three3 days in advance.
Edamame Falafel Pitas
These falafel pitas have protein in spades and are a good way to break out of a midday sandwich rut. Edamame stands in for chickpeas, and tofu serves as the backbone of the creamy sauce to create a delicious lunch. Baking the falafels instead of frying them in generous amounts of oil creates a lighter meal that saves on calories. Both the falafels and sauce can be prepared up to four days in advance.
Chicken Caprese Pasta
This dish combines pasta with the classic flavors of a Caprese salad, including bocconcini, tomatoes, and basil, all of which are tossed in a balsamic dressing. Chunks of chicken give the dish a protein edge, while roasted tomatoes enhance its inherent sweetness. All of this recipe’s elements can be made ahead of time and assembled for a meal.
Salmon-Salad Cucumber Boats
These whimsical cucumber boats are a refreshing high-protein snack option for all generations of a household. They can also serve as an appetizer to bring to parties and potlucks.
Meaty Bean Loaf with Maple Glaze
This recipe is just as satisfying and protein-dense as regular meatloaf, but without the meat. Most grocery stores now carry a variety of meatless ground products that are a great way to add plant-based protein to this loaf without needing to rely solely on beans—which can make meat-free loaves taste too beany. The seasonings, umami-laced tomato paste, and sweet grated carrot round out this dish’s flavor profile.
This collection originally appeared on alive.com as “Going Pro.”
