Q: I always struggle to get enough protein in my diet. Do you have any suggestions for me??

Protein does tend to be the one macronutrient that many people do often struggle to get in because it’s not nearly as readily available as carbohydrates or dietary fats are.

Protein Powders

The first thing to consider here is investing in a high quality whey protein powder, as that will go a long way towards helping you get more protein in. By adding one or two shakes during the day, you can easily bump up your protein intake closer to 25-50 grams, making it that much easier to meet your requirements.

Remember you can also add protein powder to many of the foods you’re eating as well, such as mixing it into a bowl of oatmeal, stirring it into yogurt or cottage cheese, adding it to your baked goods in replacement of some of the flour, or even mixing half a shake mixed with water into your coffee for a high protein mocha instead.

Protein Sources

Past protein powder, some other simple ways to get more protein include adding some cooked shrimps on top of your usual salad, making your oatmeal with skim milk rather than water, snacking on a can of tuna with a whole wheat tortilla rather than your usual energy bar, or making a fruit smoothie with some Greek yogurt, frozen fruit, and skim milk.

If you try and get a little more creative in the kitchen and look for little ways to add more meat, eggs, or dairy products into your usual meals, you’ll find that getting sufficient protein really isn’t all that difficult.

It would also be a good idea to consider preparing a big batch of grilled chicken breasts over the weekend and then freezing them for individual use as well as that will further help ease rushed meals during the week.

Getting your protein needs met is vital and with these tips, you should be well on your way to accomplishing that task.