When it comes to making healthier meals, it can be boring eating the same thing over and over again. Everything tastes the same, but adding any kind of variety may throw off your schedule and calorie counting.
This is especially important if you’re trying to build muscle while trying to lose weight. Protein becomes a necessary part of your every day meal, but perhaps you’re looking for better sources of protein that aren’t red meat. Well, there’s no need to worry any longer, here are 4 great sources of protein to add to your dinners that will make them more interesting.
- Seaweed
Seaweed is a protein rich food that not many people think of. You may think that the only way to eat seaweed is in the form of sushi, but it can be incorporated into any salad or meal that you have. For every cup of seaweed, there’s at last two to nine grams of protein, so it’s definitely not to be overlooked.
Seaweed is rich in other vital vitamins and minerals as well, so it’s still a great thing to add to any meal, even if you’re not trying to lose weight. Another great thing about seaweed is that it’s naturally salty, so you won’t have to add as much when preparing your meals. This means less chances of hypertension or dehydration.
- Spinach
Just like seaweed, spinach is also rich in protein. In just one cup, you’ll get at least five grams of protein. You can incorporate it into a simple salad or cook it into anything that you like. Shred it up and mixed it into rice, add it to a plate of steamed fish, or just add it to a smoothie if you want a pick-me-up after dinner. It works better and tastes better than any protein powder you have lying around.
If you’re not a fan of spinach, then any dark green leafy vegetable will also work in providing you with the protein that you need. Experiment with a few to see which ones you like best.
- Artichoke Hearts
One cup of artichoke hearts has as much as 4 grams of protein, so that’s definitely not something to laugh at. They can be used as toppings for many different dishes, or they can be eaten on their own, roasted with some wonderful seasonings.
Artichokes are easy to peel and prepare, but if you want a faster way of making dinner, they also come in canned and jarred forms. Just be aware of the salt content so that you’re not counteracting its beneficial properties.
- Wild Rice
White rice is a good staple for any meal, but you’ll have a much richer palate of flavors with wild rice. It has more fiber and a great texture that you won’t find with regular rice. The downside is that it does take much longer to cook than other kinds of rice, but each serving of rice has about 6 grams of protein.
The best way to cook wild rice is like pasta, so have a fine strainer ready to drain it once it’s done. It perfectly compliments any meal as a side dish, or you can make it be the star of the show with other added seasonings and ingredients to make it a meal all on its own.
Staying healthy shouldn’t have to be burdensome, nor should it be boring. Finding unique sources of protein will keep things interesting and feeling full for much longer throughout the day.
