Good morning, Ruby,
There are two important words when it comes to your meals and nutrition: variety and planning!
But these words are even MORE important if you eat a plant-based (aka vegan) diet.
That’s why today I’m going to lay out a few basic tips to help you get more out of the plant-based protein you eat.
Because when you eat a plant-based diet …
Not only do you have to make sure you eat foods that add up to enough protein for your needs (along with vitamin B12, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and other micronutrients hard to find in plant foods) …
You have to add a little extra because most plant proteins aren’t as easy for your body to use.
This is because most plant proteins are “incomplete.” This means they don’t have all the essential amino acids to form a complete protein for your body to use.
Here are a few strategies to help you maximize your protein intake when you’re eating a plant-based diet: