Top 4 Healthy ‘Non-Meat’ Protein Sources

Adequate protein intake is essential for any diet, and while beef and chicken are wonderful sources of protein, there are so many other ways to give your meals a protein boost.

If you are looking for more ways to incorporate protein into your diet, here are some of our favorite non-red meat protein sources!

Eggs
When shopping for eggs look for pastured and organic. These are very easy to find in most grocery stores. Vital Farms is a great option. 

Raw A-2 Dairy

Cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, and milk. Take a look at your local Whole Foods or health food store for grass-fed, A2 options, if you cannot find any available try your local farmer’s market. 

Fish

While by definition fish is technically considered “meat”, it can be a great protein source for those avoiding red-meat and chicken for dietary reasons, religious reasons, or otherwise. You want to look for cold water, wild-caught, the smaller the better. Anchovy, sardines, salmon, halibut, cod are great options, as well as small tuna on occasion, but it MUST be tested free of mercury! Safe Catch brand is a great choice and can be found in grocery stores or on Thrive Market.

Nuts, Seeds, Beans, Legumes

Sprouted and/or soaked. Thrive Market has so many great options for soaked, sprouted nuts & seeds, your local health food store will most likely have a variety of options as well. 

Bonus: Soaked/sprouted, NON-GMO, non-hybridized grains may be an option for some, but they are also high-carb options and carbs can cause inflammation and high insulin response. Depending on what your body can tolerate, grains may be an option for a high-carb day.