When you’re looking to increase the protein in your diet, plan each meal with a protein source in mind.
If you’re aiming to eat more protein without overdoing it or losing sight of other nutritional needs, one of the easiest ways is to start tracking your food.
Meat, Poultry, and Game
Bacon, turkey (2 slices / 16 g): 5 g of protein
Beef, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 21 g of protein
Bison, cooked and ground (3 oz / 85 g): 22 g of protein
Chicken breast, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 26 g of protein
Chicken thighs, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 21 g of protein
Duck, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 20 g of protein
Ground turkey, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 23 g of protein
Italian sausage, cooked (1 link / 75 g): 14 g of protein
Lamb, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 21 g of protein
Pork, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 22 g of protein
Pork chops, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 23 g of protein
Quail, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 21 g of protein
Rabbit, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 27 g of protein
Turkey breast, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 26 g of protein
Veal, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 22 g of protein
Venison, cooked (3 oz / 85 g): 24 g of protein
Dairy & Eggs
Cheddar cheese (1 oz / 28 g): 7 g of protein
Cottage cheese (1/2 cup / 112 g): 13 g of protein
Eggs, whole (1 large): 6 g of protein
Feta cheese (1 oz / 28 g): 4 g of protein
Greek yogurt, plain (6 oz / 170 g): 17 g of protein
Ice cream, vanilla (1 cup / 135 g): 5 g of protein
Kefir (1 cup / 240 mL): 8-11 g of protein
Milk (1 cup / 240 mL): 8 g of protein
Mozzarella cheese (1 oz / 28 g): 7 g of protein
Parmesan cheese (1 oz / 28 g): 10 g of protein
Ricotta cheese (1/2 cup / 124 g): 12 g of protein
Swiss cheese (1 oz / 28 g): 8 g of protein
Yogurt, plain (1 cup / 245 g): 13 g of protein
Nuts and Seeds
Almonds (1 oz / 28 g): 6 g of protein
Chia seeds (2 tbsp / 28 g): 5 g of protein
Flaxseeds (2 tbsp / 14 g): 3 g of protein
Hemp seeds (3 tbsp / 30 g): 9 g of protein
Nuts (mixed, 1 oz / 28 g): 5 g of protein
Pistachios (1 oz / 28 g): 6 g of protein
Pumpkin seeds (1 oz / 28 g): 8 g of protein
Sunflower seeds (1 oz / 28 g): 6 g of protein
Walnuts (1 oz / 28 g): 4 g of protein
Grains and Pseudograins
Amaranth, cooked (1 cup / 246 g): 9 g of protein
Buckwheat, cooked (1 cup / 168 g): 6 g of protein
Bulgur wheat, cooked (1 cup / 182 g): 6 g of protein
Farro, cooked (1 cup / 195 g): 12 g of protein
Nutritional yeast (1 tbsp / 5 g): 2.5 g of protein
Oats, cooked (1 cup / 240 g): 5 g of protein
Quinoa, cooked (1 cup / 170 g): 8 g of protein
Teff, cooked (1 cup / 252 g): 10 g of protein
Udon noodles, cooked (1 cup / 180 g): 7 g of protein
Ziti pasta, cooked (1 cup / 140 g): 8 g of protein
Vegetables
Asparagus, cooked (1 cup / 180 g): 4 g of protein
Black-eyed peas, cooked (1/2 cup / 93 g): 7 g of protein 93g /7g protein
Broccoli, cooked (1 cup / 156 g): 4 g of protein
Eggplant, cooked (1 cup /95 g): 1 g of protein
Green peas, cooked (1 cup / 160 g): 9 g of protein
Jicama (1 cup / 130 g): 1 g of protein
Kale, cooked (1 cup / 130 g): 4 g of protein
Mushroom, white (1 cup/155g0g 5.6 g of protein
Peas, cooked (1/2 cup /80 g): 4 g of protein
Spinach, cooked (1 cup / 180 g): 6 g of protein
Watercress, raw (1 cup / 34 g): 1 g of protein
Zucchini, cooked (1 cup / 180 g): 2 g of protein
Legumes
Black beans, cooked (1/2 cup / 90 g): 8 g of protein
Chickpeas, cooked (1/2 cup / 90 g): 8 g of protein
Edamame, cooked (1/2 cup / 78 g): 8 g of protein
Garbanzo beans (1/2 cup / 90 g): 8 g of protein
Kidney beans, cooked (1/2 cup / 90 g): 7 g of protein
Lentils, cooked (1/2 cup / 90 g): 9 g of protein
Lima beans, cooked (1/2 cup / 90 g): 5 g of protein
Red lentils, cooked (1/2 cup / 90 g): 9 g of protein
Fruits
Avocado, one fruit (150 g): 3 g of protein
Banana, one fruit (126 g): 1 g of protein
Dates, dried (1/4 cup / 40 g): 1 g of protein
Jackfruit (1 cup / 178 g): 4 g of protein