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In the typical FDA recommended daily diet, only around 10 to 15 percent of calories come from high-protein food sources. In a high-protein diet, you should ideally get as much as 30 to 50 percent of your daily calories from high-quality, high-protein food.
A high-protein diet doesn't mean you should eat only protein. You should still consume carbohydrates in moderate amounts and even fat in very small amounts. -
There are a wide variety of high-quality, high-protein foods available to anyone looking to go on a high-protein diet.
Meat is a natural source of protein. Lean cuts of steak, skinless white chicken and other poultry, pork tenderloin (which, surprisingly, is considered a white meat) and almost any kind of fish will deliver the high-quality protein you're looking for while still being low in saturated fat.
Other foods that are naturally high in protein and low in saturated and trans fats include eggs (one per day), soy products such as tofu and soy burgers, most kinds of beans and low-fat milk and dairy products. -
It wouldn't be healthy to eat only high-protein foods. Here are some foods that will fill your plate without compromising the spirit of your diet.
A high-protein diet should contain three to four servings of grains every day. Since this is less than the typical five to six servings, make sure the grains you do eat are whole grains high in fiber. Stay clear of white bread and pasta, and pick out whole grain bread, cereal, and pastas which are naturally high in fiber.
Fruits and vegetables should be part of any well-balanced diet, and a high-protein diet is no exception. They are packed with vitamins and minerals and contain nothing that will compromise your high-protein diet.
