Where’s the protein?

May 28, 2019

The protein topic is so interesting to me. It is also the topic I hear the most questions about when people are considering adopting a plant-based or plant-strong lifestyle.

In a nutshell- animal protein IS in fact the more EFFICIENT protein source for the human body. This is due to the amino acid structure of animals looking more like our amino acid structure. Making animal protein the easier/faster way to get protein. This info (e.g. “efficient,” “easier,” “faster”) is why as a society we’ve been misguided to believe that meat is an essential part of a healthy diet.

However, here is what’s not talked about… “EFFICIENT” does not mean “HEALTHY.” Animal protein may be efficient at promoting muscle growth, but it also does and pretty fantastic job promoting growth of other things like cancer, fat cells, “bad” gut bacteria and more. The science on that is indisputable. The health consequences of consuming animal or plant protein cannot be more different.

We know that protein consumption is a concern for many folks embarking on a more plant-based lifestyle. A beautiful aspect about a diet rich in whole foods is that your recommended daily intake (RDI) of protein is almost always met effortlessly. This is because protein is found in all vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

We always take your protein needs into consideration when creating our Vito and Vera dishes. Let’s take a look at our Winter Quinoa Power Bowl, for example. The base of this bowl is quinoa, a complete plant-based protein. This superfood is not only high in protein (8g per cup) but also packs other nutrients including fiber, potassium and iron. This bowl boasts a cornucopia of plant-based goodness… Caramelized sweet potato coins, local carrot strips, avocado and assorted greens on a warm bed of quinoa topped with crispy chili lime chickpeas and creamy coriander dressing. This symphony of organic, locally-grown plant ingredients provides a big protein punch with a rich nutrient profile.

by Alicia Watson