5 Natural Ways To Pack Protein Into Your Meals

@erinpalinskiwade

If you’re starting up a new fitness routine and meal plan, or you know you’re just not getting enough protein, reaching your daily requirement can be surprisingly tough. These protein-packed foods are the perfect solution to any deficit you’re encountering. Just be sure to incorporate them in a smart way and pair them with complex carbs for a healthy, complete diet.

1. Give your favorite nachos a makeover by adding whole wheat flatbread and tons of black beans. 

One favorite in our house is nachos, but the traditional nacho isn’t exactly the most nutritious choice to indulge in each day. That’s why I gave it a makeover to boost the fiber, protein, and nutrient content of our nachos while still making sure they taste as great as they always have! The secret ingredient is swapping out standard tortilla chips for chips made from @flatoutbread ProteinUP Flatbread. These flatbreads are packed full of whole grains, protein, and fiber while being reduced in carbohydrate. They made the perfect addition to this nacho recipe. I can’t wait for you to give it a try and tell me what you think! #client #sponsored Protein Powered Vegetarian Low Carb Nachos INGREDIENTS 2 Flatout ProteinUp Flatbreads ½ cup shredded part-skim cheddar cheese ½ cup black beans, canned and drained 1/3 cup diced fresh tomatoes 1/3 cup diced onions 1/3 cup diced bell peppers 4 tbsp canned tomatillo salsa (salsa verde) 4 slices of jarred, pickled jalapeños 1 Tbs canned sliced black olives ¼ tsp chopped cilantro 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin Olive oil spray A pinch of pepper A pinch of salt Directions: Preheat oven to 300 F. Using a pizza cutter, slice the flatbread into chip-sized pieces. Place chips onto a lined baked sheet (you can line with parchment paper or foil). Spray evenly with olive oil spray. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until crispy. As chips are baking in the oven, in a small bowl mix together diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, jalapenos, and black beans along with the salsa, cilantro, and cumin. Remove chips from oven and spread mixture evenly over top. Sprinkle shredded cheese and olives over mixture and return to the oven. Make for another 2-4 minutes until the cheese has melted. Serve warm with a side of salsa, sour cream, or guacamole. #healthynachos #proteinpackedsnacks #proteinpackedmeals #vegetariannachos #diabetesfriendlymeals #diabetesrecipe #proteinrecipe #bbgrecipe #bbgmoms #weightlossrecipe #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #fitgirlsfollow #fitmeals #fitsnacks #t1d #t2d

A post shared by Erin Palinski-Wade RD, CDE (@erinpalinskiwade) on Jul 27, 2016 at 3:21pm PDT

Get the recipe at Kblog. 

2. Make a parfait with your choice of berries, Greek yogurt and low-sugar granola.

Layering is a little messy but still a really good post-yoga snack!! #berryparfait 😌

A post shared by Nikki Barnes (@nikkicbarnes) on Feb 23, 2017 at 9:51am PST

Get the recipe at Sweet Peas And Saffron. 

3. Make your ordinary turkey sandwich “turbo” by adding a hefty 3 oz of turkey or preferred sliced meat on whole grain bread. 

Turkey avocado and wasabi sandwich for a perfectly light lunch NUTRITION INFO: 🔎320 calories 💪🏼17 grams of protein 💩8 grams of fiber ⚡️as much as 50% your daily vitamin C needs INGREDIENTS: 🌱2 slices St-Methode sprouted wheat bread 🌱50 grams turkey bread 🌱1/3 large avocado 🌱5 sliced cherry tomatoes 🌱1/2 cup homegrown alfalfa sprouts 🌱1 tsp Dijon mustard 🌱1 tsp margarine 🌱1/8 tsp wasabi paste diluted in 1 tsp water PREPARATION: 🔪Spread the Dijon on a slice of the bread and the margarine on the other 🔪layer the avocado on the dijon-ned slice and the turkey + alfalfa + the tomatoes on the other and top it with the wasabi 🔪close the sandwich and enjoy!! #wasabi #wasabiturkeysandwich #healthyturkeysandwich #avocado #alfalfa #alfalfasprouts

A post shared by By Racha Najmeh, P.Dt. (@thenewtritionist) on Oct 9, 2015 at 1:58pm PDT

Get the recipe at Men’s Health. 

4. Up your protein by adding salmon and beans to your salad.

With a name like Predator, you can only assume that this salad is going to be protein heavy. Construct your own salad with Snatch, choose from different sizings like Rouge, Predator or Hero with options like ribeye steak, ahi tuna, salmon, chicken thigh and a whole range of supplements from egg white to quinoa! On #deliveroosg

A post shared by Deliveroo Singapore (@deliveroo_sg) on Nov 13, 2016 at 8:32pm PST

Get the recipe at Kraft Recipes. 

5. Sneak some protein into your sweets by adding natural peanut butter and rolled oats.

Batch of PB protein balls on deck… 🥜🍫🍯

A post shared by Gluten Free Foodie 🌶🍸 (@li_gf_foodie_mamma) on Feb 13, 2017 at 6:47pm PST

Get the recipe at Texanerin.