The Power of Protein

Getting enough protein is as important as drinking enough water or getting enough sleep. It's fundamental for any healthy, active lifestyle.

Protein is an essential nutrient made up of building blocks—amino acids—that your body needs to build and repair body tissue, help support your immune system, make hormones, and produce energy. And there's more—as part of a healthy diet, lean-protein foods can help keep you feeling full, which can help keep calories in balance.

Is Your Protein Complete?

For your body to get the most from protein, your protein sources must provide all nine indispensable amino acids.

Complete Proteins

Protein sources that contain all nine indispensable amino acids are referred to as "complete proteins" or "high-quality proteins." Complete proteins are from animal sources and can be found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Incomplete Proteins

Proteins from plants, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables are deficient in one or more of the indispensable amino acids and are called "incomplete proteins." If you rely on plant protein, you must consume a variety of plant foods to get all of your essential amino acids. Combining beans or legumes with grains—i.e., rice and beans, corn and beans, and peanut butter and bread—will help you get all of your amino acids.

Pursuing Protein?

Look no further than Healthy Choice Café Steamers™—all 14 are a good source of protein. Our Roasted Beef Merlot boasts 17 grams!

Packed with Protein

Most Americans eat more than their basic requirement of protein, which is about 50 grams a day. Your actual protein needs may vary from this average amount. If you're curious, one way to figure out a more personalized daily protein amount is to multiply your ideal body weight (in pounds) by 0.4.

Some people need more protein than others. For example, vegans (those who consume no animal products), people on reduced-calorie diets, and elite athletes or people engaged in heavy physical training typically need more protein than the average person.

Check the chart below for some protein sources and their respective protein amounts:

Foods with 20 to 25 Grams of Protein

Hamburger, 1 small
Steak, 3 ounces
Pork chop, 1 small
Tuna, 3 ounces
Turkey, 3 ounces
Chicken, 1/2 breast

Foods with 7 to 8 Grams of Protein

Yogurt, 6 ounces
Nuts, 1 ounce
Sunflower seeds, 1 ounce
Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons
Legumes (kidney beans, pinto beans), 1/2 cup
Egg, 1 large
Milk, 1 cup
Cheese, 1 ounce

Foods with 2 to 3 Grams of Protein

Bread, 1 slice
Bun, 1/2
Rice, 1/3 cup
Ready-to-eat cereal, 3/4 cup
Bagel, 1/2 small
Pasta, 1/2 cup
Potato, 1 medium
Vegetables, 1/2 cup

Healthy Choice and Protein

Many Healthy Choice meals feature protein as a major player. Fresh Mixers™, Café Steamers, Select Entrées, and Soups are all considered good sources of protein, while our Complete Meals are considered an excellent source. For those looking for meatless protein options, we offer Pumpkin Squash Ravioli, Sweet Asian Potstickers, Tomato Basil Penne, and Mediterranean Pasta All Natural Entrées.

To give you some perspective, most Café Steamers have at least 15 grams of protein per serving, and our Grilled Chicken Marinara boasts 21 grams. Plus, all of our Café Steamers are made without preservatives! Another great way to sneak in extra protein is to try our Bean & Ham Soup, which serves up 11 grams of protein and only 180 calories per 1-cup serving.

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	The Healthy Choice Difference \| Our Health Partners The Power of Protein Getting enough protein is as important as drinking enough water or getting enough sleep. It's fundamental for any healthy, active lifestyle. Protein is an essential nutrient made up of building blocks—amino acids—that your body needs to build and repair body tissue, help support your immune system, make hormones, and produce energy. And there's more—as part of a healthy diet, lean-protein foods can help keep you feeling full, which can help keep calories in balance. Is Your Protein Complete? For your body to get the most from protein, your protein sources must provide all nine indispensable amino acids. Complete Proteins Protein sources that contain all nine indispensable amino acids are referred to as "complete proteins" or "high-quality proteins." Complete proteins are from animal sources and can be found in meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, and yogurt. Incomplete Proteins Proteins from plants, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables are deficient in one or more of the indispensable amino acids and are called "incomplete proteins." If you rely on plant protein, you must consume a variety of plant foods to get all of your essential amino acids. Combining beans or legumes with grains—i.e., rice and beans, corn and beans, and peanut butter and bread—will help you get all of your amino acids. Pursuing Protein? Look no further than Healthy Choice Café Steamers™—all 14 are a good source of protein. Our Roasted Beef Merlot boasts 17 grams! Packed with Protein Most Americans eat more than their basic requirement of protein, which is about 50 grams a day. Your actual protein needs may vary from this average amount. If you're curious, one way to figure out a more personalized daily protein amount is to multiply your ideal body weight (in pounds) by 0.4. Some people need more protein than others. For example, vegans (those who consume no animal products), people on reduced-calorie diets, and elite athletes or people engaged in heavy physical training typically need more protein than the average person. Check the chart below for some protein sources and their respective protein amounts: Foods with 20 to 25 Grams of Protein Hamburger, 1 small Steak, 3 ounces Pork chop, 1 small Tuna, 3 ounces Turkey, 3 ounces Chicken, 1/2 breast Foods with 7 to 8 Grams of Protein Yogurt, 6 ounces Nuts, 1 ounce Sunflower seeds, 1 ounce Peanut butter, 2 tablespoons Legumes (kidney beans, pinto beans), 1/2 cup Egg, 1 large Milk, 1 cup Cheese, 1 ounce Foods with 2 to 3 Grams of Protein Bread, 1 slice Bun, 1/2 Rice, 1/3 cup Ready-to-eat cereal, 3/4 cup Bagel, 1/2 small Pasta, 1/2 cup Potato, 1 medium Vegetables, 1/2 cup Healthy Choice and Protein Many Healthy Choice meals feature protein as a major player. Fresh Mixers™, Café Steamers, Select Entrées, and Soups are all considered good sources of protein, while our Complete Meals are considered an excellent source. For those looking for meatless protein options, we offer Pumpkin Squash Ravioli, Sweet Asian Potstickers, Tomato Basil Penne, and Mediterranean Pasta All Natural Entrées. To give you some perspective, most Café Steamers have at least 15 grams of protein per serving, and our Grilled Chicken Marinara boasts 21 grams. Plus, all of our Café Steamers are made without preservatives! Another great way to sneak in extra protein is to try our Bean & Ham Soup, which serves up 11 grams of protein and only 180 calories per 1-cup serving.
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