The P word

Me: I’m plant-based, I don’t eat meat.
Them: Where do you get your protein?
Me: From plants.
Them: But do you get enough?
Me: Yes.
Them: I’m pretty sure you need to eat meat to get enough protein.
Me: I’ve never eaten meat in my life, so if that were true, I would have known by now.

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had this conversation, you would not be reading this email because I would be very rich and on vacation ALL. THE. TIME. Actually, I would still probably email you every Saturday because I love helping you eat more plants.

But back to the topic at hand. Protein, protein, protein.

I might be co-dependent, a tad defensive when upset, and overly self-conscious, but damn it, protein-deficient I am not. That’s because I eat a wide variety of whole plant foods, and I eat enough calories. I even go to a pretty hardcore weight-lifting class two or three times a week, and I STILL get enough protein. 💪

And get this: I don’t count macros. Or take protein powder. 

There are lots of awesome people out there who do these things, and I’m not throwing shade or saying it’s wrong, it’s just that for myself, I’ve never felt the need. Macro nutrients are fat, protein, and carbohydrates, and when eating a whole-food plant-based diet, you get plenty of all of them.

I focus on buying and batching a good variety of whole and minimally-processed plant-based foods each week and shovel all the delicious food into my mouth three times a day. I follow our meal plans, I take a vitamin B12 supplement, I work out, I get good sleep, and I drink enough water.

And repeat.

You might be wondering, yeah, but how do you know you’re getting enough protein?

😌 I feel damn good
⚡ I have a ton of energy
🏃 I’m super active
🧪 My labs and checkups are always on point
💪 My body is strong
🎯 That’s all I need to know.

I’m not stressed about what to eat or not eat or how much. In a world that can feel stressful, out of control and uncertain, food freedom is a welcome relief and safe haven.

Bottom line: If you eat a wide variety of plants, including plenty of the protein all-stars, like beans, legumes, and soy products, and eat enough calories, getting adequate protein should not be an issue for you. That said, it’s good to be informed, and this topic comes up a ton, so we’ve put together a super informative post for you all about protein. Check it out here and share it with at least one of your plant-munching or plant-curious friends!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, filled with ease and yummy plant-powered food.

Molly