One hot topic that’s always popular to talk about, no matter what time of year, is protein. With the focus on high-protein diets, the subject of protein always comes up.

Let’s talk about plant-based protein. Plant-based protein foods contain lots of vitamins, minerals and are loaded with antioxidants. Incorporating them into your diet can improve gut health, prevent against heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and decrease the risk of cancer.

You don’t need to be a vegetarian to get the benefits of plant-based protein. I recommend you try decreasing the amount of meat you eat per week. If you eat animal protein (red meat, chicken, turkey, eggs, fish) three times per day, try meat only once a day. Or give it a whirl and just eat animal protein 2-3 times per week. There are no hard and fast rules. Here are some plant-based superfoods.

Plant-Based Protein Foods

• Beans, lentils, split peas (½ cup=8-9 grams of protein)
• Edamame (½ cup=11 grams of protein)
• Soy milk (1 cup= 8 grams of protein)
• Tempeh (3 ounces=16 grams of protein)
• Tofu (3 ounces=14 grams of protein)
• Sunflower seeds (¼ cup=6 grams of protein)
• Nuts (¼ cup=7 grams of protein)
• Nut butter (2 tablespoons=7 grams of protein)