Protein is an essential component in our diets and iscommonly associated with meat, such as fish and poultry. While meat iscertainly an obvious choice for protein, it’s not always the best, and forthose who are vegan or vegetarian it isn’t even an option. For those who chooseto follow a meat-free diet, they will need to be more conscious of how theywill be supplementing the proteins they would consume if they were to be eatingmeat. 

Further, it is important for those who are carnivores that they are consuminga balanced protein diet. In the era of quick easy meals many don’t have time tospend hours in the kitchen and as a result, most of those quick meals picked-upat the grocery store are highly processed carbohydrates. According to theHarvard School of Public Health website article “Nutrition Source: What ShouldYou Eat,” cutting back on processed carbohydrates and raising the amount ofprotein you take in can help to lower your chances of having a heart attack,stroke, or other cardiovascular diseases.

Meaning, it is essential to lowerthose processed carbohydrates and attempt to eat more fresh fruits, vegetables,nuts, and seeds such as, the types of food that can be found in nature or homegrown which, are considered unprocessed carbohydrates. Take advantage of your local farmer’smarket. Unlike the fruits and vegetable found at grocery stores which,typically travel thousands of miles to get there, the farmer’s market iscomprised of locally grown items that don't leave quite as large of a carbonfoot print.

If your farmer’s market isn’t open be conscious of the types oflocal fruits and vegetables that are in season in your area because they’remost likely the kinds of items that haven’t traveled thousands of miles to siton your dinner table. Check out this vegetarian protein snack recipe for anedamame (1/2 C. contains 11g of protein) and chickpea salad listed below.