25 High Protein Foods I Eat the Most – List
I got a text from a friend recently asking me for a list of high protein foods to eat. While many people are interested in ways to get more protein in their diet, this friend is pregnant with twins!
I’m a huge fan of balance in eating from all the food groups. However, a list of protein ideas is right up there next to veggies as the food group that people struggle to get enough ideas. Fruit and grains are a cinch to eat enough of, but protein and vegetables take planning and attention!
I do like to keep a list of high protein foods to share with people because it can be as simple as selecting something from the list for each meal. Here are my 25 favorite sources of protein in order of how often I eat them!
The high protein food list
If you are looking for a comprehensive printable list of high protein foods with their calories and protein grams, print this one here!
- Eggs (egg whites, hard boiled, scrambled, omelets. I LOVE EGGS) 1 egg, has 7 grams, but egg whites have 4 grams per egg. They can add up fast without many calories. I like to eat a full cup of egg whites for breakfast)
- Greek yogurt 18-25 grams per cup
- Cottage cheese 18-25 grams per cup
- Chicken breasts 4 ounces 25 grams
- Rotisserie chicken (already cooked for you.)
- Steak (4 ounces 25 grams)
- Almonds (6 g per ounce)
- Ground turkey (22 g for 4 ounces)
- Beans (1 cup has 15 grams)
- Edamame (1 cup 17 grams)
- Lunch meat (2 ounces, 12 grams of protein)
- Protein pancakes (made with egg whites, cottage cheese, and oats 31 grams of protein for the full protein pancake recipe here!)
- Kodiak cakes (this pancake mix is high in protein)
- Protein powder/ protein bars (from 10-25 g protein, depending on the brand). I have lots of recipes with protein powder like protein crepes, protein ice cream, protein fluff, and my favorite homemade protein bars.
- Peanut butter powder (2 tablespoons, 8 grams) I’m going to do a post soon about using this, because I’ve been loving it for a low fat, high protein snack! This is the brand I use.
- String cheese (6 grams per ounce)
- Quinoa (1 cup 8 grams)
- Chickpeas (roasted are the best, or blended as hummus) 1 cup has 12 grams
- Tuna (1 can 25 grams)
- Peanut butter or almond butter (8 grams for 2 tablespoons)
- Salmon (4 ounces has 19 grams of protein)
- Tilapia (4 ounces has 20 grams of protein)
- Pork loin (4 ounces has 23 grams of protein)
- High protein breads (I love this one from Franz. It has 5 grams of protein per slice)
- Turkey jerky (last on the list because I never eat this, but for only 1 ounces 10 grams of protein!)
This list of high protein foods is just something to get you started. There are tons of other great foods that are high in protein. Let me know what high protein foods you like to eat often!
What I usually eat to get 100 grams of protein in my day
I recently wrote about my 1200 calorie day, and there was 116 grams of protein by the end of the day. You can see that 1200 calorie day here. But, usually, I try to get 25 grams spread out of four meals. A typical day will look like this:
- Eggs for breakfast (1 cup of egg whites plus one egg and toast 25 grams)
- Rotisserie chicken wrap (tortilla, shredded chicken 25 grams, cheese, mayo)
- Peanut butter and an apple (8 grams)
- Greek yogurt with fruit (22 grams)
- Stir fry (Steak and rice with veggies) 25 grams
^notice foods from my high protein foods list
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Printable protein list (40 foods included)
I have another list for you! This printable gives you ideas of foods to eat from each food group, including protein, that you can print and take to the grocery store! (Portion Plan Food List)This list and the high protein foods list will help you bring home foods for success!
Grab more free nutrition printables and worksheets here!
Thank U! sooooo helpful!
Hi,
If you aren’t lifting heavy weights and do mostly cardio and light weights, how much protein should you have per day? Is it still one 1:1 for body weight? Also, how do you weigh your meat? Cooked? If its 4 ounces cooked is that really 6 ounces?
Thanks!
Hi Lauren.You definitely don’t need that much protein in that situation. I’d probably say 0.80 g/lb of body weight.And yes- I try to measure raw, but if I don’t, I round up. So if my chicken weighs 4.1 ounces cooked, I’ll usually enter it as 5 ounces.
Amy
Thank you! I enjoy your posted information.
For what it is worth, mushrooms (shown on a vegetable plate) aren’t vegetables.
Cheers and keep up the good work!
Hello, thank you for your protein chart – will be very helpful as I attempt to increase my protein. I do have a question, however. Regarding eggs….the second column in the chart is “Grams of Protein.” For eggs, it says 13 grams. In the last column, it says 1 egg = 6g. Where is the 13 grams of protein coming from in that second column? Thank you.
I equated the chart for every item to be per 100grams.. So there would be a better comparison.So, the 13 grams of protein is for 100 grams of eggs by weight.Does that make sense?
Thank you for the explanation! I’ll go back and take another look at the chart.
I am allergic to chicken, turkey and fish. What other varieties of protein do you suggest most? If I were to purchase your 1200 CALORIE MEAL PLAN would you be able to customize it for my dietary restrictions? Please let me know. Thanks! Kelly
Hi Kelly,There is a ALOT of chicken and turkey in this meal plan. I do think it would be difficult to replace it for these meals. A vegetarian or vegan plan might be good for you. Have you ever looked into the shredded vegan’s meal plans?
Amy
How many eggs do you use to get one cup of egg whites?
Usually 7 or 8 eggs for 1 cup of whites.
Do you use the purchased carton egg whites? I’ve been doing this to avoid wasting the yolks of all the eggs.
Yes!! And I ALWAYS get them at Costco!
What protein shake do you recommend?
I use the Optimum Nutrition vanilla most often, because it’s affordable and easy to buy at costco.I did just have a protein powder taste test though if you want to check out my other powders I like!https://healthbeet.org/best-tasting-protein-powder-for-2022-and-the-worst-results-from-our-protein-tasting-party/
Hi
Thanks for your blog, I love it so much. I have a question concerning people with pcos problem. I have been told to eat low carb and high protein diet. As a person who weighs 85kg currently but on a weight lose journey. I want to lose weight down to 60kg, how many grams of protein, carbohydrates and fat should I be eating per day? Thank you in advance.
Hi Sharon!
Thanks so much for sharing your goals with me!I don’t know if I already responded, but have you checked my calorie and macro calculator here?https://healthbeet.org/weight-loss/macro-counting/
Let me know if that calculator gets you what you’re looking for.
i think u said to eat 100 grams of protein a day, how many carbs a day should u eat ?
it depends on several factors! Use my macro and calorie calculator here https://healthbeet.org/weight-loss/macro-counting/
Thank you so much im losing weight I cant keep it on. I need to gain n i can’t do alot of food groups like dairy and some carbs. I have a hard time with hard foods like nuts and seed. Jaw replacement has affected me badly. How can I gain like 20 pounds would love some muscle. My skin looks like it is melting.
Hi Shelly
To gain weight you definitely need to start eating more calories. Nuts and seeds are the best for calorically dense foods. If your jaw is too tender, I would have almond butter, peanut butter, sesame seed butter,, sunflower seed butter, or avocados. All of these would be soft enough. You could always add any of those foods to a smoothie and blend it up as well.
Good luck to you!
Amy
Hi Amy,
When you say you “eat a full cup of egg whites for breakfast” how have you cooked them? Just like scrambled eggs?
Many thanks,
Sarah
I scramble them or make an omelette!
Check out this post I wrote with more ideas that I use
https://healthbeet.org/19-low-calorie-egg-ideas-for-breakfast/
I’ve been searching for a website like yours for years and when I came across it today I felt so excited, inspired and thankful. Thank you for laying out an easy to follow meal plan especially one that doesn’t have 1000 ingredients which will also help save money. I’m really trying to be consistent and I’m worried that I get so hungry late at night so I’m trying to up my calories in a healthy way and water during the day. I’m hoping after 21 days of forming into the habit I’ll stop the night evening. Thanks again for all the help
YEAH!! Becky! I’m so glad you shared this with me. I agree- eating a little more during the day can have a huge impact on being moderate in the evening with your food.
And, keeping it simple is key! Keep me posted on your progress. I’d love to hear from you again.
Amy Roskelley