And that’s a good thing! Here, have a little crunch with your protein
Plant-based diets aren’t just a trend — they’re here to stay, and we’re into it. We’ve been in the plant-based protein game for awhile now, and there’s never been a better time to get nutty. Even if you aren’t ready for a full commitment to vegetarianism, eating more plant-based meals can be a great way to stay healthy and reduce your carbon footprint. And it’s easier than ever — besides eating legumes and seeds, keeping a variety of spicy, savory, and sweet nuts as a pantry staple means you always have flavor-packed protein in your nutritional arsenal. This is where we come in!
Nuts Can Help Prevent Nutrient Deficiencies
Plant-based diets have a lot of health benefits, but going into it willy-nilly can lead to deficiencies in calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamin B12, and yes, protein. Luckily, tree nuts provide all of these micronutrients as well as helping you hit your macros, and they can prevent cardiovascular disease while they’re at it. Walnuts are high in alpha-linoleic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid; vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and calcium can be obtained through eating almonds, and ounce for ounce, mixed nuts have about the same amount of protein as seafood and more than poultry or eggs.
Give Proper Portions a Hand
Legumes and nuts are both great sources of dietary fiber, but whereas legumes are mostly carbohydrate, tree nuts are mostly protein and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. All you need is an ounce — roughly a handful — of pecans, walnuts, or almonds to add a full serving of protein.
No Kitchen Required
There’s never been a better time to go plant-based: there tons of outstanding meat analogs on the market today, and thanks to the great strides made by creative cooks, even ingredients like canned jackfruit can be used to make a convincing substitute for pulled pork. But what are you supposed to do when you’re away from your kitchen? Whereas most plant-based protein needs some level of processing and cooking to be edible, you can just crack open a bag of crunchy gourmet nuts!
Need some inspiration for how to add more nuts to your plant-based diet? It can be as simple as snacking on a handful of Candied Pecans. Add protein-rich Garlic Almonds to your next mezze or bowl of noodles. Add Candied Walnuts to a salad of fresh greens and beets. Sprinkle Pumpkin Spice Pecans on a sweet breakfast pancake with seasonal fruit. Check out our recipes for more ideas!
