Quiz: Which Food Has More Protein?

You don’t have to be a bodybuilder to prioritize protein in your meals. Protein is an essential nutrient for maintaining and growing muscles, as well as nourishing your mind and body.There are plenty of reasons to consider boosting your protein intake. Eating a protein-rich diet can help keep your body strong for a longer and healthier life, especially since people older than 40 have a harder time maintaining muscle mass than younger people.It’s alsoan important part of weight management; people who want to lose weight might aim to eat more protein because it helps them feel full for longer.Eating more protein doesn’t necessarily mean eating more meat or seeking outprotein powders. Certain vegetables, grains, and other foods pack more protein than you may expect. Do you think you know what they are? Take this quiz to put your nutrition knowledge to the test.How Much Protein Does the Average American Actually Eat?About This QuizThis quiz compares the amount of protein found in some of the foods commonly considered good protein sources.However, factors such as preparation method and portion size can influence how much protein you actually ingest. A registered nutritionist or dietitian can help you create a diet with the right amount and types of protein for your lifestyle.Expanding Your Knowledge of ProteinNot every protein source is created equal. Proteins from animal and plant sources have different levels of essential amino acids—the building blocks for muscles and drivers of key body systems.Research shows you don’t need to eat animal protein to get all your essential amino acids. Even if you do eat animal protein, getting in a variety ofvegetables, fruits, and legumes is always a good idea.An easy way to expand your knowledge of protein sources is to compare the nutrition labels on foods in your home and in the grocery store.While some foods may pack more protein per serving, they may not be the most nutritious overall. You can search for nutrition facts and data analyses of certain popular foods through thisU.S. Department of Agriculture search tool.21 High Protein and Low Calorie Foods

You don’t have to be a bodybuilder to prioritize protein in your meals. Protein is an essential nutrient for maintaining and growing muscles, as well as nourishing your mind and body.

There are plenty of reasons to consider boosting your protein intake. Eating a protein-rich diet can help keep your body strong for a longer and healthier life, especially since people older than 40 have a harder time maintaining muscle mass than younger people.It’s alsoan important part of weight management; people who want to lose weight might aim to eat more protein because it helps them feel full for longer.

Eating more protein doesn’t necessarily mean eating more meat or seeking outprotein powders. Certain vegetables, grains, and other foods pack more protein than you may expect. Do you think you know what they are? Take this quiz to put your nutrition knowledge to the test.

How Much Protein Does the Average American Actually Eat?

About This Quiz

This quiz compares the amount of protein found in some of the foods commonly considered good protein sources.

However, factors such as preparation method and portion size can influence how much protein you actually ingest. A registered nutritionist or dietitian can help you create a diet with the right amount and types of protein for your lifestyle.

Expanding Your Knowledge of Protein

Not every protein source is created equal. Proteins from animal and plant sources have different levels of essential amino acids—the building blocks for muscles and drivers of key body systems.

Research shows you don’t need to eat animal protein to get all your essential amino acids. Even if you do eat animal protein, getting in a variety ofvegetables, fruits, and legumes is always a good idea.

An easy way to expand your knowledge of protein sources is to compare the nutrition labels on foods in your home and in the grocery store.

While some foods may pack more protein per serving, they may not be the most nutritious overall. You can search for nutrition facts and data analyses of certain popular foods through thisU.S. Department of Agriculture search tool.

21 High Protein and Low Calorie Foods

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Walston JD.Sarcopenia in older adults.Curr Opin Rheumatol.2012 Nov;24(6):623-7. doi:10.1097/BOR.0b013e328358d59bGardner CD, Hartle JC, Garrett RD, et al.Maximizing the intersection of human health and the health of the environment with regard to the amount and type of protein produced and consumed in the United States.Nutr Rev. 2019 Apr 1;77(4):197-215. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy073Mariotti F, Gardner CD.Dietary protein and amino acids in vegetarian diets—a review.Nutrients. 2019; 11(11):2661. doi:10.3390/nu11112661

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Walston JD.Sarcopenia in older adults.Curr Opin Rheumatol.2012 Nov;24(6):623-7. doi:10.1097/BOR.0b013e328358d59bGardner CD, Hartle JC, Garrett RD, et al.Maximizing the intersection of human health and the health of the environment with regard to the amount and type of protein produced and consumed in the United States.Nutr Rev. 2019 Apr 1;77(4):197-215. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy073Mariotti F, Gardner CD.Dietary protein and amino acids in vegetarian diets—a review.Nutrients. 2019; 11(11):2661. doi:10.3390/nu11112661

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Walston JD.Sarcopenia in older adults.Curr Opin Rheumatol.2012 Nov;24(6):623-7. doi:10.1097/BOR.0b013e328358d59bGardner CD, Hartle JC, Garrett RD, et al.Maximizing the intersection of human health and the health of the environment with regard to the amount and type of protein produced and consumed in the United States.Nutr Rev. 2019 Apr 1;77(4):197-215. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy073Mariotti F, Gardner CD.Dietary protein and amino acids in vegetarian diets—a review.Nutrients. 2019; 11(11):2661. doi:10.3390/nu11112661

Walston JD.Sarcopenia in older adults.Curr Opin Rheumatol.2012 Nov;24(6):623-7. doi:10.1097/BOR.0b013e328358d59b

Gardner CD, Hartle JC, Garrett RD, et al.Maximizing the intersection of human health and the health of the environment with regard to the amount and type of protein produced and consumed in the United States.Nutr Rev. 2019 Apr 1;77(4):197-215. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy073

Mariotti F, Gardner CD.Dietary protein and amino acids in vegetarian diets—a review.Nutrients. 2019; 11(11):2661. doi:10.3390/nu11112661

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?