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Protein has been getting a lot of attention lately, and for good reason. The macronutrient is incredibly important for our bodies in so many ways.
“Protein is known for its role in muscle building. Protein is the building block of muscle tissues, so eating enough of it contributes to muscle growth,” says Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, nutrition editor for TODAY.com. “It also plays a part in structural support within the body, organ and hormone function and appetite control.”
If weight loss or building muscle are among your health goals, getting adequate protein in your diet is an important habit.
“Without enough protein in the diet, you may feel hungry all the time and may start to lose lean body mass, which can lower your metabolism and increase your risk of obesity,” says Rizzo. “On the flip side, since protein helps keep you full, eating a high-protein diet has been linked to sustained weight loss.”
Because protein is so important for weight loss and maintenance, muscle building and repair and speeding up the metabolism, I encourage my clients to eat protein-packed meals throughout the day — and make it a priority for myself as well!
But as someone who is constantly on the go, I know the struggle of finding time to make healthy meals, let alone worrying about getting in enough protein. Over time, I have come to rely on these three super-simple meals to fill me up and pack in protein and produce. These are on a regular rotation throughout my week!
Green smoothie
A fun way to pack protein, fruits and veggies into a quick meal or snack is to blend up a smoothie. If you are on the go or just don’t feel like cooking a full meal, a smoothie is a simple and delicious way to drink up some nutrients!
Ingredients:
Blend and enjoy!
Chicken salad
The mustard and lemon juice add just the right amount of zest,…
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