As a vegetarian, the question I get asked the most is ‘how do you get your protein?’. If you’re someone who would ask this question, I’m here to teach you that protein is not only found in meat (and that you really don’t need meat to survive, but that’s a whole other topic).

Protein can help increase your muscle mass and strength, it is good for your bones, and it boosts your metabolism. All in all, eating enough protein is vital to keep your body strong and healthy.

Here are 5 of my favourite meatless protein sources (in no particular order).

1. Chickpeas. Chickpeas are also known as Garbanzo Beans. Cooked chickpeas have 19g protein per 100g. They are a highly versatile food because they can be eaten hot or cold, and there are plenty of recipes with chickpeas available online. They can, for example, be used in a salad, be added to curries, or roasted with some spices for a nice meat replacement in tacos, or just as a snack. Hummus is also made from chickpeas, and it can be used as a dip for vegetables, or as a spread on a sandwich.

2. Peanuts. Peanuts contain 25g of protein per 100g. They are not only known to be protein-rich, but they are also full of healthful fats, and they may improve heart health. Peanut butter is also rich in protein, so if you eat a peanut butter sandwich, you are actually being healthy.

3. Green peas. Green peas contain 4.9g of protein for every 100g. They are an extremely versatile vegetable, so they can be added and/or used in a wide variety of dishes, such as pea soup and pasta with peas and pesto.

4. Chia seeds. If you’ve read my article ‘Healthy Hacks: How to make oatmeal taste good’, you’d know that I like to put some chia seeds on top of my oatmeal every morning. This is because chia seeds contain 14g of protein per 100g, and they are rich in fiber and Omega-3 fatty acids. So, chia seeds are a very nutritious choice!

5. Broccoli. Broccoli has 2.8g of protein per 100g, and actually has more protein per calorie than steak has. It’s a very easy ingredient to add to your meals, as you can just pick it as a veggie option for your dinner.

So, as you can probably see yourself, vegetarians do not have to miss any protein in their diet. On top of hoping that I’ve taught you that, I hope that you have found some new, healthy options to incorporate in your own meals.