{"id":266127,"date":"2025-11-02T02:51:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-02T02:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/266127\/"},"modified":"2025-11-02T02:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T02:51:23","slug":"6-foods-you-think-are-high-in-protein-but-actually-arent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/266127\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Foods You Think Are High in Protein, but Actually Aren\u2019t"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Protein is an essential macronutrient that the body uses to build muscles and repair cells.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_3-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> A &#8220;high-protein&#8221; food typically contains at least 20% protein, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.henryford.com\/blog\/tags\/halle-saperstein\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Halle Saperstein, RD<\/a>, a clinical dietitian at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. While most people can get enough protein from their diet, some foods may not have as much protein as expected.\n<\/p>\n<p>  1. Almond Milk  <\/p>\n<p>bhofack2 \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_7-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Almond milk is a great alternative for people who don\u2019t want to consume cow\u2019s milk or people who are lactose intolerant. However, don\u2019t expect the same amount of protein if you choose almond milk over dairy milk.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_9-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> \u201cBecause it&#8217;s labeled as a \u2018milk,\u2019 people may assume it has similar protein levels to dairy milk, but unless it&#8217;s protein-fortified, that&#8217;s not the case,\u201d Saperstein told Verywell in an email.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_11-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> One cup of unsweetened almond milk has 2 g of protein, while a cup of dairy milk has 8 g of protein.\n<\/p>\n<p>  2. Avocados  <\/p>\n<p>Thai Liang Lim \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_15-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Avocados are a good source of fiber, healthy monounsaturated fats, and potassium, but these creamy green fruits are not considered a high-protein food, Saperstein said.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_17-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Half of an avocado, the standard serving size, only has 1.5 g of protein.\n<\/p>\n<p>  3. Hummus  <\/p>\n<p>Westend61 \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_21-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Many people turn to chickpeas for plant-based protein. But small servings of\u00a0hummus, a chickpea-based dip, don&#8217;t always contain as much protein as you might think, Saperstein said.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_23-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> A small, one-fourth cup serving of hummus has 70 calories and only 2 g of protein.\n<\/p>\n<p>  4. Granola Bars  <\/p>\n<p>SimpleImages \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_27-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Granola bars seem like an easy option for on-the-go protein, but make sure to double-check the nutrition label first.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_29-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Some granola bars only contain 1-3 g of protein per bar.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_31-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;When it comes to snack bars, look for ones that are rich in protein and contain about 10-15 g of protein per bar,&#8221; Saperstein said.<\/p>\n<p>  5. Peanut Butter  <\/p>\n<p>Sanny11 \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_35-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Peanut butter has a reputation as a high-protein spread, but it only contains 7 g per 2 tablespoons.<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_37-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;To boost protein content of something with peanut butter, consider adding it to Greek yogurt or whole grain bread, which could have 3-5 g per slice,&#8221; said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eatrightpro.org\/about-us\/for-media\/meet-our-spokespeople\/theresa-gentile\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Theresa Gentile, MS, RDN, CDN<\/a>, a New York-based registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.\n<\/p>\n<p>  6. Cheese  <\/p>\n<p>LauriPatterson \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_41-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Cheese is a delicious, nutrient-dense, protein-containing snack, but it does not count as high-protein, Gentile said. But that doesn&#8217;t mean you should avoid cheese if you enjoy the taste.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_43-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;In general, eating a variety of quality protein foods each day will help meet your needs. Seafood, poultry, lean meats, beans and pulses, eggs, soy, and low-fat dairy are all good options to include at meals and snacks,&#8221; Gentile said.<\/p>\n<p>  Do You Really Need More Protein?  <\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_46-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> Protein has become the latest wellness obsession, but you may not need as much as you think. It is recommended to eat at least 0.8 g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, but the exact amount may vary based on lifestyle, age, and gender.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_48-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> &#8220;[P]eople who are trying to achieve certain fitness goals do not always need to turn to high-protein shakes to meet their dietary needs. Many people may not realize that eating foods like beans, nuts, tofu, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy items will provide them with adequate protein,&#8221; Saperstein said.\n<\/p>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_50-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"> As a general guideline, consume a balanced diet with carbohydrates, healthy fats, and protein at every meal. Aim for 20-30 g of protein per meal and distribute protein intake throughout the day, she added.\n<\/p>\n<p><img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/StephanieBrownnewheadshot-e5ca9ba2a404491384e9300a7871f190.jpg\" width=\"144\" height=\"144\" alt=\"Stephanie Brown\" class=\"lazyload author-bio__image mntl-image universal-image__image\" data-expand=\"300\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"author-bio__bio-text\">\nBy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/stephanie-brown-5197949\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stephanie Brown<\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>Brown is a nutrition writer who received her Didactic Program in Dietetics certification from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Previously, she worked as a nutrition educator and culinary instructor in New York City.\n<\/p>\n<p>Thanks for your feedback!<\/p>\n<p>What is your feedback?<\/p>\n<p> Helpful<\/p>\n<p> Report an Error<\/p>\n<p> Other<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Protein is an essential macronutrient that the body uses to build muscles and repair cells. A &#8220;high-protein&#8221; food&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":266128,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[97,269],"class_list":{"0":"post-266127","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266127\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/266128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=266127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=266127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}