There are many foods that seem high protein but actually aren’t. If you’re focused on a high protein plan to get lean, you need to be careful about which foods you choose. Here are 3 foods that seem high protein but actually aren’t:
- Olive Oil – Olive oil has 0g of protein. It is super healthy for all of the amazing, unsaturated fats that are in it but contains virtually no protein. It’s often used to cook things that do have protein like fish and chicken so the strong association is understandable but olive oil on its own has no protein.
- Coconut Oil- Coconut oil is just like olive oil in the sense that it has become associated with healthy high protein meals and desserts. However, coconut oil is high in fat and contains no protein.
- Avocado – One whole avocado has only 4g of protein. It is still super healthy for you thanks to its fat content and can be paired with other high protein foods like turkey or salmon and whole grains so you can get all of your macros in one go.
How do I know if Foods Have High Protein?
To know if foods have high protein, you need to do your own research and also check ingredient labels. If you’re looking for the video about High Protein Foods, click here.
Can High Protein Foods Help me Get Lean?
High protein foods can help you get lean if you eat them at the right time and in the right amount. High protein foods usually contain a lower calorie count and lots of nutrients. However, there’s a lot of food myths and misinformation out there. A lot of foods are known to be good sources for protein. However, some of those foods aren’t actually so great for adding protein into your diet. All of the following are healthy foods and have really great nutritional benefits… but do not pack on the protein.
Two More Foods that Seem High Protein But Aren’t
Here are two more seemingly high protein foods that actually aren’t.
Here are two more foods that seem high protein but actually aren’t. This is a great example that the “health” of a food doesn’t actually indicate its protein quantity. Stay on the lookout!
Dark Chocolate– 1 Serving of Green & Black’s 85% Dark Chocolate bar has only 4g of protein. You would have to eat almost half the bar to get the measely 4 grams. Sure, they would be delicious, but you could definitely choose a better protein source.
Hummus– 1 Tbsp. of hummus has 1g of protein. That’s the entire recommended serving. A serving of broccoli has more protein than that!
Jon Pearlman is a former standout tennis player at Harvard, ATP-ranked touring pro, and author of The Lean Body Manual. He founded Mission Lean to share his unique formula for lean body fitness and nutrition, an approach that took over a decade to develop and perfect. He is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist.
