Lesson 02 of 14

The body's repair material. Broken down into amino acids and rebuilt into you.

Protein

Protein is what your body uses to rebuild muscle, skin, enzymes, hormones, and the millions of tiny machines that keep you running. When you eat protein, your stomach and small intestine break it apart into amino acids, and your cells reassemble those amino acids into whatever they need.

Common protein sources

  • · Eggs
  • · Chicken, fish, beef
  • · Yogurt, cheese
  • · Lentils, beans, chickpeas
  • · Tofu, tempeh
  • · Nuts and seeds

Common ways to cook it

  • · Boiled (eggs, lentils)
  • · Pan-seared (fish, tofu)
  • · Roasted (chicken, chickpeas)
  • · Raw / cultured (yogurt)

Often paired with

  • · A starch, for sustained energy
  • · Vegetables, for fiber and texture
  • · Fat, for flavor and satiety

One simple meal

Yogurt with berries and walnuts

  • Plain yogurtprotein and live cultures
  • Berriesplant compounds, fiber
  • Walnutsfat and crunch

One protein source, one plant, one fat. Nothing needs to be cooked. This is the simplest possible protein-forward meal.

Cook it and log it

Something to investigate

Which protein source do you actually enjoy eating? Start there.