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Vegetarian protein sources

Protein is the most asked-about nutrient on a vegetarian diet, and the answer is quieter than the internet suggests: plants have plenty. What matters is knowing the real amounts and eating varied sources across the day. Here are the numbers, in estimate classes.

TempoLife data line (2026-08-31): Black coffee was the most common named food in August 2026, appearing in 11 meal records. Method and limitations.

Updated 2026-08-31

How much protein do you actually need?

Most adults need around 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day — roughly 50–60 grams for a 70 kg person. Active people who train often sit higher, around 1.2–2 grams per kilogram in common sports ranges, and more is not automatically better. The daily total is what matters, spread across meals. Protein, explained simply has the full picture.

Legumes: lentils, beans, chickpeas, peas

Cooked legumes land around 7–9 grams of protein per 100 grams — a cooked cup of lentils or chickpeas (about 150–180 grams) is roughly 12–16 grams of protein, plus a good amount of fibre. They are the cheapest protein-dense plant foods and the backbone of vegetarian eating.

Soy foods: tofu, tempeh, edamame

Soy is the most concentrated group. Firm tofu runs about 10–15 grams per 100 grams depending on firmness, tempeh about 19, and edamame about 11. Tofu numbers vary more between brands than most foods, so the pack label is worth a glance. Soy also carries all the essential amino acids in useful amounts, which makes it the easiest "complete" plant protein.

Grains, nuts and seeds

Cooked quinoa has about 4.4 grams per 100 grams; dry oats about 13; pumpkin seeds about 30; peanuts about 26; chia about 17; almonds about 21. Nuts and seeds are protein-dense but calorie-dense too — they add protein and energy at the same time, which is fine when you plan for it.

The combining myth, updated

You may have heard plant proteins must be combined in the same meal to "complete" each other. The updated picture: some plant foods are a bit low in one or another essential amino acid, and eating varied sources across the day covers it — no same-meal pairing needed. Grains plus legumes over the course of the day is the classic, and it happens by accident in most real diets.

A simple day that adds up

Oats with a spoon of peanut butter for breakfast (about 15 grams), a lentil or bean lunch (about 15 grams), firm tofu or tempeh at dinner (about 20–30 grams), plus seeds on the side, lands around 60–70 grams before snacks — right in range for most adults. Powders are convenient food, not a requirement. Log the day and the actual split becomes visible.

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