This chart of protein content in foods can help you understand the high-protein hype. From food labels emphasizing protein to influencers sharing high-protein diets, protein’s role in supporting muscle mass, weight loss, and blood sugar regulation is more prominent than ever.
But do you know how much protein you eat every day? This chart of protein content in foods will show you.
Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how much protein is in a food. In fact, a recent MyFitnessPal survey found that people often overestimate the protein content in food. For example, 88% of respondents said they didn’t know how much protein, fiber, carbohydrates, sugar and salt they consumed each day.
Let’s change that. Bookmark this protein content in foods chart to familiarize yourself with the protein content of your favorite foods. Don’t see one of your favorite foods here? download MyFitnessPal App And search nutritional information for over 19 million foods in our food database!
When you want to increase protein in your diet, consider protein sources when planning each meal.
This is what nutritionists do. “Every meal, the first decision I make is ‘What protein do I want to eat here?’ Then, I build the rest of the meal around that,” says Stephanie Nelson, registered dietitian and chief nutritional scientist at MyFitnessPal.
Although precise protein needs vary from person to person, Nielsen recommends aiming for 20 to 30 grams of protein per meal. Focus on high-quality, whole-food protein sources, such as those on this list.
protein powder and bar Occasionally, they’re fine, but according to Nielsen, they won’t give you the same feeling of fullness. “We think of protein as filling because it usually comes from less processed and more whole foods,” she says.
About the experts
Stephanie Nelson, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian and MyFitnessPal’s in-house nutrition expert and nutritional scientist. Passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles, Stephanie graduated from San Diego State University with a focus on research and disease prevention.
protein in food
Nuts and seeds
Almonds (1 oz/28 g): 6 g protein
Chia seeds (2 tbsp/28 g): 5 g protein
Flaxseed (2 tablespoons/14 grams): 3 grams protein
Hemp seeds (3 tablespoons/30 grams): 9 grams protein
Nuts (mixed, 1 oz/28 g): 5 g protein
Pistachios (1 oz/28 g): 6 g protein
Pumpkin seeds (1 oz/28 g): 8 g protein
Sunflower seeds (1 oz/28 g): 6 g protein
Walnuts (1 oz/28 g): 4 g protein
Cereals and pseudocereals
Cooked amaranth (1 cup/246 g): 9 g protein
Cooked buckwheat (1 cup/168 g): 6 g protein
Cooked bulgur (1 cup/182 g): 6 g protein
Farro, cooked (1 cup/195 g): 12 g protein
Nutritional yeast (1 tablespoon/5 grams): 2.5 grams protein
Cooked oats (1 cup/240 g): 5 g protein
Cooked quinoa (1 cup/170 g): 8 g protein
Cooked teff (1 cup/252 g): 10 g protein
Cooked udon noodles (1 cup/180 g): 7 g protein
Cooked macaroni (1 cup/140 g): 8 g protein
vegetable
Cooked asparagus (1 cup/180 g): 4 g protein
Cooked black-eyed peas (1/2 cup/93 g): 7 g protein 93 g/7 g protein
Fresh or canned sardines (3 oz/85 g): 21 g protein
Cooked shrimp (3 oz/85 g): 20 g protein
Canned tuna (3 oz/85 g): 25 g protein
Unagi (eel, 3 oz/85 g): 20 g protein
Yellowfin tuna, cooked (3 oz/85 g): 25 g protein
plant-based protein
Gluten (3 oz/85 g): 21 g protein (a popular vegetarian protein made from wheat gluten)
Tempeh (1 cup/166 g): 34 g protein
Textured Plant-Based Protein (TVP, 1/2 cup/24 g): 12 g protein
Firm tofu (1/2 cup/126 g): 10 g protein
Veggie Burger (1 patty/70g): 11g protein
Snacks and Condiments
Hummus (2 tablespoons/30 g): 2 g protein
Peanut butter (2 tablespoons/32 g): 7 g protein
Spirulina (1 tablespoon/7 grams): 4 grams of protein (blue-green algae supplement)
Yeast extract spread (1 tablespoon/18 g): 4 g protein
How MyFitnessPal can help
If your goal is to eat more protein but don’t want to overdo it or neglect other nutritional needs, one of the easiest ways to do this is to start tracking your food.
When you set your my fitness partner Account, you provide some information. Think: age, gender, activity level, and goals. We use this information to provide you with customized macro recommendations on how many grams of protein, carbs and fat you should consume throughout the day.
As you record your meals and snacks, you can see how close you are to your protein goal and make adjustments (or pull back!) as needed.