Healthy High-Protein Meal Ideas
It seems that everywhere you look these days, high-protein diets are trending. From keto to low-carb to the carnivore diet…everyone is trying to ensure that they meet their macros with plenty of protein.
How can you incorporate high-protein meals into a balanced lifestyle? Here’s how to add protein to your meals and increase your intake without extreme restrictions.
The Benefits of High Protein Diets
Protein is essential for your body to function correctly. There are many benefits to getting enough protein in your diet. You'll be better at building muscle mass and staying fuller longer; protein can boost your metabolism.
Many people benefit from high-protein meals. Athletes, aging adults, busy people, and those trying to lose weight can all feel the benefits of getting in a little more protein.
So, what about high high protein diets, like the carnivore diet, which entails just eating meat and animal products? When it comes to these more extreme versions of high-protein, they may be a little too unbalanced to offer long-term stability.
With the carnivore diet, you get a high level of satisfaction. People report rarely feeling hungry on the diet. If you're bodybuilding and working on muscle tone, then high protein can be quite beneficial. There's also the potential for weight loss—because protein is so satisfying, you’ll consume less. Additionally, you’re cutting out carbohydrates and processed food, so there’s often a greater calorie deficit, which can initially boost weight loss.
However, diets like the carnivore diet also have their drawbacks. There’s a lack of fiber in animal protein, for starters. Any time you completely cut out a category of food (like plants and grains), you'll miss out on some of those crucial dietary building blocks like fiber.
Not to mention that you can miss out on a lot of other vitamins that come from plants and other foods. In the worst cases, you could end up with nutrient imbalances, which can lead to different health problems.
The other issue with high protein or any similar diet is a question of sustainability—how long can you live without chocolate cake, a juicy peach, or a big plate of pasta? In theory, you can go for a while, but when diets are too restrictive, it becomes very tempting to cheat.
Rather than going all-carnivore, it’s best to take a more balanced approach. Even low-carb and keto diets allow for some vegetables and other ingredients. This loosening of restrictions can actually yield better results because it’s easier to adopt in the long term.
In short, while protein is excellent for your body (and necessary), it’s best to balance your intake in a way that’s livable and manageable for long-term success.
How to Build a Healthy, High-Protein Meal
So, what can you enjoy on a high-protein diet to help you stay on track? If you're following keto, paleo, or a low-carb eating plan, it's important that you plan out some easy high-protein meals for weight loss without feeling deprived.
The key components of a well-rounded, high-protein, low-carb meal include lean meats or soy protein like tofu. Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, and lean beef are all excellent choices (but there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a slice of bacon here and there, too).
Look for lower-calorie swaps to help you create meals from lean proteins. For example, Greek yogurt is high in protein, as is cottage cheese. You can use these types of ingredients to stretch meals, create sauces, and add variation to your meals.
Next, look for sources of fiber and healthy fat. These can come from avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. Ingredients like these help you stay full and keep your digestion on track.
Be sure to drink plenty of water, no matter what type of diet you're following. Often, thirst can mimic hunger, and when you change your diet, you may decrease the amount of liquid you normally consume (for example, cutting out some hydrating fruits and vegetables).
Of course, before you start ANY diet or a new way of eating, you should consult with a health care or dietary professional to help you make sure that your body is healthy enough for the change. Your practitioner may have other recommendations or may want to make sure you don't have nutritional deficiencies before you begin.
The other key is to find ways to copy your favorite dishes in a low-carb, high-protein way. That’s where the magic of It’s Skinny Pasta (yes, you read that right—zero net carb PASTA) comes in.
High-Protein Meal Ideas with It’s Skinny Pasta
Why choose It’s Skinny? It’s Skinny shirataki noodles have ZERO net carbs. They have only 9 calories per pack. That means you can enjoy It’s Skinny without feeling guilty or worrying that you’re taking your progress off track.
It’s Skinny is made from a unique fibrous root vegetable called konjac root. This vegetable happens to make delicious pasta—pasta that has the texture and shape of all your high-carb noodle favorites.
· Couscous
· Orzo
But what about the taste? Well, like many of your favorite carb-heavy noodles, It's Skinny takes on the surrounding flavors of the dish. This means it goes well with many different kinds of sauce and protein.
It’s Skinny is so easy to work with. You simply tear open a pack, drain, rinse, and set aside. When your other ingredients are close to finished, add It’s Skinny to the pan to heat through for a few minutes. That’s it. There’s no boiling water or even dirtying another dish. It’s truly a simple, satisfying answer to help you go low-carb and high-protein without deprivation.
It’s easy to swap out It’s Skinny with any of your favorite higher-carb dishes. Make a deconstructed lasagna, enjoy a filling noodle bowl, or even rice pudding with It’s Skinny Orzo.
No matter what you choose to make with It’s Skinny, it will be satisfying and filling. There are no feelings of deprivation or FOMO when it comes to carbs. Instead, you can enjoy a yummy, generous portion of your favorite meal with no strings attached.
Low-calorie and keto-friendly, It's Skinny is also gluten-free and plant-based. It's suitable for lightening up almost any dish, regardless of your diet style. You can’t go wrong with 9-calorie noodles!
A few easy meal options with It’s Skinny:
· Top It’s Skinny Fettuccine with grilled chicken and a protein-packed Alfredo sauce.
· Whip up a delicious shrimp scampi with It’s Skinny Spaghetti.
· Use ground beef with It’s Skinny for a killer Fettuccine alla Bolognese.
· Make a simple scramble with It's Skinny Orzo, eggs, and cheese. Throw in some veggies too!
No matter what you’re craving, you can create it with It’s Skinny. Need more ideas? Our recipe database offers plenty of options to help you make (and eat) all your favorite meals with plenty of protein and minimal carbs.
It's Skinny is an excellent ingredient for all different dietary needs, too. If you're watching your blood sugar, cutting carbs, going gluten-free, or cutting out dairy, It's Skinny fits the bill. It's also meal-prep friendly so you can stay successful even during a busy work week.
Sustainable High-Protein Eating for Long-Term Health
The carnivore diet and other high-protein diets might be pretty appealing if you're a meat lover. After all, meat is satisfying and delicious. It's hard to imagine that you would ever feel hungry when you're digging into a plate of steak and eggs every day or munching on rotisserie chicken.
But like all things in life, a balanced approach to higher protein will help you stay on track in the long term and avoid the cravings that can quickly send you to the pizza chain or cereal aisle at the grocery store.
Besides, extremely high-protein or protein-only diets like the carnivore diet aren't necessary for long-lasting results. Simply try to incorporate more protein, minimize carbohydrates (especially processed carbohydrates), and enjoy a variety of foods so you get all the nutrients and vitamins to keep your energy up.
This sensible, measured approach makes high-protein and low-carb a much more maintainable lifestyle. Find ways to make it fit with your routine and use helpers like It's Skinny to stretch high-protein meals even further.
It’s Skinny opens a world of protein-packed, low-calorie recipes that you can explore. Try one of the delicious options in our recipe database, or use It’s Skinny as a base for your own creation.
No matter how you do your It’s Skinny, you can make it your way and enjoy delicious, sustainable results so your diet and meal plan feel doable rather than restrictive.
