Protein is an essential part of any diet, providing you with more energy, healthy hair and nails, and a proper balance of body chemicals. It is also important for kids who are growing and need enough energy and focus on getting through the day. With a paleo diet, protein isn’t typically something to worry about, though you might be concerned about which foods actually provide the best amount of protein. Here are some ways to get enough protein when following a paleo lifestyle.
Choose Meat and Fish With High Protein
A good way to start getting enough protein from the paleo diet is to have enough meat and seafood. These are excellent sources of proteins, but you need to choose the right ones. With your meat products, make sure they are only grass-fed. If you get grain-fed meat, it is going to cause intestinal issues and stomach upset. Some good meat and fowl that is ideal for high protein include ground beef, turkey, hen, chicken, and duck. You can also have seafood like tuna, salmon, and wild fish. Don’t go for farmed fish as it might contain nasty chemicals. Along with your meat and seafood, have plenty of eggs as well.
Add the Right Types of Veggies
While many vegetables are allowed with a paleo diet and lifestyle, not all of them have a high amount of protein. When you are trying to increase your protein or that of your child’s meals, you need to know which ones contain the highest amount. Some good vegetables to enjoy include all types of dark, leafy greens, eggplant, artichoke, bell peppers, and spaghetti squash. If you want to add some color and variety to your meals along with more protein, consider having pumpkin, beets, tomatoes, and carrots. Fruits like strawberries, blueberries, mango, and apples are a good source of protein and many other nutrients and should also be included.
Don’t Forget About Nuts and Oils
The last part of your meals and snacks will be the nuts and oils. The bright side is that these will almost always have a good amount of protein. In fact, people on a vegetarian or vegan diet often use nuts and seeds as their main protein source. Nuts can be great for snacks, added to salads, or eaten on the side. Two of the best oils include in your paleo child’s diet are coconut oil and olive oil. Stay away from vegetable oil, canola oil, and soybean oil.
As a parent, one of the hardest things about changing our child’s diet is making sure they are getting enough protein. After all, protein is essential for your growing child. The good news is that getting protein on a paleo diet is easier than one might think, and there are many paleo parents in social media groups who would be willing to share their tips with you.
