High-Protein Diet

Protein is a crucial nutrient—not only is it one of your body's main sources of energy but it helps repair muscles, regulate digestion and more. Learn more about high-protein foods plus get tips and expert advice to help you meet your needs. At EatingWell, all of our nutrition information is reviewed by our team of registered dietitians.

A person reaching for wrapped protein bars from a store display shelf the image is focused on the bars in the foreground
I Asked Dietitians How to Choose the Best Protein Bar—They All Said the Same Thing
Three people sharing a meal at a table one person is eating from their plate while smiling
7 High-Protein Foods Women over 50 Should Eat Every Week
A jar a glass with a pink liquid and a scoop of white powder against a grid background
Is Clear Protein Powder Worth the Hype? Dietitians Weigh In
a recipe photo of the Spinach & Feta Turkey Meatballs with Herbed Quinoa
The High-Protein, High-Fiber Lunch I Meal-Prep on Repeat
Person shopping for yogurt at a grocery store
The 10 Best High-Protein Yogurts, According to Dietitians
a recipe photo of EatingWell's Mixed Berry Cheesecake-Inspired Overnight Oats
4 Ways to Add 10 Grams of Protein to Your Breakfast—Without Protein Powder
A baked casserole dish with a slice being served on a wooden spatula likely containing cottage cheese and vegetables for a proteinrich meal
7 Ways to Use Cottage Cheese for a Protein Boost
Exterior of a Starbucks drivethru location on a decorative background
8 High-Protein Starbucks Items Worth Trying, According to Dietitians
a recipe image for easy tuna cakes with greens & lemon dressing on a white plate
The High-Protein Pantry Dinner You Should Make Tonight, According to a Food Editor
a photo of a woman having a snack in the kitchen
Dietitians Love This High-Protein Snack for Weight Loss
Image of Sam's Club storefront
9 Protein-Packed Snacks to Buy at Sam’s Club, According to a Food Writer
A woman running on a treadmill being coached by a man
The Best Time to Eat Protein for Muscle Growth, According to Sports Dietitians
Trader Joes Southwest Style Chicken Quesadillas packaging on a colorful background
The #1 High-Protein Frozen Meal at Trader Joe’s
image of Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
I'm a Dietitian & This Is the Easy High-Protein Meal I Make Every Week
a photo of a person cooking pasta
The #1 High-Protein Upgrade for Your Pasta
a recipe photo of the Marry Me Chickpeas
8 High-Protein Foods You Should Keep Stocked in Your Pantry, According to a Food Writer
a recipe photo of the cottage cheese toast with cucumber and avocado added
The #1 High-Protein Upgrade for Your Morning Toast — And It’s Not Peanut Butter
Image of Costco store-front
I’m a Dietitian and This Is the High-Protein Snack I Always Buy at Costco
Person standing by an open refrigerator looking inside appearing thoughtful
7 Sneaky Signs You May Not Be Getting Enough Protein, According to Dietitians
Recipe image of 20-Minute Creamy Skillet Chicken with Corn, Tomato & Basil
The 20-Minute, High-Protein Dinner You’ll Wish You'd Made All Summer
Plate with creamy dip, accompanied by fresh vegetables and potato chips
6 Ways to Get 10+ Grams of Protein (Without Protein Powder!)
What Happens to Your Muscles When You Take Protein Powder
a recipe photo of the Cheesy Egg Quesadilla with Spinach
The Best High-Protein, High-Fiber Breakfast, According to a Dietitian
A person holding a smoothie blender cup filled with fruit and yogurt
The #1 High-Protein Upgrade for Your Morning Smoothie (It's Not Protein Powder)
Wegmans store exterior with sign and brick facade
6 High-Protein Snacks to Buy at Wegmans, According to a Dietitian
a photo of an empty drinking glass with a question mark in it
Milk Might Actually Be More Hydrating Than Water—Here's What the Science Says
A wedge of Swiss cheese with holes on a blue background with a grid pattern
The 6 Best High-Protein Cheeses, According to a Dietitian
Tofu Tacos
6 Proteins to Add to Your Grocery List to Help You Lose Weight, According to Dietitians
A recipe photo of Green Goddess Farro Bowl.
I Eat 90 Grams of Protein Each Day Without Protein Powder—Here’s How
An assortment of protein-rich foods arranged on colorful plates, including eggs, beans, cheese, and lentils
What Does 15 Grams of Protein Look Like in Various Foods?
a recipe photo for the Sheet-Pan Roasted Salmon & Vegetables
5 Best High-Protein Foods for Gut Health, According to Dietitians
Various high-protein snacks arranged on plates and bowls, including eggs, ham, yogurt, cheese sticks, jerky, and cottage cheese
The 7 Best High-Protein Foods to Eat as Snacks, According to Dietitians
a recipe photo of the Chicken Hummus Bowls
The Anti-Inflammatory, High-Protein Dinner I Can’t Stop Making
A selection of desserts including cheesecake, fruit parfait, yogurt bark, fruit bowl, popsicle, and a slice of berry bread
7 Desserts with More Protein Than an Egg
A plate with cooked salmon chunks, broccoli, and red bell peppers on a light background with a fork to the side
The #1 Protein to Help Reduce Your Risk of Stroke, According to Dietitians
a recipe photo of EatingWell's Daal Tarka (Spiced Lentils)
I’m a Lifelong Vegetarian—These 8 High-Protein Foods Are Always In My Shopping Cart
High-protein snacks arranged on a blue tray lined with parchment paper
The 7 Best High-Protein Snacks for Brain Health, According to Dietitians
Two high-protein beverages, Swanson Sipping Bone Broth Chicken and a Chobani drink labeled as 20g protein in peaches and cream flavor
I’m a Dietitian and These Are My 5 Favorite High-Protein Drinks
A smoothie energy balls and a tray of cooked chicken and vegetables
30-Day High-Protein, High-Fiber Anti-Inflammatory Meal Plan, Created by a Dietitian
a recipe photo of the Snickerdoodle Almonds
The 10 Best Nuts & Seeds Ranked by Protein, According to Dietitians
kefir
The #1 High-Protein Drink for Weight Loss
a collage featuring some of the foods in the best high protein, low fat foods
The 20 Best High-Protein, Low-Fat Foods, Recommended by Dietitians
a photo of the #1 Mediterranean Diet Snack You Should Be Making
12 Gut-Healthy Snacks That Are High in Protein
Bowls and plates with an assortment of fruits like blackberries, figs, pomegranate arils, avocado, and pieces of jackfruit
5 of the Highest-Protein Fruits, Ranked
a recipe photo of the Chicken Fajita Soup
12 High-Fiber High-Protein Dinners for Heart Health
a recipe photo of the Berry-Kefir Smoothie
5 Drinks with More Protein Than an Egg
A collage divided diagonally showing fruits and vegetables on one side meats and proteins on the other side
Fiber vs. Protein: Which Should You Make a Priority in Your Diet?
an image of the Marry Me Chickpea Soup with Kale
11 High-Protein Soups to Keep in Your Freezer
A sandwich contains a filling of tuna salad, lettuce, and tomato, served on a plate
The #1 High-Protein Upgrade for Tuna Salad, According to a Dietitian
an image of the Mason Jar Farro Salads
18 Make-Ahead, High-Fiber, High-Protein Lunches to Keep You Full Longer
Aldi storefront with its logo visible, against a graphic background with geometric shapes
The 6 Best High-Protein Snacks to Buy at Aldi, Recommended by a Dietitian
A recipe image of Lemony Lentil & Chard Soup.
The High-Protein High-Fiber Soup I Can’t Stop Making
a recipe photo of the Cottage Cheese Toast with a sunny side up egg and hot sauce
The 7 Best High-Protein Foods to Eat for Breakfast, According to Dietitians
a side by side of EatingWell's Sheet-Pan Loaded Quiche and Copycat Olive Garden Pasta e Fagioli
7-Day No-Sugar, High-Protein Meal Plan, Created by a Dietitian
A recipe image of One-Pot Lentils & Rice with Spinach
6 Legumes with More Protein Than an Egg
a recipe photo of the Air Fryer Breakfast Bowls served in a bowl
11 High-Protein Bowls To Make for Breakfast This Week
a recipe photo of the Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas
9 Snacks with More Protein Than an Egg
Group photo of shrimp on grits, a sandwich, yogurt topped with berries, a small dish of blueberries, some egg bites with apple slices, kefir and some energy balls
7-Day No-Sugar, High-Fiber & High-Protein Meal Plan, Created by a Dietitian
a recipe photo of the Baked Kale Salad with Crispy Quinoa
6 Whole Grains with More Protein than an Egg
a side by side of some of the recipes featured in the meal plan
7-Day High-Protein Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan for Fall, Created by a Dietitian
Various bowls of foods, including lentils, chickpeas, black beans, pasta, and grains
6 Carbs with More Protein Than an Egg
an image of the High-Protein Peanut Butter-Banana Oatmeal Bars
13 High-Fiber, High-Protein Snack Recipes to Make This Week
an recipe image of the Anti-Inflammatory Breakfast Bowl
The Best High-Protein Breakfast to Reduce Inflammation, According to Dietitians
Recipe image of High-Protein Mango Lassi Smoothie
13 High-Protein Smoothie Recipes Without Protein Powder
The front entrance of a Dollar General store with visible logo
The #1 High-Protein Snack to Buy at Dollar General
A glass of green smoothie with an avocado on the side a wooden bowl of salad with strawberries and crumbled cheese
7-Day High-Protein GLP-1-Friendly Meal Plan, Created by a Dietitian
In the Race to Get More Protein, Research Shows Eating More Plants Is the Way to Win