As a completely vegan-friendly food, many of the Rizopia team and family are vegan or vegetarian.

Even those of us who aren’t tend to be big fans of Meat-Free Mondays, and we love experimenting with dishes to see how else we can enjoy our food.

However, while many people cite vegan diets as great ways of boosting health, losing weight and getting the glow, it’s easy to miss out on those vital protein sources without meat. If you’re looking to boost your protein intake without animals, then fret not! Here are our top five vegan sources of protein:

Quinoa

One of the holy grails of health foods, quinoa is one of the most unique grains on the planet. It contains more than 8 grams of protein per cup, as well as each of the essential amino acids we need for growth and repair. Quinoa is also wonderfully versatile – try adding to salads, or even enjoying as a porridge during the cooler months.

Nuts

Nuts are jam-packed with healthy fats and proteins, which make them ideal for a vegan diet. If you’re bored of snacking on almonds mid-afternoon, then try adding natural nut butters to rice or oatcakes, or even apple slices.

Beans and Legumes

One cup of soybeans packs an impressive 28 grams of protein, while a cup of lentils will give you an 18 gram hit. We love to add beans to vegan chillis, or blend lentils into a flour to create all sorts of recipes – lentil burgers are always a big hit!

Leafy Greens

We all know that we should be eating our leafy greens to enjoy optimum health. But did you know that these nutrient powerhouses are also high in protein too? One cup of spinach packs in 5 grams of protein, while one cup of broccoli contains over 8 grams.

Hemp

Once an ingredient associated with hippies, hemp has seen a huge re-emergence in recent years. Try experimenting with a vegan hemp protein powder, or mix in hemp seeds to your morning granola or yoghurt (10 grams of protein in 3 tablespoons). You could even add them to salads, pestos and baked goods. Eat up.