Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or simply someone who’s trying to eat more healthy foods, it can be challenging to get enough protein when you’re cutting calories. Thankfully, it’s not completely impossible. By doing some careful research and discovering new recipes, you can begin to incorporate protein-packed meals into your diet without going over your calorie limit.
The key for finding high-protein foods that are still healthy is to be mindful of what you’re eating, the ingredients you’re using, and when you’re eating. If you can do each of these things, you’ll be successful.
Without further ado, here are 12 recipes that are worth trying.
1. Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Omelet Sandwich
Talk about yummy! This breakfast sandwich has only 149 calories and comes with 22.8 grams of protein. It’s both nutritious and delicious.
2. Kale, Chickpea, and Fennel Salad
Okay, so a kale, chickpea, and fennel salad may not sound super tasty, but you can’t forget the dressing. When you include the orange vinaigrette, you get a delicious lunch that has 398 calories and 22.1 grams of protein.
3. Vegetable and Egg Muffins
Checking in at roughly 90 calories per serving, these vegetable and egg muffins are perfect for a Sunday brunch. They look great and taste even better!
4. Huevos Rancheros
Who says you need meat to enjoy huevos rancheros? This healthy version uses a combination of fresh and healthy ingredients. It has only 194.3 calories per serving. Each serving also includes 12.1 grams of protein.
5. Hummus and Pita
Looking to indulge in some hummus, but can’t afford to exceed your calorie limit? Between this chickpea hummus and whole-wheat pita bread, you have the perfect 310 calorie meal.
6. Cream of Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup
Each bowl of this delicious mushroom and wild rice soup is only 180 calories, which means you can sneak in seconds. Despite the low caloric count, it comes with 16.6 grams of protein per serving.
7. Cauliflower Steaks with Lentils
Regardless of whether or not you’ve enjoyed the cauliflower dishes you’ve had in the past, you’re going to absolutely love this one. It has 350 calories and 22 grams of protein. Not bad!
8. Sweet Potato and Lentil Cakes
What’s better than sweet potato and lentil cakes? Try sweet potato and lentil cakes with lemony avocado sauce. Each serving contains 329 calories and 16 grams of protein.
9. Thai Salad and Cauliflower Rice Wrap
These wraps are deceptively good! The incredible thing is that they contain only 330 calories per serving, while somehow packing 22 grams of protein. These are great for an on-the-go lunch or quick dinner.
10. Raw Taco Gorilla Wraps
Don’t let the name fool you, these wraps are healthy. However, you still get the taste of traditional tacos. The recipe creator says even meat-lovers enjoy them. They’re packed with protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and iron. Give them a try!
11. Kale Goat Cheese Pizza
While everyone else is throwing back greasy pepperoni pizza that leaves them feeling gross and bloated, you can enjoy this wonderful kale goat cheese pizza that has a whopping 27.1 grams of protein per serving (314 calories).
12. Cauliflower Pizza with Greek Yogurt Pesto and Grilled Veggies
If you still want pizza, but goat cheese isn’t your thing, try this mouth-watering cauliflower pizza with Greek yogurt pesto and grilled veggies.
Eat Healthy, Be Happy
While it certainly requires a level of discipline and restraint, healthy eating comes with a long list of benefits. Aside from the obvious benefit of being healthier, you’ll also notice that you feel better and look better too. Ultimately, this means you’ll be able to enjoy a happier lifestyle. Thanks to a number of healthy recipes under 400 calories, it’s now easier than ever to eat well and also be happy and satisfied. Enjoy!
Featured photo credit: Yael Malka via buzzfeed.com
