If you've discovered the benefits of eating a high-protein diet, chances are, you're ready to take steps to embark on a path to healthier living.
However, as you set out on this journey you'll quickly discover two hurdles that can make this type of diet more difficult: the cost of protein and the blandness of eating the same meals over and over again. This is what causes so many who try to follow a high-protein diet to ultimately quit. And after seeing this issue so frequently, we've taken it upon ourselves to help.
Today, we'll teach you how to eat a high-protein diet without breaking the bank or getting bored with your meals and snacks. By following the tips we lay out on this page below, you'll be well on your way to reaping all the benefits of eating a high-protein diet. It's really as simple as keeping things fun and fresh while ensuring you have the right snacks on hand to cope with cravings - which is where our meat chips come in.
Before we provide you with all the advice you need to follow a high-protein diet, let's talk about why this is a worthwhile endeavor in the first place.
What Does Eating a High Protein Diet Do?
What does eating a high-protein diet do that makes this such an important lifestyle change - and one that's worth sticking to? Simple - you'll be physically and mentally healthier. But how?
Supports Your Weight Loss Goals
Well, for starters, following a diet high in protein can help support your weight loss goals. There are a few ways this works. First, protein encourages satiety - which is the feeling of fullness. When your meals all consist primarily of protein, you're less likely to overeat.
Secondly, the thermogenic effect of eating protein increases how many calories your body burns throughout the day. Lastly, protein helps preserve muscle mass - which is especially useful for those who are cutting back on their calorie intake in an effort to lose weight.
Promotes Lean Muscle Development & Faster Recovery
On the flip side, if you're looking to build lean muscle, eating a high-protein diet can also help. That's because protein is essential for muscle growth and repair. Whether you're working out in the gym or competing in athletics, consuming adequate amounts of protein at regular intervals throughout the day helps with faster recovery. This means you are able to get back to the next workout or event better than before.
Regulates Blood Sugar, Improves Heart Health, & Optimizes Other Aspects of Your Health
Getting more of your calories from protein rather than fat or carbs helps regulate your blood sugar levels. That's because eating a diet high in protein helps your body absorb and use energy more slowly and efficiently.
And while it may seem counterintuitive to make carbs the enemy, too much white flour and sugar aren't good for anyone - making reducing these foods part of eating a high-protein diet a win-win situation.
Moreover, you can improve your heart health on a high-protein diet. That's because protein reduced LDL in your bloodstream - which is the bad cholesterol you don't want. Certain protein sources, like eggs, can also increase good cholesterol for you.
There are so many other ways a high-protein diet optimizes your health. It can help maintain bone density and joint health. It even helps boost cognitive function, improving memory, concentration, and mood. All of this is possible as protein supports key neurotransmitter production.
The Two Main Problems With Eating a High Protein Diet: Cost & Cravings
Now that you know the benefits of eating a high-protein diet, you can see why it's worth learning how to eat a high-protein diet. Maybe you already knew this - but you've experienced what countless others like you have. Following a high-protein diet isn't easy! There are two reasons for this: cost and cravings.
When it comes to the cost of eating a high-protein diet, there is no denying that quality cuts of meat, fish, and poultry are an investment. Even eggs and other dairy products are beginning to skyrocket in cost. For some, this can be a deterrent. But hear us out: health is wealth. There is no better way to spend your money than investing in your health and well-being. And, we have some great advice on how to do a carnivore diet on a budget - some of these tips will be discussed below.
Now - even if you can afford to follow a high-protein diet, it doesn't fix the other problem: craving the types of foods that you must eliminate while following this diet. There will undoubtedly be times when you want to snack on something - but you haven't quite met your protein goals for the day, leaving you to eat the same boring tuna or jerky. Similarly, you'll get really bored eating the same breakfasts, lunches, and dinners day in, and day out. This type of diet certainly limits you in what you can eat - but as you'll discover below, there are simple ways to keep things fresh and exciting!
So without any further ado, here is how to eat a high-protein diet while staying within budget and keeping things from getting bland.
How to Eat a High Protein Diet: Tips for Staying Within Budget and Keeping Things Fresh & Exciting
Ready to learn how to eat a high-protein diet? After this section, you'll feel confident and capable of getting started today. First - let's talk about coming up with your goal and tracking progress.
Have a Goal & Track Your Progress
Why are you making this lifestyle change? Is it because you want to lose weight or gain muscle mass? Or, maybe it's not related to appearance at all - you simply want to feel better, eliminating common sources of inflammation like gluten or sugar. Either way, having a "why" in place will help you battle through cravings and justify higher grocery bills.
Second, you need to have a tangible way of measuring your progress. As tough as it is, tracking your foods daily is important - at least until you get into a routine. You need to make sure you're hitting your protein goals each and every day. An app like MyFitness Pal can help with this. It will help you determine how much protein you need every day (at least 1g per pound of body weight) and hold you accountable.
Rotate Different Cuts of Meat
Part of what makes following a diet in high in protein so challenging is constantly eating the same grilled chicken or ground beef meals. So - we encourage you to branch out and rotate different cuts of meat in. Every now and then, treat yourself to a nice T-bone steak or filet mignon. You can even get really adventurous and incorporate game meats like bison, venison, wild boar, fish - you name it.
The point is, you will find yourself getting bored if you only rotate a few types of meat in your diet. You should constantly spice things up with other cuts from different animals. And, leading into the next point, you should change the way you prepare your meals, too.
Change the Way You Prepare Meat
One of the best ways to keep yourself from going crazy on a high-protein diet is to arm yourself with an arsenal of spices, seasonings, and sauces. You'll find it exciting trying new combinations - and your taste buds won't grow bored of the same old thing every week.
And this goes beyond just becoming more versatile on the grill. There are a seemingly endless number of ways you can prepare chicken - BBQ, roasted, tacos, soup, salad, etc. The possibilities are vast - so don't be afraid to try something new. It can prevent you from cheating on your diet when things get mundane.
Buy in Bulk Locally
Another great piece of advice to help you save money while following a high-protein diet is to actually avoid the grocery store altogether. Instead, find your local butcher and buy in bulk from them.
Not only are you supporting local, family-owned farmers (ideally those that follow regenerative farming practices!) - but you'll also get better prices by purchasing in bulk. Go in on half a cow or half a pig with a few other friends or family members and freeze what you can. It will stay good for a long time, and prevent you from constantly running to the grocery store too!
Add Supplements for Convenience & Cost-Savings
A quick, easy way to start your day is with a protein shake - getting you anywhere from 25-50 grams right off the bat. This makes it easier to meet your daily protein goal. And, when considering the cost of protein powder, it's one of the most affordable sources you can get your hands on.
With that said, you should use protein powder as a convenient tool - not something you rely on. Whole foods are always more bioavailable than powdered protein. You can have a shake in the morning and after workouts when you need a quick boost of whey protein. But other than that, your protein should come from real foods.
Introduce Healthy, High-Protein Snacks to Your Diet
The best way to follow a diet high in protein is to have just 2-3 big meals throughout the day. But you'll definitely experience cravings between meals - typically in the mid-morning, afternoon, and late at night. How can you satisfy these cravings without falling back on processed, sugary junk? You can shop at Carnivore Snax for the best healthy low-carb snack around!
Our meat snacks are an affordable, tasty way to adhere to your diet. What are meat snacks, though? These are basically meat pastries that melt in your mouth - giving way to tantalizing flavors that are sure to satisfy your cravings. They're just meat and salt, and sourced from the most elite, ethical farms in the USA - so you can feel good about where you're spending your money.
We have a variety of cuts and varieties to choose from - so you never get bored, either. Take a look at our beef chips, brisket chips, chicken chips, pork chips, ribeye chips, steak chips, or lamb chips to see what the hype is all about!
Get Protein From Sources Other Than Meat
When you think of protein, chances are, you think of meat. But these aren't the only foods to eat on a high-protein diet! You can round out your diet with other high-protein foods, including eggs, nuts, beans, lentils, quinoa, and dairy.
These foods should be included in your diet not just to help you hit the recommended daily allowance of protein - but also for other essential vitamins and nutrients that help keep your body healthy. Of course, the specific diet you follow will dictate with foods you can - and more importantly, cannot - eat. For example, we have a full article explaining what is allowed on the carnivore diet. There are differences between what you can eat on a carnivore diet vs keto, too.
A high-protein diet is pretty broad - which means you can eat a variety of protein sources. This keeps things fresh and saves you some of the cost of expensive meat.
Remember to Balance Your Diet
A high-protein diet is great for those looking to build muscle and lose fat - however, it's important to remember that variety is key when it comes to a balanced diet. You'll want to ensure you're getting adequate amounts of all the essential vitamins and minerals as well.
So don't forget about cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or kale, fruits like bananas or apples, fatty fish such as salmon, whole grains like oats or brown rice, and other healthy sources - as these also contain essential macro- and micronutrients that are important for your overall health.
Don't Become Shackled to Your Diet
As with any diet, your sanity comes before dietary goals. If you need a day off to enjoy other types of foods while traveling, don't feel so shackled to your diet that you need to order plain chicken and white rice at a restaurant.
Your diet seeks to enhance your life - not control it. While the benefits of a high-protein diet are worth fighting for, you don't have to go crazy along the way!
Closing Thoughts on How to Eat a High-Protein Diet
There you have it - how to eat a high-protein diet without spending an arm and a leg on groceries or going insane eating the same bland food groups daily. We hope the advice we provided in this article provides you with the confidence you need to get started yourself.
Want to learn more about high-protein diets, like the carnivore diet? We have an article offering carnivore diet tips and tricks for success, along with a full carnivore diet snack list to help you cope with cravings. You can also learn about the benefits of the carnivore diet - which are more impressive than the benefits of a high-protein diet if you can believe that!
Otherwise, there's only one thing left to do - head over to our website and stock up on your carnivore chips. We're here to help you navigate this journey with ease while enjoying some delicious snacks along the way
