When it comes to living a plant-forward lifestyle, many people make the mistake of thinking that vegetarians or vegans don’t get enough protein. However, there are so many flavorful ways to enjoy protein besides meat, poultry and seafood! Traina Foods shares meal and snack ideas for plant- and protein-forward lifestyles!

• Dried Apricots are rich in protein, packing five grams per serving. Enjoy dried apricots sprinkled on grilled bread spread with a soft cheese such as brie, goat or feta. Experiment with other bruschetta toppings such as mozzarella with sun dried tomatoes and basil. A 1/2 cup serving of these flavorful tomatoes have four grams of protein!
• Sun Dried Tomatoes are also a great way to add protein to a pasta meal. Beyond using plain white pasta, Traina Foods encourages pasta-lovers to think outside the box and try the many varieties of pasta on the market today – many of which are packed with extra protein from sources like vegetables, beans and chickpeas. Bonus: some of these varieties are also gluten-free!
• Vegetables are an excellent source of protein, with some of the highest being spinach, kale, peas, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, and mushrooms. For those that need a little encouragement to “eat their greens,” Traina Foods suggests roasting them for a totally different texture and flavor profile. Sprinkled with a little olive oil, roasted on a sheet pan at 380-400 degrees for about 30-45 minutes, these vegetables will turn into flavor bombs! Topped with fruitons dried fruit bits, this can serve as a side dish or a main meal!

Traina Foods invites food enthusiasts to get creative about the ways in which they can get their daily protein intake. For those that enjoy a vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based diet or even for those carnivores that make “Meatless Monday” a ritual, Traina Foods dried fruit varieties make every meal a food adventure!