Avoiding the “hungry feeling” is essential to dieting and ultimately eating healthy. No one would continue an eating habit feeling this way. Fortunately, protein not only nourishes our muscles after exercise but also helps maintain a feeling of fullness reducing the possibility of eating unwanted calories.
(Did You Know? The number of grams of protein necessary daily varies according to age, weight and activity. This ranges from about 50 grams to 150 grams or more if training for a sporting event.)
Food Grams of Protein Cost
1 cup chicken 43 1.8 cents/gm
5 oz. salmon 42 5.8 cents/gm
1 cup turkey 41 1.5 cents/gm
3 oz. roast beef 26 2.7 cents/gm
1 cup nonfat cottage cheese 25 3.1 cents/gm
3 oz. ground beef 22 2.3 cents/gm
1 cup low-fat yogurt 12 5.0 cents/gm
1 cup milk 8 2.5 cents/gm
1 oz. nuts 7 5.2 cents/gm
1 large egg 6 5.7 cents/gm
1 tbsp. peanut butter 4 1.8 cents/gm
½ cup ice cream 3 5.3 cents/gm
As the commercial states, “Somehow, nothing satisfies like beef”. While not advocating any specific diet including the Atkins, perhaps there is some truth to increasing our protein intake to reduce caloric intake.