6 Delicious Ways to Add More Protein to Your Meals, According to Experts
There’s a whey shortage on the horizon—try these tips instead.
Reported by Vogue.
Protein is fashion's current obsession — everyone from wellness influencers to registered dietitians is talking about hitting daily targets. But before you drop $60 on a tub of powder, know this: whole foods will always win. According to Vogue, the smartest way to hit your protein goals involves less supplementation and more strategic eating, and two RDs break down exactly how to do it.
The most underrated move right now? Bone broth. Abigail Collen, RD, outpatient clinical nutrition coordinator at Mount Sinai, notes it can deliver anywhere from 2 to 12 grams of protein per cup depending on source and cook time — plus gut, joint, and hydration benefits as a bonus. If you're plant-based, vegetable-forward broths made from legumes, marine algae, miso, or nutritional yeast pull similar weight. Amy Shapiro, RD, founder of Real Nutrition, recommends cooking grains or proteins directly in broth, or simply sipping a cup alongside your meal.
Build the Bowl, Stack the Protein
For animal protein, Shapiro keeps it simple: lean chicken, beef, or turkey folded into wraps, bowls, and quesadillas. But the plant-based options are just as compelling. Collen's go-to add-ons — edamame, nutritional yeast, and seeds like pumpkin, hemp, or sunflower — are easy to scatter over a salad or bowl without rethinking the whole meal. Cheese earns a spot too, especially cottage cheese, which clocks in at roughly 12 grams of protein per serving and mixes seamlessly into pasta or grain bowls. The classic rice-and-beans combo is also worth revisiting: half a cup of beans brings 7 to 9 grams of protein plus fiber, transforming plain rice from filler into something that actually does a job. And Greek yogurt — a standard 7-ounce serving hits 19 grams — works stirred into overnight oats, sauces, or dressings with zero effort.
None of this requires a complete kitchen overhaul. The through-line here is layering: broth as a cooking medium, seeds as a finishing touch, cottage cheese as a creamy swap. Small additions compound fast, and they taste like food — not a supplement regimen.
The most effective nutrition strategy is usually the one that doesn't feel like a strategy at all.
Read the original at Vogue.
