But Where Do You Get Your Protein?

I have been tickled by the fact that somehow, protein has become synonymous with animal sources. For example, if I ask someone what they have for dinner, it is not uncommon that I will hear something like, “a starch, vegetable, and protein.” If I ask them what kind of protein, the answer that follows is usually, “What do you mean doc? A meat”. This is so interesting to me. Contrary to popular belief, individuals who are plant-based are not void of protein. In fact, there are so many varieties of plant proteins available that individuals who are intentional about their meal planning and who chose whole food plant-based foods find that they have no problem achieving their protein targets. But then I become concerned about those who consume a typical standard American diet (moniker, aptly S.A.D). This type of diet is your hot dogs and fries, pizza and wings, mac n cheese with ketchup – this type of diet has a lot of issues with it, but importantly, is severely lacking in fiber. Fiber is only found naturally in plant sources: fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. The more we refine the products (white rice), the more we ultra-process our goods (packaged snacks), the more we remove the important natural nutrients and strip important substances, such as fiber, from our diet. Fiber is important for supporting our microbiome in our gut, for bowel regulation, and for modulating food absorption to some degree. So you see, my answer to the question then becomes a question back to the initiator of the inquiry: but where will YOU get your fiber?