You need protein to help you heal and to maintain your muscle mass. High protein foods don’t have to be high in calories. Try some of the foods on this list to increase your protein intake.
Meat and Meat Substitutes
*Meat—lean pork, lean beef, fish, poultry (7 grams per 1 ounce)
*Beans—black beans, chickpeas-hummus, kidney beans, refried beans and pinto beans (7-9 grams per ½ cup cooked)
Lentils (9 grams per ½ cup cooked)
Tempeh (16 grams per ½ cup)
*Tofu (13 grams per 3 ounces)
*Boca Burger (14 grams of protein per burger)
Eggs and Dairy
*Eggs (6 grams per egg-the whites contain the protein)
*Milk (8 grams per 1 cup—choose skim to keep the calories down)
*Soy milk (8 grams per 1 cup)
*Greek yogurt (15 grams per 6-ounce)
Low-fat yogurt (6 grams per 4 ounces)
Soft cheeses—mozzarella, Brie, Camembert (6 grams per ounce)
*Medium cheeses—cheddar, Swiss (7 or 8 grams per ounce)
Hard cheeses—parmesan (10 grams per ounce)
*Cottage cheese (13 grams per ½ cup)
Nuts, Seeds, Grains
*Nut butters including almond and peanut butter (8 grams per 2 tablespoons)
Almonds (8 grams per ¼ cup)
Peanuts (9 grams per ¼ cup)
Cashews (5 grams per ¼ cup)
Sunflower seeds (6 grams per ¼ cup)
Pumpkin seeds (8 grams per ¼ cup)
Flax seeds (8 grams per ¼ cup)
Hemp seeds (10 grams per 3 Tbsp)
Edamame (18 grams per 1 cup of shelled pods)
*Quinoa (8 grams per 1 cup)
*Kashi bar (8 grams per bar)
*Food options you can find at University Hospital
Who to Call
If you have questions, please contact your provider through MyChart or call your provider listed in your After Visit Summary or After Hospital Care Plan. For a list of UW Health Clinics, visit www.uwhealth.org/.