Evidence based

By Jennifer Calihan, medical review by Dr. Bret Scher, MD Evidence based

A typical day of high-protein, higher-satiety eating

Are you thinking about trying a high-protein, higher-satiety eating but wondering what’s on the menu? 

Are you wondering if it will fit with your food preferences or hectic schedule? Or perhaps you’re wondering how you’ll juggle your new dietary requirements and your occasional — or not-so-occasional — trips through the drive-thru?

This guide lists examples of high-protein, higher-satiety options from several sources:

• ready-to-eat options from your local market
• our recipe collection
• restaurant meals
• fast-food classics 

What these meals all have in common is plenty of protein. Why protein? Because foods high in protein fill you up, keeping hunger at bay without a lot of extra calories. For more on how it works, check out our beginner’s guide Higher-satiety eating: what it means and how to get started.

In fact, it can even be helpful to consider the protein percentage of foods and meals — the higher the percentage, the more protein per calorie. There’s more on that in our guide, The best high-protein foods for weight loss.

Some people love to eat at home; others almost never cook and rely heavily on takeout. And then there are those of you who like to mix it up depending on your budget, taste, and schedule. 

Whatever your preference, we’ll show you how to make it high protein, higher satiety.

Key takeaways

Protein for breakfast: Whether eating at home or on the go, start your day with at least 25 grams of protein. Find out how

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Protein is everywhere: Almost any restaurant or drive-thru has high-protein options. And don’t forget the delicious options at your grocery store. Learn more

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Mix and match: A blend of high-protein recipes at home and carefully selected meals out may work best for most people. What to eat

1. Breakfast

When you switch to a high-protein diet, your day gets off to a satisfying start. Breakfasts that include plenty of protein are filling, and studies show they lead to consuming fewer calories during the rest of the day.¹

If you choose meals with plenty of protein while keeping an eye on total calories throughout the day, you’ll increase your chances of weight loss.²

Here are some practical ways to start your high-protein day. Combine these options to aim for at least 25 grams of protein and fewer than 500 calories.

No cooking

What can you buy at the grocery store and enjoy for breakfast with little fuss?

• cold cuts
• peeled hard-boiled eggs
• sous vide egg bites* 
• plain Greek yogurt
• smoked salmon
• pre-cooked turkey sausage
• zero-sugar jerky
• protein powder

An asterisk indicates that the food may have a few too many carbs if you are following a strict low-carb diet.

Pair these protein sources with easy-to-grab produce like pre-washed spinach or garden greens, berries, sliced melon, or cherry tomatoes for a quick and nutritious meal.

Using our recipes

If you’re making breakfast at home, there are even more options. Eggs, in many ways, are on the menu, but it doesn’t stop there. Smoked salmon is a classic choice. Or mix it up with turkey apple patties. 

Check out all of our high-protein breakfast recipes. Or, for a curated look at breakfast, read our guide, 25 high-protein breakfast ideas.

At a restaurant

Breakfast out? Lucky you. Focus on protein and fill in with fiber-rich vegetables or low-sugar fruit, and you’ll set yourself up for a great day. Regardless of your location — hotel restaurant or local diner — look for these menu items:

• egg plate (skip the hash browns and toast and ask for extra ham or sausage)
• omelet
• breakfast sandwich (skip the English muffin)
• frittata or quiche (avoid the crust)
• plain Greek yogurt
• tofu scramble
• breakfast meats: sausage, ham, lox, steak, Canadian bacon, corned beef
• protein smoothie

Round out your meal with sides like sauteed spinach, fresh berries, half a grapefruit, or sliced melon.* Enjoy garnishes like lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and for those who tolerate a few more carbs, black beans.

Fast food/takeout

Are you hitting the drive-thru or café to start your morning? Find an easy option that packs in protein. This list can get you started. These meals deliver at least 25 grams of protein with fewer than 500 calories.

• Starbucks  
  • Turkey Bacon, Cheddar, and Egg White Sandwich (order two sandwiches and discard the English muffins)
  • Bacon & Gruyère Sous Vide Egg Bites* (eat three egg bites, or 1½ orders)
  • Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper Sous Vide Egg Bites* (eat four egg bites, or two orders)
• Pret
  • Shakshuka Frittata* 
  • Egg White Greek Frittata
• Smoothie King 
  • Gladiator Strawberry
  • Keto Champ Chocolate*

Most regular fast-food breakfast sandwiches (egg, cheese, and ham or sausage) will get you close to your protein goal if you order two and discard the biscuit, croissant, or English muffin. You might be slightly over 500 calories, but it works in a pinch.

If you normally skip breakfast

Do you like to skip your morning meal? That’s fine. But whenever you do decide to break your fast, make it a protein-rich meal.

If you’re usually eating just two meals a day, you’ll need larger protein portions to hit your daily targets. For most women, aim for two meals with at least 50 grams of protein each. For men, aim for at least 60 grams from both meals. Or, consider adding a high-protein snack to make sure you hit your daily targets.

For more on your daily protein target, check out section 5 below.

2. Lunch and dinner

Up next: lunch or dinner. These filling meals won’t bog you down with that overfed feeling. That means no more post-meal crashes and no more getting hungry a few hours after eating.

Combine these ideas and aim for meals with at least 30 grams of protein and no more than 700 calories. 

No cooking

Your local market has plenty of grab-and-go options that pack in protein. Stock up on:

• cold cuts
• tofu
• chicken, tuna, or egg salad
• bean or lentil salad* (add tofu for even more protein)
• egg salad
• salad bar with chicken strips or other protein options
• rotisserie chicken
• cooked proteins like salmon, chicken breast, or roast beef

An asterisk indicates that the food may have a few too many carbs if you are following a strict low-carb diet.

Pre-washed salad greens or crudité platters offer a quick veggie fix. Or, buy a bag of snap peas, green beans, or cherry tomatoes and dig in.

Using our recipes

Cooking? Then check out our top recipes that prioritize protein. These meals deliver great taste and satisfy hunger, too.

What’s our favorite way to get the most out of cooking? Leftovers! Cook extra portions at dinner time and enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day. That way, you’ll cook once but savor your creation twice!

Whether it’s our juicy pork scallopini, green beans topped with cod loin, or a deconstructed bacon cheeseburger wrap, you’ll have dozens of meals to choose from.

At a restaurant

Enjoying a meal out at a restaurant with friends, colleagues, or clients? Protein is always on the menu, so you should have no problem finding something delicious that fits your nutrition goals. 

If you think the protein serving is too modest, you can usually ask for extra. Here are some of our favorites commonly found on restaurant menus:

• Big salad topped with plenty of chicken, beef, or salmon (order extra protein if needed)
• Burger with a lettuce wrap (ask for a salad instead of the fries)
• Chicken or turkey club sandwich (order without the bread)
• Steak, chicken, or fish with veggies (replace starchy sides with a salad or extra green veggies)
• Tuna melt (skip the bread)
• Stir-fry with chicken, steak, shrimp, or tofu (skip the rice and ask for extra protein)
• Fajitas with chicken, steak, shrimp, or tofu (skip the wrap and the rice; refried beans add protein but for those on a strict low-carb diet they might add too many carbs)

Once you have your protein taken care of, feel free to add low-carb sides like a garden salad or fresh strawberries. 

If you aren’t quite satisfied, you may need a few more calories. A high-protein snack can be a perfect fix.

Fast food/takeout

Are you eating on the run? Then you’ve got lots of options. These fast-food offerings deliver at least 30 grams of protein with fewer than 700 calories. 

• Chick-Fil-A
  • Market Salad with Grilled Filet (Discard the granola and choose the avocado lime dressing)
  • Cobb Salad with Grilled Filet (order without the corn for strict low carb)
  • Spicy Southwest Salad with Grilled Filet (order without the corn for strict low carb and discard the tortilla strips)
  • Grilled Nuggets (12 count; pair with a side salad or kale salad)
• Chipotle 
  • Most Lifestyle Bowls* (add extra protein if you target more than 30 grams; for Vegan Bowl, add extra sofritas to get to target)
• McDonald’s 
  • Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (discard bun)
• Panda Express
  • Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
  • Black Pepper Angus Steak (order two)
  • Pair with Super Greens for some extra veggies
• Panera
  • Green Goddess Cobb Salad* (even better if you add extra chicken)
  • Caesar Salad with Chicken* (skip the croutons; even better if you ask for extra chicken)
  • Toasted Frontega Chicken* (discard the focaccia)
  • Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich* (discard the bread)
• Wendy’s
  • Grilled Chicken Sandwich (order two and discard the buns)
  • Southwest Avocado Salad
  • Dave’s Double (discard the bun; hold the ketchup, mayo, or cheese to avoid being slightly over the calorie count)

These are just examples. Study the menu at your favorite drive-thru or fast-casual location, and look for similar meals that suit your preferences. 

3. Snacks

When you eat high protein, higher-satiety foods there are plenty of snacks that fit with your lifestyle. 

Zero-sugar beef jerky is the ultimate eat-anywhere convenience food. Or, turn up the crunch and try dry-roasted edamame or parmesan crisps. Some people even like to snack on a protein shake, especially pre- or post-workout.

For more snack ideas, check out our guide:

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4. Putting it all together

With so many options and so many different tastes and preferences, there is no one “typical day.” But here are a few sample days to consider:

A mix of eating at home and away from home

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snack
Greek yogurt and raspberries from the grocery store	Chick-Fil-A Market Salad (no granola)	Caprese Chicken	Dry-roasted edamame
Scrambled eggs with spinach and smoked salmon	Cold cuts, baby carrots, and cherry tomatoes from the grocery store	Wendy’s Dave’s Double (no bun)	Greek yogurt
Veggie scramble	Broiled salmon and green beans from the grocery store	Panera’s Green Goddess Cobb Salad (extra chicken)	Zero-sugar beef jerky
Pret Egg White Greek Frittata	Chipotle Vegan bowl with extra sofritas	Halloumi cheese with butter-fried eggplant	Hard-boiled eggs

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Away from home only

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snack
Starbucks Egg White Bites (two orders)	Panda Express Grilled Teriyaki Chicken and Super Greens	Steakhouse meal (Steak, broccoli, iceberg wedge salad)	Cheddar cheese
Smoothie King Gladiator Strawberry	Restaurant stir-fry with shrimp and tofu (extra shrimp; no rice)	McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (discard bun)	Roasted pumpkin seeds

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At home only

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snack
Turkey apple patties with kale	Rotisserie chicken and salad greens from the grocery store	Pork tenderloin with olive tapenade	Protein shake
High-protein keto breakfast bowl	Italian plate	Chorizo crumb-topped cod with Padrone peppers	Dry-roasted almonds

If you like to cook, why not try our free, 30-day high-protein meal plan. It features our easy-but-yummy recipes and checks all of the high-protein boxes three times a day.

5. Your daily protein target

If you eat meals like those outlined above, you’ll be on track to eat at least 100 grams of protein each day. Is that right for you?

It depends. Protein needs depend upon gender, height, and activity levels. Check out our chart below to learn your target. 

Total daily protein* intake

Height	Women	Men
Under 5’4″ (<163 cm)	90 grams	105 grams
5’4″ to 5’7″ (163 to 170 cm)	100 grams	110 grams
5’8″ to 5’10” (171 to 178 cm)	110 grams	120 grams
5’11” to 6’2″ (179 to 188 cm)	120 grams	130 grams
Over 6’2″ (>188 cm)	130 grams	140 grams

*Recommended daily protein intake by sex and height

It might make sense to track your food for a few days just to see if you’re getting close to your protein target. You may be surprised to learn that you need to size up your protein portions to get what you need.

To imagine your protein target on three plates — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — check out the visualization of a 100 gram day, below.

For more plates, including higher protein days and vegetarian options, hop over to our guide, How to get started on a high-protein diet.

If you aren’t eating three meals a day, you’ll have to fit more protein into your remaining two meals. For many people, intermittent fasting is helpful for weight loss, but cutting corners on protein might make it less effective. (Protein can help with weight loss by keeping hunger at bay and maintaining muscle mass.)

If you’re practicing one meal a day, or OMAD, it’s challenging to eat high protein. Using OMAD one to three times per week, on non-consecutive days, could be a compromise to get the benefits of both OMAD and high protein. 

6. More on protein

Want to learn even more about the best high-protein foods, including a cool metric called “protein percentage” that helps you evaluate foods? Do you have questions about dairy? Or plant-based proteins? Our guides will help you get the facts. 

Or, you might want to skim through the Top 20 questions about high-protein diets? If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. 🤓

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