I'm just getting started, and am looking for examples of vegetarian meals that don't involve protein powder or soy-based "fake foods" like Garden Burgers or other meat substitutes. (I have nothing against these, just never could stand the taste.)

Our family isn't vegetarian, but we eat meatless several times a week, usually a meal based around black beans or chickpeas. If I'm understanding the zone correctly, it doesn't seem to account for the protein content of legumes, so do I need to add meat or cheese to legumes to make a zone meal?

Hi Joanne,

Soybeans are the only legumes the can be counted as protein for Zone purposes. Yes, you'd have to add protein to those meals. Here are some vegetarian protein sources that are not "fake meat": tofu, soybeans in any form, eggwhites, cheee, yogurt, milk, cottage chesse.

Thanks for this because I was going to ask if eating Black Beluga Lentils counted as protein because it has 16 grams. I should still add some more protein I guess. There goes my so called balanced meal tonight, lol. Im still learning.