"If you don't eat meat, then where do you get your protein from?"

First things first: Vegetarians will not die of protein deprivation.  

It's funny that people still think this. In fact, someone just asked me about this today.  During a conversation that we were having about food, I told this man that I was a vegetarian.  After giving it some thought and seeming slightly surprised his response was in the form of a question, "If you don't eat meat, then where do you get your protein from?".  

I was caught off-guard and suddenly everything I knew about protein sources in a vegetarian diet was gone, missing! Yikes! Why was he asking me this question, I wondered? Does he really care, or is he just challenging me to see how 'dedicated' I am to not eating dead cows?  Based on my lack of response, you would have thought that I just became a vegetarian yesterday. I've been asked this question so many times since I've stopped eating meat but it still surprises me every time.  So I gave him all that I could think of at that moment: beans, eggs, cheese and spinach. Oh, and tofu!  

I was so disappointed in myself....and I decided that I would be more prepared for the next time the carnivores come a'questioning. So, I've done some research & compiled a list. Here's to healthy eating!

LEGUMES: COOKED		Grams per serving
LENTILS	1 CUP	17.13
CHICK PEAS	1 CUP	15.65
BLACK EYED PEAS	1 CUP	12.98
BLACK BEANS	1 CUP	15.2
KIDNEY BEANS	1 CUP	14.83
LIMA BEANS	1 CUP	10
MISO	1 TBSP.	2
PIGEON PEAS	1 CUP	9.12
PINTO BEANS	1 CUP	15
SOYBEANS	1 CUP	29.77
SOYMILK	1 CUP	6.62
TEMPEH	3 OZ	15
TOFU, EXTRA FIRM	1/2 CUP	20
SEEDS/NUTS, RAW
PUMPKIN SEEDS	1 TBSP.	2
SESAME SEEDS	1 TBSP.	1.6
SUNFLOWER SEED	1 TBSP.	1.8
ALMONDS	1/2 OZ.	3
CASHEWS	1 OZ.	2.5
PEANUT BUTTER	1 TBSP.	4
PEANUTS	1 OZ.	7
GRAINS, COOKED
BARLEY (HULLED)	1 CUP	3.64
BARLEY (PEARLED)	1 CUP	3.55
BROWN RICE	1 CUP	5.03
CORNMEAL WHOLE	1 CUP	4.42
COUSCOUS	1 CUP	5.95
FARINA (CREAM OF WHEAT)	1 CUP	3.11
SOBA NOODLES	1 CUP	5.77
OATS	1 CUP	4.98
QUICK RICE	1 CUP	4.6
QUINOA	1 CUP	11
PASTA (WHEAT, ENRICHED)	1 CUP	8.12
SEITAN	3 OZ.	22
WHEAT BRAN (DRY)	1 CUP	9.02
WHEAT GERM (DRY)	1 CUP	26.62
WHEAT ROLLED	1 CUP	3.7
WHEAT SPROUTED	1 CUP	8.09
WHITE FLOUR (WHEAT)	1 CUP	12.91
WHITE RICE	1 CUP	4.2
WHOLE WHEAT BREAD	1 SLICE	4
WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR (DRY)	1 CUP	16.44
WILD RICE	1 CUP	6.54
VEGETABLES, COOKED
ASPARAGUS	1/2 CUP	2.16
BEET GREENS	1/2 CUP	3.7
BROCCOLI	1/2 CUP	3.2
CORN ON THE COB	1 EAR	1.5
EDAMAME	1/2 CUP	6
GREEN PEAS	1/2 CUP	3.91
KALE	1/2 CUP	1.25
PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM	1/2 CUP	2.53
POTATO W/SKIN (BAKED)	1 MED.	4.32
SPINACH	1/2 CUP	2.62
SUGAR SNAP PEAS	1/2 CUP	2.61