Finding High Protein Food Near You: Restaurants, Snacks & Meals

Finding the Best High Protein Food Options Near You

Eating enough protein every day is important for building and maintaining muscle mass, supporting weight loss, and keeping you feeling full between meals. When a protein craving strikes or you realize your daily intake is low, you may wonder: where can I find high protein food options near me?

Luckily, most neighborhoods have a variety of restaurants, grocery stores, and quick grabs that offer protein-packed menu items perfect for pairing with veggies or enjoying on their own. Read on for tips on locating high protein foods wherever you are!

Protein Sources to Look For

First, lets review the major food sources that provide high quality protein:

• Meat - Beef, pork, lamb, bison, & venison
• Poultry - Chicken, turkey, duck, & other fowl
• Fish - Tuna, salmon, cod, sardines, shellfish, etc.
• Eggs and Dairy - Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, milk, hard cheeses
• Beans, Legumes, & Soy - Lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, edamame

When searching your area for high protein options, scan for menus and grocery items containing plenty of these ingredients.

Restaurants With High Protein Dishes

Nearly every cuisine offers entrees focused on meat, fish, eggs and other protein-centric ingredients. Here are some restaurant types to check out in your neighborhood or city for hearty high protein meal choices:

Steakhouses

Splurge on succulent cuts of grilled, blackened or smothered steak loaded with over 30g protein per serving. Order your steak with a side salad instead of a heavy starch.

Burger Joints

Bunless burgers wrapped in lettuce are a tasty high protein option. Or order your grass-fed beef or turkey burger with just one whole grain bun and lots of veggie toppings.

Sandwich Shops

Look for sandwich fillings like rotisserie chicken, tuna salad, nitrate-free deli meats, falafel, or grilled veggies to fill your protein needs. Load up plenty of crisp salad instead of chips or sugary drinks.

Pizza Places

Swap out pepperoni and sausage for grilled chicken on your pie for a protein punch. Or order meat-loaded pasta dishes like chicken parmesan or shrimp scampi.

Mexican Restaurants

Skip the rice and tortillas and enjoy fajita meat with roasted veggies. Carnitas, fish tacos, and chicken mole enchiladas also offer protein-rich options.

Sushi Spots

Seafood-centric sushi rolls load up on protein from fish like salmon and tuna. Add some edamame, seaweed salad, or miso soup to round out your meal.

Greek Restaurants

Piles of shaved gyro meat, lemon chicken, or grilled shrimp souvlaki satisfy protein needs. Pair with cucumbers, olives, stuffed grape leaves, and Mediterranean salads.

Indian Buffets

Curried chickpeas, lentils, paneer cheese, and tandoori chicken offer plentiful protein without heavy cream sauces. Balance with small portions of rice or naan bread.

Quick Protein Grabs Nearby

When youre rushing between work and errands, finding a healthy high protein snack matters more than sit-down dining. Fortunately, increasing protein content is trending fast food-wide lately!

Look for these quick protein options to grab near your workplace, gym, or anywhere convenience is key:

• Protein bars & shakes
• Greek yogurt parfaits
• Protein oatmeal cups
• Deli-style chicken wraps
• Egg white sandwiches or bites
• Protein smoothies or juices
• Pre-cooked tuna or salmon packs
• Roasted chickpea snacks
• Protein nut trail mixes

Grocery Shopping for High Protein Food

Visiting neighborhood supermarkets and health food stores offers the most variety for stocking up on protein-focused foods to enjoy all week long.

Heres what to look for in each section of the grocery store:

Meat & Seafood

Load up your cart with lean ground beef or turkey, skinless poultry, fatty fish like salmon, and unprocessed cold cuts from the deli section. Canned tuna, crabmeat, and low-sodium cottage cheese also supply protein.

Dairy

Greek and Icelandic skyr yogurts offer double protein compared to regular yogurt. Kefir drinks are also protein-rich probiotic options.

Eggs & Meat Alternatives

Range-free eggs, egg whites, tofu, tempeh, seitan, and legume-based meat alternatives like burgers and sausages pack plenty of veg-friendly protein.

Frozen Foods

Edamame, veggie-stuffed ravioli, frozen salmon or mahi burgers, and pre-cooked quinoa or lentil dishes offer quick protein when youre busy.

Produce

Load up on fresh or frozen fruits and veggies to combine with Greek yogurt dips, hummus, nut butters, beans, cottage cheese, hard boiled eggs or grilled chicken.

Tip: Canned or dry lentils, chickpeas, pinto or black beans available in the health food section also supply vegan protein.

Using Apps to Find High Protein Food Nearby

Dont want to wander around hoping to stumble across protein-friendly foods? Let smartphone apps point you to high protein restaurant dishes and grocery items nearby!

Apps to Discover New Restaurants

Download apps like Yelp or Zomato to locate highly rated restaurants in your neighborhood serving cuisine types likely to offer high protein meals like steakhouses. You can even search reviews for keywords like high protein or healthy options.

Restaurant Nutrition Lookup

Dont just guess how much protein is really in that appetizing dish! Apps like MyFitnessPal allow you to search or scan nutrition info and menus from most major restaurant chains.

Grocery Store Aisle Guides

Wandering supermarket aisles aimlessly wastes time. Grocery store map apps like Aisle411 pinpoint exactly what aisle carries Greek yogurt or tofu so you can grab protein fast and get out.

Meal Planning Apps

Confused about how to hit your daily protein target? From recipe databases to macro trackers, meal planning apps like Mealime, EMeals or MyNetDiary build balanced menus with your protein needs in mind.

Simple High Protein Meals to Make at Home

Preparing satisfying high protein meals at home lets you control ingredients, portions, and macros completely!

When youd rather cook than dine out or scour grocery aisles, try recipes like:

• Sheet pan chicken fajitas
• Burger salad bowls
• Veggie & chickpea curry
• Baked salmon with asparagus
• Zoodles with meatballs
• Tuna lettuce cups

See a theme? Combining lean protein sources with fiber-full veggies makes achieving macro targets easy. Meal prepping a few simple high protein dishes on your day off reduces weekday lunch headaches too!

DIY Protein Boosters

Whip up these recipes to add quick protein to snacks and meals without complicated cooking:

• Chocolate PB Protein Muffins - Blend cottage cheese, eggs, nut butter, and cocoa powder for a high protein baked treat.
• Salsa Bean Dip - Mash canned black or pinto beans with salsa and Greek yogurt for an instant protein dip.
• Overnight Protein Oats - Combine oats, milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds and nut butter. Refrigerate overnight.
• Protein Bistro Boxes - Assemble tuna salad with hard boiled eggs over greens for instant portable meals.

Sample High Protein Day from Morning to Night

Still unsure how to plan daily meals focused on maximizing protein content? Follow this sample schedule incorporating easy high protein restaurant finds and homemade dishes!

Breakfast

• Overnight oats blended with Greek yogurt, berries, flaxseed, cinnamon
• Hard boiled eggs (2 eggs = 12g protein)
• High protein muffin or snack bar on the go (7-15g protein each)

Lunch

• Tuna or chicken salad wrap
• Burrito bowl with chicken or steak, brown rice, salsa, beans, lettuce, cheese
• Grilled chicken sandwich or burger with a sweet potato side

Afternoon Snack

• Scoop cottage cheese topped with fruit, granola, chia seeds (14g per half cup)
• Protein smoothie (15-25g) or shake (15-30g)
• Slice high protein coffee cake or banana bread

Dinner

• Sheet pan fajitas with chicken or shrimp (20-30g)
• Grilled salmon (20g per 3oz) over greens with chickpeas (7g per half cup)
• Zoodles with turkey meatballs (7g each) and marinara

Evening Snack

• Nonfat plain Greek yogurt (15-20g per 6oz) with fruit and nuts
• Turkey jerky sticks (8g per ounce) and cheese crisps
• Edamame hummus (4g per 2 tablespoons) with celery and carrots

This sample high protein menu totals 100-160g protein day. Now you have plenty of ideas for putting protein-focused eats within easy reach from dawn through bedtime!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.