From a young age, we’ve been told that eating protein will help us grow tall and strong. I’ve always taken this as a truth, but never questioned it. Now my children are asking me why I’m feeding them foods like bread, chicken and apples. Providing simple answers for growing minds isn’t always easy.
We’ve associated foods like meats, seafood and eggs as being great sources of protein. But what is protein, and why is it so important? Protein foods include any foods made from meat, poultry, seafood, beans, peas, eggs, soy products, nuts and seeds. The amount of protein needed per individual depends on age, sex and level of physical activity, but is typically around 50 grams daily per person. Although most Americans consume enough foods from this group, they could be making leaner and more varied choices, according to the report for the pending 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.