Tuesday, September 8, 2009

complete proteins

For some general information on proteins (courtesy my DS):

Meat and eggs are good sources of all the proteins the body needs daily. They are called complete proteins. Milk (dairy products including cheese), legumes, grains, and seeds are good sources of all except one or two of the proteins needed daily – and are called incomplete proteins. These incomplete protein sources can be combined, however, to give complete proteins. Any two categories connected by a bar will give a complete protein.

Here are some examples of complete proteins:
Dairy and grains:
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Cereal and milk
  • Crackers and milk
  • Spaghetti with Parmesan cheese
  • Cheese pizza
  • Ice cream and cookies
Grains and legumes:
  • Beans plus rice or corn bread
  • Split pea soup plus crackers
  • Baked beans plus muffins or bread
  • Taco with refried beans
  • Peanut butter sandwich
Legumes and seeds:
  • Trail mix including peanuts and sunflower seeds

Grains include rice, white or whole-wheat bread, corn bread, macaroni, and spaghetti.
Legumes include garbanzo beans, Great Northern beans, lentils, lima beans, navy beans, peanuts, peas, pinto beans, kidney beans, and soybeans.