Where Do You Get Your Protein?

If you’ve been vegetarian, vegan, or raw for more than 5 minutes, I’m sure you’ve already been asked this question a dozen times.  It is always the first thing on people’s minds when they discover that you are not consuming a steady diet of burgers, fries, and coca cola.

Protein consumption can be a rather uncomfortable subject for people, especially for the beginning raw foodist.  If you are new to raw, you might not feel qualified enough to answer the question.  Or maybe this is an issue that you are still coming to terms with and have doubts about.

If so, I suggest you check out my Everything You Know About Protein is Wrong.  It’s sort of a “Protein 101” lesson.  I guarantee you will feel totally secure in your protein consumption on a raw food diet after reading it.

Now back to the topic at hand.

Where Do You Get Your Protein?

This question can be very telling.  You can discover a lot about a person’s understanding of basic health principles by his or her level of concern with protein consumption.

After someone asks me where I get my protein eating a raw vegan diet, I know that:

• This person does not understand what protein is and what it actually does
• This person does not understand that every food contains protein
• This person does not understand how much protein humans need
• This person does not know how much protein they themselves consume
• This person does not know that our bodies pool our own amino acids to form new proteins
• This person does not understand what cooking does to the amino acid chains

Of course, I would never say this to anyone asking me about my protein consumption.  How rude and condescending!  This kind of reaction is a sure fire way to alienate *anyone* and to turn them off of raw foods for good.

Instead, I usually say something like, “Did you know that fruits and vegetables contain protein?  And because the molecular structure of the food that I eat has not been changed through cooking, my body can better utilize the protein and other macro and micronutrients that I eat.”

If they continue, I’ll usually add, “Did you know that human breast milk only contains 5% protein?  You would think that a growing infant needs the MOST protein of all.  If babies only need 5% protein, than I’m more than comfortable eating around or even below that amount.”

Be Professional

I try to make my statements short, sweet, and to the point.  I don’t argue.  I don’t get defensive.  And I certainly do not point fingers, name names, or play the blame game.

This “professional” approach makes it obvious that I’m comfortable with my dietary decisions and that I’m not looking to change anyone else’s. This will typically keep people from becoming defensive and the conversation will move on to friendlier topics.

So the next time you are asked, “Where do you get your protein?” you can hold your head up high and pronounce:

“My raw food diet provides all the protein I need, in an easy-to-use form and of the best quality.”

Brings tears to my eyes.

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze