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Avoid talking to doctors about nutrition. Really. They're great at diagnosing illness, but know jack about eating.

If he thinks you're not getting enough protein, you need to go see a registered dietitian (NOT a nutritionist) to develop a diet plan that's better suited to your needs. Your diet should provide your nutrition without having to use supplements, unless you have some major illness.

I think some key details would help:

* How many grams of protein does your doctor recommend per day?

* Why are you not getting enough protein from veg sources?

* What alternatives did he suggest to protein shakes?

* What are your symptoms of low protein?

1. If your doctor tells you that you're low on protein, then you have no idea where the hell you should get your protein. Seriously, this should be a no-brainer. FOOD.

2. Protein shakes are NOT NOT NOT designed to put weight on anyone. They are designed to be a quick and convenient way to get your protein. That's it. One 100% whey protein shake has anywhere from 110-130 calories per serving...that's less than a Slim Fast, and I don't see you asking how much weight you'll gain on Slim Fast.

I agree with Moove Over! If you are eating a good variety (different colors) of vegetables and fruits, you should be getting more than enough protein. Not to mention beans, nuts and whole grains. There is a good section in The China Study by T. Colin Campbell where he talks about the amount of protein in vegetables vs. meat (it's pretty amazing). There is no reason to be protein deficient if you're eating a good diet.

I would be wary of protein shakes and take your doctor's recommendation with a grain of salt. Most medical programs have a very narrow focus on nutrition (some medical schools have only one class on nutrition). I would consult a dietitian.

Almost everything has a little bit of protein in it. A bowl of cereal usually has a few grams. A glass of soy milk has about 6 grams. Even spinach has a little bit of protein. It is really easy to get 30 grams of protein. I am a vegan and I think I eat about 150 grams or more of protein every day, maybe more, but I don't really keep track. I lift weights regularly, so I try to eat a lot of protein so I can get muscle. Vegan foods that are high in protein include: Beans: Kidney beans, garbanzos, lentils, etc. Soy products: Soy milk, tofu, soy nuts, etc. Nuts: Peanuts, peanut butter, cashews, almonds, pecans, etc. Seeds: Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, etc. Grains: Rice, Whole grain bread, quinoa, granola, various cereals, etc. I wish you the best in your quest!

Wow, a doctor that has diagnosed malnutrition in protein and not provided you with resources to help with the situation. Hmmm...

Without knowing how much protein your doctor says you need I have no way of telling you what you need to eat to achieve the level he wishes.

Although I am skeptical that a doctor such as this would ever have return clients I will go against my better judgment and pretend that this situation really happened.

How many grams increase did he say to consume?

1) NUTS - Nuts have protein, but you will want to limit the number of them you have because of their high fat contents. There are plenty of natural food sources that contain plenty of protein without tons of fat.

2) BEANS - plenty of beans and lentils contain protein. One of my favourites is chickpeas - you can put them on salad, cook them, fry them...they work in many ways. Some beans are actually higher in protein than many animal sources. I really like Edamame beans too...even plain they are good.

3) SOY - there are plenty of meat alternatives out there. Some are more natural than others, that is your choice to make. There are a few brands that make organic, natural veggie burgers that are very yummy.

If you are vegetarian, and not vegan, then you can find protein in dairy and eggs as well.

Beans are a good source of protein, so are nuts and veggies. These should'nt cause you to gain weight.

then you're not eating right.

i'm a vegan and i have an over abundance of protein.

so much so i have to take lipitor and i don't eat processed foods or dairy.

protein shakes are processed dear.. read about them.. first of all the protein shakes are not protein, they're chemicals and what's in them is insoluble and inert.

your body is just going to turn it into fats, inert fats not processable into energy fats.

why do you need protein shakes?

what are YOU really eating?

if you are eating a wide range of fresh fruits and veggies.. among lesser processed seeds, nuts, grains and beans......

then you have more than enough protein in your blood stream floating around.

any doctor who would suggest i intake chemicals to improve my blood chemistry is going to see me walk out the door looking for another doctor.

nuts and lentils

i am from india (pure vegetarian) we usually cook lentils add some veggies like tomatos spinach and eat them with rice or rotis (tortillas)

good source of protein and dont take more protien shakes as they are artificial.

try lentils beans nuts soy is best

You know what helps me?

A banana and a small hand full of almonds.

It's all the protein you need!