There's Plenty of Protein-Rich Alternatives to Meat at Nino Salvaggio's

Getting enough protein in our diets is often a hot topic of discussion, especially in the month of January! Consuming enough protein is key to having a well balanced, healthful diet regardless of your dietary lifestyle. Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, a meat lover or somewhere in between, getting enough protein throughout your day is extremely important.

Last year, we took at look at the top 10 veggies for providing great sources of delicious protein, in an article that you can read HERE. This time around we'll explore some other non-meat options.

According to The American Heart Association’s article Picking Healthy Proteins, they recommend“choosing healthy sources of proteins, mostly from plant sources; regularly eating fish and seafood; substituting fat-free and low-fat dairy products in place of full-fat versions; and for people who eat meat or poultry, choosing those that are lean and unprocessed.” You can review the article for more details about their guidelines and recommendations when it comes to proteins.

Here at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace we are proud to offer a variety of sources of healthy proteins both from plant and animal sources. Here are a few of our favorite sources of proteins that go beyond the obvious meat and animal based options!

Proteins at Nino’s

Beans: Beans are not only a plant based food that contains protein but they also contain fiber to keep you feeling full and satisfied longer. Nino’s offers an incredible variety of dried beans including: Cannellini, Adzuki, Garbanzo, Black, Lupini, Cranberry, Great Northern, Black Beluga, French Navy, Dark & Red Kidney and Giant Peruvian Lima.

January is an excellent time to start exploring how to cook with dried beans as a source of protein. Here is a great step-by-step guide on How To Cook Dried Beans featured on the Food Network.

Nuts & Seeds: Nuts and seeds are another versatile, portable and inexpensive way to get your protein in, especially at snack time. Adding nuts or seeds to your meals such as throwing in your oatmeal or high protein greek yogurt, tossing in a salad, or even a stir fry makes for a quick and simple boost in protein. Nino’s also offers a huge assortment of nuts in our bulk department. Some of our favorites include: Jumbo Brazil Nuts, No Salt & Salted Deluxe Mixed Nuts, Raw Almonds, Jumbo No Salt Cashews, Pistachios, Roasted No Salt Sunflower Seeds, California Gold Walnuts, Raw Pecans and so many more! Visit our Bulk Department to find the best selection in nuts and seeds in town!

Seafood: Nino’s seafood selections offer a healthy alternative to red meat in 2025. Certain fish are rich in Omega 3-fatty acids and offer benefits for your heart. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least twice per week, according to Heart.org (Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids).

Keith is always happy to serve up fresh and healthy seafood.

Fatty fish includes options such as anchovies, herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines, and bluefin tuna; and mollusks such as oysters and mussels. Our seafood department is standing by to provide you with the freshest seafood to help bring these nourishing, cardioprotective protein sources into your homes and diets. Incorporating these seafood options into your weekly dinners is a great way to also find some new meal ideas and get creative.

Here are some of our Culinary Teams favorite seafood recipes to help get you started in the new year:

• Salmon Chowder
• Cajun Blackened Salmon Salad

Looking for healthier options while entertaining this year? Leave the seafood needs to Nino’s. We are excited to offer you many different catering options filled with heart healthy seafood including:

• Chilled Fillets of Salmon Platters, Choose from Steamed with Lemon & Dill, Baked Italian, Cajun Blackened, Teriyaki Grilled and Spinach & Dilll Crusted
• Bagel & Smoked Salmon Platters
• Sushi Roll Platters including Spicy Tuna & Spicy Salmon Rolls

We look forward to having you explore our aisles for these interesting and fun ways to creatively add protein to your meals this upcoming year at Nino’s! Stay tuned for more Health and Wellness articles on our blog in 2025.

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