Protein from Plants

In Michael Pollan's Eater's Manifesto, which this blog is named after, he talks about how people have been eating natural foods in beneficial combinations for eons.  Until of course industrialized food came along.  

Today I went to a weight class at the gym and my muscles are quivering.  It hurts my shoulders just to type.  The teacher wanted to make sure everyone made sure they went home and ate plenty of protein.  Sadly her suggestions were to go eat manmade bars and drinks.  Anyway that got me thinking about how superior plant protein is.  Scientist keep discovering more and more ways that simple old plants are good for us.  We don't even know all the benefits yet of eating God-given food versus supplement industry food. Of course if you eat beans without rice you aren't getting a complete protein. But the way humans have evolved to eat plant protein and in certain combinations is interesting.

Anyway most of you already know this stuff, but just in case here are some ways to combine plant foods to get complete and perfect proteins:

• Grains plus legumes. Try black beans and rice (the staple diet of a huge number of people). 
• Nuts and seeds plus legumes. Lentil soup with a serving of almonds on the side.  Or Hummus (sesame/chickpea).
• Corn plus legumes. Try pinto beans in a corn tortilla.

Isn't nature a funny old thing?  The way natural foods just seem to provide all the nourishment our bodies need and old-school culture helps combine those foods in ways that suit our dietary needs perfectly?