11 Complete Protein Sources That Every Vegan Should Know About

Maybe you’ve heard the term “complete protein.” It derives from the idea that there are 20 different amino acids that can form a protein, and the human body can’t produce nine of them on its own. In order to be considered “complete,” a protein must contain all nine of these essential amino acids in equal amounts.

The thing is, we don’t need the complete amino-acid profile in every meal. We need only a sufficient amount of each amino acid daily. Dieticians confirm that plant-based foods contain a wide variety of profiles, and vegans are pretty much guaranteed to get their daily dose without even trying. Still worried about your protein profiles? Here are 11 plant-based foods or food combos that are considered complete protein sources:

Buckwheat
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Hummus and pita
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Tofu, tempeh, or edamame beans
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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
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Peanut butter toast
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Hemp
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Beans and Rice
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Chia Seeds
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Ezekiel Bread
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Quinoa
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Spirulina