Sources of Protein

Your Diet after Weight-Loss Surgery

Below is a list of high-protein foods. If you had Roux-en-Y or Lap-Band surgery, your goal is 50 to 60
grams of protein per day. If you had a duodenal switch, your goal is 80 to 100 grams of protein per day.
Type of food Amount
Grams
protein
Calorie
level
Animal protein foods
Chicken (white, packed in water) 1 ounce 9 g Low
Turkey (light meat, no skin) 1 ounce 9 g Low
Ham (lean, 5%) 1 ounce 8 g Low
Venison, roasted 1 ounce 8 g Low
Tuna (white, packed in water) 1 ounce 8 g Low
Chicken (light meat, no skin) 1 ounce 8 g Low
Fish (ounder, haddock, halibut, cod) 1 ounce 7 to 8 g Low
Crab, steamed 1 ounce 7 g Low
Pork tenderloin, lean roasted 1 ounce 6 g Low
Lobster, steamed 1 ounce 6 g Low
Luncheon meat (turkey, ham, chicken) 1 ounce 5 g Low
Imitation seafood (such as crabmeat) 1 ounce 4 g Low
Cooked shrimp or scallops 1 ounce 6 g Low
Liquid egg substitute cup 10 to 12 g Medium
Steak (sirloin, trimmed) 1 ounce 10 g Medium
Chicken leg (no skin) 1 ounce 8 g Medium
Pork loin chop 1 ounce 8 g Medium
Veal loin, lean roasted 1 ounce 8 g Medium
Fatty sh (salmon, bluesh, etc.) 1 ounce 7 to 8 g Medium
Hamburger, medium 1 ounce 7 g Medium
Scrambled egg 1 large 6 g Medium
For informational purposes only. Not to replace the advice of your health care provider.
Copyright 2007 Fairview Health Services. All rights reserved. SMARTworks 520235 05/07.
Clinical Nutrition Services

Notes:
Calorie levels
Low:
0 to 50 calories
Medium:
50 to 100 calories
High:
100 to 150 calories
*Very high:
150 to 200 calories
(use these food in
small amounts)
Serving sizes
1 ounce meat or
poultry =
deck of cards
1 ounce cheese =
1-inch cube
Type of food Amount
Grams
protein
Calorie
level
Dairy products
Cottage cheese (fat-free or 1%) cup 7 g Low
American cheese (fat-free) 1 ounce 6 g Low
Milk (skim) cup 4 g Low
Dry skim milk powder 2 Tbsp 4 g Low
Parmesan cheese, grated 1 Tbsp 2 g Low
Mozzarella cheese (part skim) 1 ounce 8 g Medium
Ricotta cheese (part skim) cup 7 g Medium
Carnation Instant Breakfast
(sugar-free, made with milk)
cup 6.5 g Medium
Yogurt (sugar-free) cup 5 g Medium
Pudding (sugar-free) cup 4 g Medium
Vegetarian
Soy protein, texturized cup 6 g Low
Tofu cup 5 g Low
Soymilk, plain cup 3 g Low
Tempeh cup 8 g Medium
Lentils cup 5 g Medium
Kidney beans, black beans,
fat-free refried beans (vegetarian)
cup 4 g Medium
Chickpeas, canned cup 4 g Medium
Baked beans, canned cup 3 g Medium
Veggie burger (garden burger) 1 patty 7 g High
Soynuts* cup 17 g Very high
Sunower seeds, shells removed,
dry roasted*
2 Tbsp 8 g Very high
Peanuts, dry roasted* 1 ounce 7 g Very high
Source
USDA National Nutrient Database. Available at:
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/. Accessed March 2007.
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Notes:
Calorie levels
Low:
0 to 50 calories
Medium:
50 to 100 calories
High:
100 to 150 calories
*Very high:
150 to 200 calories
(use these food in
small amounts)
Serving sizes
1 ounce meat or
poultry =
deck of cards
1 ounce cheese =
1-inch cube