Raw Foods With Protein

The most commonly eaten high-protein foods are cooked or pasteurized. These include meat, fish, eggs, dairy, beans and whole grains. You can, however, enjoy these high-protein foods raw as well as cooked. For creative, less conventional raw protein ideas, look to recipe books from raw food enthusiasts--those whose diets typically consist of 75 to 95 percent raw food. These recipes can be helpful even if you follow only a half-raw diet, as recommended by nutritionist Linda Ruff in the Courier Press.

Sprouted Beans

Bean sprouts are a staple food for raw foodists. Rich in protein, sprouted beans are easy to grow at home in even the smallest kitchen. Try sprouted mung beans, adzuki beans or lentils in raw soups and salads. Blend sprouted chickpeas with tahini, olive oil and garlic to make a raw hummus. To make a protein-rich raw veggie burger or pâté, experiment with various combinations of bean sprouts, nuts, vegetables and spices.

Nuts

Nuts and nut butters are a quick way to add raw protein to your meals. Keep nuts handy for a convenient snack or spread raw nut butters--such as walnut, almond or pecan--on bananas, cucumbers or apples. To ensure your nut butter is truly raw, look for labels that specify a heating temperature of 118 degrees or less.

Many raw nut butters, such as Trader Joe's raw almond butter, are made from raw rather than roasted nuts, but are then pasteurized at 160 degrees or higher, according to an email response from the company. You can find out about a particular product by contacting the manufacturer. For more elaborate nut-based meals, look for raw recipes that convert nuts or seeds into sandwich spreads, veggie burgers, cheeses, pizza toppings, sauces and desserts.

Sprouted Grains

Whole grains are 10 to 20 percent protein, depending on the grain. Quinoa and amaranth are at the higher end while brown rice falls on the lower end. To enjoy raw grains, sprout them as you would beans. Quinoa, amaranth, barley, buckwheat, millet, wild rice and brown rice are all good choices. Each one has its own sprouting methods, so be sure to do some research before you begin.
Amaranth, for example, does not need to be soaked. Add sprouted grains to raw soups or use them to make raw versions of grain salads such as tabouleh--a Middle Eastern tomato and parsley salad typically mixed with cooked cracked wheat.

Vegetables

Most people do not think of vegetables when they think of protein. But one cup of raw vegetables does supply approximately 2g of protein. A person consuming a mostly raw food diet is likely to consume quite a few cups of vegetables per day, which will help contribute to their protein requirements.

Animal Products

Some raw foodists, such as model Carol Alt, choose to include raw, or nearly raw, animal products in their diet. These high-protein food choices include unpasteurized dairy products, sushi, eggs, shellfish and seared red meat. Raw milk is illegal to sell in most states, but many natural markets carry a wide selection of raw milk cheeses.