The American diet tends to be heavy on protein, with many people taking in more than the .8g per kilogram recommended by the Institute of Medicine. For most people, an intake of 10 to 35 percent of calories from protein is acceptable, but a low-protein diet may be indicated for people with kidney or liver disease. A low-protein diet involves eating less than 39g of protein daily, and can still include a variety of healthy foods. If your doctor has prescribed a low-protein diet, consult with him when developing a meal plan.
Vegetable Oil
Oils like olive, soybean, sunflower and safflower contain no protein, but add flavor and calories to your diet. Most plant oils are composed mostly of unsaturated fats, which do not raise blood cholesterol like animal oils and fats.
Cereals and Grains
Products made with flour or grains, such as cereal and bread, have about 2 grams of protein per 1/2 cup or slice. Ready-to-eat cereals, rice, hot cereal, pasta, bread, tortillas and popcorn all fit into this category. Snack crackers, cookies and cakes also contain little protein per serving. Check cereal labels, however, as some contain added soy protein.
Vegetables
Vegetables generally contain 1 to 2 g of protein per ½-cup cooked serving or 1 cup raw. Vegetable juice has about 2g of protein per 1-cup serving, and tomato sauce 4g of protein per ½ cup. Almost all vegetables including peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, squash, lettuce, onions, green peas and corn contain these amounts. Potatoes and potato chips are also low in protein. Avoid soy beans or products made with soy, as it is higher in protein.
Sweets
Jams and jellies, hard candy, marshmallows and honey contain only trace amounts of protein. Pure sugar -- granulated, brown or cane -- contains no protein. A 1 1/2 oz. milk chocolate bar contains about 3g of protein.
Fruits
Most fruits contain just trace amounts of protein. Apples, bananas, kiwis, raisins, canned fruit and melons are examples of fruits to include on a low-protein diet. If weight loss is a concern on a low-protein diet, eat calorie-dense dried fruit or fruit canned in heavy syrup.
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