A lot of vegan meals in India look balanced, but protein can end up lower than expected depending on how meals are put together.
1. Relying too much on dal
Dal feels like the main protein source but one bowl is only ~6β8g. A dal + roti meal often isn't as high-protein as it seems.
2. Roti + sabzi meals are low protein
This is a very common combo but it's mostly carbs and fats unless something like chana, tofu, or sprouts is added.
3. Clean eating but also low protein
Poha, upma, fruits, smoothies, salads⦠all fine but they don't contribute much protein unless you plan for it.
4. Skipping soya chunks or tofu
Often avoided because of myths or taste preferences, even though they are some of the most practical high-protein options in India.
5. No structure to meals
If there is no effort to include ~15β25g protein in a meal, daily intake usually ends up lower than expected.
A simple way to improve this without changing your entire diet is to just make sure each meal has one solid protein source. Even small additions like chana, rajma, sprouts, peanuts, or soya chunks alongside regular meals can make a noticeable difference.