Photo Credit: Iakov Filimonov/Shutterstock

Protein is central to the human diet: It helps the body self-repair, and is important for the immune system and metabolism. When you give up eating meat, one of the first things you will hear is, "But where will you get your protein?"

White meat ispackedwith good proteins. Maybe you relied on chicken and pork to get your nutrition before you realized you would like to stop eating meat. But switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet isnt just about cutting out certain products from your dietyou need to ensure that you get all the nutrition you need.

Any seasoned vegetarian or vegan will tell you that protein is not a problem. Nature provides plenty of alternative, plant-based sources of protein, and it is easy to incorporate them intodelicious recipes.

The infographics below are great at-a-glance protein guides so you can instantly tell the protein value of a number of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly ingredients. Pick out some foods you like, and see how they can be incorporated into some interesting recipes.

The infographic above was originally published by OnStride Financial.

The infographic above was originally published byOnStride Financial.

Jennifer Gueringer is a social media associate at Enova International, Inc. Find her at Google+.

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These Are the Best Sources of Protein for Vegetarians and Vegans - AlterNet