Research

Adherence

Consumers lack sufficient food literacy to transition to plant-based protein diets without compromising nutritional adequacy or relying on ultra-processed foods.

To successfully adopt more plant-based proteins, you need to learn how to select and prepare them, as simply swapping meat for plants isn't enough. Focus on whole foods like legumes, nuts, and seeds to ensure you get adequate nutrients without relying on processed alternatives. If you are unsure, consult a professional to ensure your diet remains nutritionally complete, especially if you are older or raising children.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
there are concerns that the public has inadequate food literacy to transition to a diet recommending greater plant-based protein intake, as recommended by Canada’s Food Guide, without depending on ultra-processed foods or compromising the nutritional adequacy of the diet.
Melissa Anne Fernandez et al. · Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism · 2020

Why this rating

The paper is a review of knowledge gaps and expert consensus, citing observational data and policy analysis rather than primary experimental trials.

Source

Translating “protein foods” from the new Canada’s Food Guide to consumers: knowledge gaps and recommendations

Melissa Anne Fernandez et al. · Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism · 2020

DOI 10.1139/apnm-2020-0192

narrative_reviewCited 38×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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