It’s 2014 and chances are, you made a New Year’s Resolution back in December or January. It seems like 9 out of 10 people make the resolution to get healthy or reach their fitness goals. It could be anything from quitting smoking to losing a few extra pounds to get ready for a beach vacation. If you’re one of the people who vowed to get in shape this year, you’ve probably though about protein and the craze surrounding it. Ask anyone that works out and they’ll probably recommend that you drink plenty of water, eat clean, and get the right amount of protein. Well, we have a few recommendations for you as to how you can get your protein fix without spending hundreds of dollars on stuff like Muscle Milk. Ready?

Milk

Milk gets a pretty bad rep these days and we’re not exactly sure why. Most people will tell you to avoid dairy products completely when trying to lose weight but we don’t agree. One serving of dairy a day won’t kill you and a glass of milk packs around 12 grams of protein. Of course, this is assuming you drink whole milk and aren’t drinking it out of a dixie cup. You also probably already have milk in your home right now which is great!

Almonds

Instead of snacking on potato chips in front of the TV in the evening, try about a dozen almonds. They’re packed with protein, are heart healthy, and come in some amazing flavors. We absolutely love Blue Diamond almonds which come in flavors such as coconut and wasabi which is great for those of you that like a little kick and punch with your food.

Peanut Butter

Although this is a “slow digesting” form of protein, it’s still great considering how cheap it is and how full it will make you. Grab a butter knife and eat a big gob of peanut butter on one of your workout days or if you’re feeling hungry right before bed. Do you absolutely have to have your peanut butter sandwich fix? Try it with two slices of wheat bread!

Egg Whites

Finally, we come to egg whites. You can buy these in a carton already prepared or simply do it yourself. Either way, it’s a delicious and affordable source of protein. The only reason we recommend cutting out the yolk is because a lot of people eat eggs daily and you don’t want all that extra cholesterol in your diet but eating them here and there is 100% fine.

So, there you have it. These are just a few of our favorite cheap sources of protein. If none of these appeal to you, you could always try things like beef jerky, tofu, or anything else that fits your budget. As long as you can get 15 to 20 grams of protein from something, you should be more than fine. As always, be sure to pinch those pennies and save money!