If you want to be "toned," stay strong, and not feel sore and tired after your workouts, you need to make protein the central part of every meal. That's right - every meal. Research shows that 30 grams of protein is the minimum target amount of protein you should aim for at each meal. Why 30 grams? The 30 gram mark maximally stimulates protein synthesis, the process by which you build and re-build muscle. Hitting this 30 gram mark is especially important if your goal is to lose fat versus just "losing weight." Without adequate protein intake (and effective strength training), you're likely to lose just as much muscle as fat. Not good. And you get older, it is even more important to hit this 30 gram mark because your ability to build and repair muscle naturally decreases. Remember, it's muscle that keeps you toned and strong. Muscle is good for you! At lunch and dinner, 30 grams probably isn’t a hard target for you, but sometimes breakfast can ...