Plant Protein in Practice: Quality, Source, and Balance - What Does the Evidence Say?

This session examines what the evidence shows for health outcomes when we shift the protein balance of the diet from animal- to plant-derived sources, emphasizing plant protein quality, source, and implementation in clinical practice. Data from randomized controlled trials and large prospective cohorts that compare major plant protein sources with animal protein sources will be shared. Substitution evidence for long-term outcomes will be highlighted, including how health benefits vary by the specific plant and animal food exchanges. Dietary guideline recommendations will also be discussed, and targets will be translated into meal-level strategies: building plates that reach protein goals while also supporting key nutrient intakes. Plant-based meat alternatives are addressed using an ingredient-composition lens rather than a “processed” label alone. Attendees will learn to evaluate protein, sodium, saturated fat, fiber, fortification, and additives, and how to place PBMAs on a continuum, as transitional or maintenance foods, while prioritizing whole, minimally processed plant staples.

Speaker Bio:

Andrea J. Glenn, MSc, RD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University and a Visiting Scientist in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She earned her BSc in Nutrition from St. Francis Xavier University, completed dietetic training at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto), and received her MSc and PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto. She then completed postdoctoral training in Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Glenn’s research advances evidence-based, plant-forward nutrition strategies to prevent and manage cardiometabolic disease. Her work focuses on dietary patterns and plant-based protein, examining how the quality, source, and balance of plant foods relate to outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Using a combination of randomized controlled trials and large cohort studies, she also develops and evaluates practical measures of plant-based dietary adherence and investigates biological mechanisms linking diet to health. A key component of her program is improving dietary assessment beyond self-report by leveraging objective biomarkers of dietary intake and metabolic response, including metabolomics. Dr. Glenn is also committed to translating nutrition science into clinical and community impact through Food is Medicine initiatives and patient-centered knowledge translation tools. She also teaches and mentors across research methods, nutritional epidemiology, and culinary medicine.