What counts as a good protein? A simple rule to use: Aim for 10g of protein per 100 calories. The more protein you get for your calories, the easier it is to hit your protein target while staying within your calorie goal. Does that mean foods below that are “bad”? Not at all. Foods like peanut butter, nuts and cheese can absolutely be part of a healthy diet and still help you hit your protein target. They’re just not the most efficient protein sources because more of their calories come from fat