Cleveland Shoppers Turn to Beans, Eggs, Nuts for Protein

Cleveland grocery receipts show plant proteins outselling beef and chicken by volume at three West Side stores last month.

Meat prices climbed again in June while egg and legume costs stayed flat, pushing more residents to adjust weekly menus without losing protein grams. The change lines up with longer daylight hours that draw people to evening runs along the Lake Erie shore and weekend hikes in the Metroparks.

Regulars at the West Side Market on Lorain Avenue fill canvas bags with bulk bins of black beans and chickpeas priced at $1.89 a pound. A short drive east, the twice-weekly stand at Shaker Square sells pasture-raised eggs from a Medina County farm for $4.25 a dozen. Both spots also carry local walnuts and pumpkin seeds that add 6 to 8 grams of protein per handful.

Market options in practice

Staff at the West Side Market report the biggest jump in sales of dried lentils and Greek yogurt from nearby dairies. Shoppers say the items keep them full through afternoon shifts at the Cleveland Clinic or evening classes at the downtown YMCA. Prices posted on July 7 listed a 16-ounce container of plain yogurt at $3.49 and a two-pound bag of red lentils at $3.79.

National data from the USDA’s 2025 food atlas shows one cup of cooked lentils delivers 18 grams of protein for roughly 80 cents, compared with 22 grams from a quarter-pound ground beef patty that now costs $2.10 in the same region. Cleveland nutrition educators note that pairing the lentils with brown rice at the same meal reaches the 25-gram mark many adults target per sitting.

Next steps for home cooks

Start the week by soaking a pound of beans overnight, then portion them into containers for quick lunches. Add an egg or a sprinkle of seeds at breakfast to reach daily targets without extra shopping trips. Residents who want guidance can stop by the Cuyahoga County Extension office on Carnegie Avenue for free recipe cards updated each quarter.