Fitness & Muscle

High-protein, low-calorie, nutrient-dense ingredients to fuel your training

Fitness and muscle-building meals lean as much on nutrition as on training. Vegetables and fruits are low in calories yet rich in vitamins and minerals, helping you round out nutrition without disrupting your macro balance. Broccoli and edamame are fitness favorites, while bananas and sweet potatoes serve as pre/post-workout energy sources. Seafood like saba (mackerel) and maguro (tuna) delivers high protein at low fat, and salmon offers astaxanthin — nutrients you can't easily get from red meat. During cutting phases, ultra-low-calorie options like bean sprouts and cauliflower are reliable allies.

32 items 9 in peak season

Recommended Ingredients

01

Horse Mackerel

あじ Seafood Peak

19.7g protein with abundant EPA/DHA — lower fat than saba, easy for daily meals.

Protein 19.7gHigh EPA/DHA
¥138 /100g
Annual Avg
02

Asparagus

アスパラガス Vegetable Peak

Contains aspartic acid, low calorie and high protein. An easy addition to training-focused meals.

Aspartic acidProtein 2.6g
¥2,387 /1kg
Annual Avg
03

Banana

バナナ Fruit

A quick-energy fruit often chosen for pre/post-workout snacks. Also rich in potassium.

Instant energyPotassium 360mg
¥361 /1kg
Annual Avg
04

Broccoli

ブロッコリー Vegetable

4.3 g of protein at 33 kcal makes it a nutrient-dense vegetable. Also rich in vitamin C.

Protein 4.3gLow cal 33kcal
¥731 /1kg
Annual Avg
05

Yellowtail

ぶり Seafood

21.4g protein per 100g with high EPA/DHA — fats are higher, making it suit bulking phases.

Protein 21.4gHigh EPA/DHA
¥375 /100g
Annual Avg
06

Cauliflower

カリフラワー Vegetable

Low-carb and popular as 'cauliflower rice' — a white rice substitute. Also a solid 3.0g protein.

Low-carbRice substitute
07

Chicken Breast

鶏むね肉 Meat

23.3g protein, 1.9g fat, 105 kcal per 100g — the most widely used high-efficiency protein source in strength training and body recomposition.

23g protein per 100gOnly 1.9g fat, low calorie
08

Chicken Tenderloin

鶏ささみ Meat

23.9g protein, just 0.8g fat, and 98 kcal per 100g — the leanest chicken cut, ideal for protein-focused cutting phases.

Only 0.8g fat23.9g protein per 100g
09

Shrimp

えび Seafood

19.6g protein at 0.3g fat and 82kcal (raw vannamei) — lean protein with astaxanthin.

Protein 19.6gAstaxanthin
¥356 /100g
Annual Avg
10

Edamame

えだまめ Vegetable

With 11.7g protein per 100g, it offers the highest plant protein among vegetables. Perfect post-workout fuel.

Protein 11.7gIdeal post-workout
¥1,569 /1kg
Annual Avg
11

Fava Beans

そらまめ Vegetable Peak

10.9g protein delivers legume-class nutrition. Rich in iron and folate for excellent nutritional balance.

Protein 10.9gIron 2.3mg
12

Garlic

にんにく Vegetable Peak

Contains allicin, a sulfur compound unique to garlic, plus a notable 6.4g protein per 100g.

Contains allicinProtein 6.4g
13

Silver Salmon (Coho)

銀鮭 Seafood Peak

19.6g protein and 188 kcal per 100g — a popular protein source for strength training. Also rich in EPA/DHA and astaxanthin (the red pigment carotenoid).

19.6g protein per 100gRich in EPA/DHA and astaxanthin
14

Green Peas

グリーンピース Vegetable Peak

6.9g protein and 7.7g fiber make it a high-spec choice. Supplements the fiber often lacking in fitness diets.

Protein 6.9gFiber 7.7g
15

Scallop

ほたて Seafood Peak

13.5g protein at only 0.9g fat and 66kcal — ideal for cutting phases.

Protein 13.5gLow fat 0.9g
¥427 /100g
Annual Avg
16

Squid

いか Seafood

17.9g protein, just 0.8g fat, 76kcal — among the leanest high-protein seafood.

Protein 17.9g76kcal
¥231 /100g
Annual Avg
17

Sardine

いわし Seafood

19.2g protein per 100g with EPA/DHA exceeding saba — easy to eat as canned or dried.

Protein 19.2gTop-tier EPA/DHA
¥99 /100g
Annual Avg
18

Oyster

かき Seafood

Only 58kcal with 6.9g protein per 100g — low-calorie, strong on zinc and iron for mineral support.

58kcalZinc & iron
¥465 /100g
Annual Avg
19

Crab

かに Seafood

13.9g protein at 0.4g fat and 59kcal (raw snow crab) — premium lean protein.

Protein 13.9gLow cal 59kcal
20

Skipjack Tuna

かつお Seafood Peak

25.8g protein at 0.5g fat and 108kcal (spring katsuo) — among the leanest protein sources in seafood.

Protein 25.8gLow fat 0.5g
¥249 /100g
Annual Avg
21

Tuna

まぐろ Seafood

Lean akami offers 26.4g protein at low fat — a gold-standard fitness protein.

Protein 26.4gLow fat
¥480 /100g
Annual Avg
22

Moroheiya

モロヘイヤ Vegetable

Protein 4.8 g, potassium 530 mg, only 36 kcal — pairs well with meals that aim for nutrient density at low calories.

Protein 4.8gLow cal 36kcal
23

Bean Sprouts

もやし Vegetable

Ultra-low calorie, so you can eat plenty during cutting phases. Incredible cost performance too.

Ultra-low calorieGreat value
¥200 /1kg
Annual Avg
24

Mackerel

さば Seafood

20.7g protein per 100g plus abundant EPA/DHA — a fitness-favorite protein source.

Protein 20.7gHigh EPA/DHA
¥153 /100g
Annual Avg
25

Salmon

さけ Seafood

22.3g protein per 100g plus EPA/DHA and astaxanthin — a multi-functional fitness option.

Protein 22.3gAstaxanthin
¥513 /100g
Annual Avg
26

Pacific Saury

さんま Seafood

18.1g protein with abundant EPA/DHA. Higher 25.6g fat suits bulking-phase energy needs.

Protein 18.1gHigh EPA/DHA
¥197 /100g
Annual Avg
27

Spinach

ほうれん草 Vegetable

Rich in iron and potassium, supporting oxygen transport during training and proper muscle function.

Iron 2.0mgPotassium 690mg
¥1,138 /1kg
Annual Avg
28

Sweet Corn

スイートコーン Vegetable

A natural energy food with well-balanced carbs and protein. Great pre-workout fuel.

Balanced energyProtein 3.6g
29

Sweet Potato

さつまいも Vegetable

Complex carbs provide sustained energy. Rich in fiber, great for bulking phases.

Complex carbsSustained energy
¥675 /1kg
Annual Avg
30

Sea Bream

たい Seafood Peak

20.6g protein per 100g with low fat — a premium white-fish protein source.

Protein 20.6gLow fat
¥657 /100g
Annual Avg
31

Octopus

たこ Seafood

16.4g protein at 0.7g fat and 70kcal — a lean-protein staple, also rich in taurine.

Protein 16.4g70kcal
¥476 /100g
Annual Avg
32

Japanese Yam

やまのいも Vegetable

4.5g protein is high for a tuber. Also contains digestive enzymes like amylase, plus its signature sticky texture.

Protein 4.5gDigestive enzymes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best vegetable for muscle building?

Broccoli is overwhelmingly popular among fitness enthusiasts. With 5.4g protein and only 37kcal per 100g, plus abundant vitamin C.

Why pick seafood for fitness?

Saba and maguro deliver roughly 20g protein per 100g at low fat. Saba offers EPA/DHA and salmon contains astaxanthin — nutrients hard to obtain from red meat alone.

What are the best low-calorie foods for cutting?

Bean sprouts (15kcal/100g), cauliflower (28kcal), and spinach (18kcal) are the top three plant picks. Cod (72kcal) and squid (76kcal) are low-calorie, high-protein seafood options.

What should I eat before and after training?

Pre-workout: bananas or sweet potatoes for energy. Post-workout: edamame, broccoli, or canned saba for protein and vitamins.

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