A nurse is reinforcing teaching to a group of older adults about sources of complete and incomplete protein. Which of the following foods should the nurse include as a complete protein?

Choice A reason: Fresh fruit provides minimal protein (<1 gram per cup), primarily offering carbohydrates, vitamins, and fiber. For burn injury patients requiring 1.5-2.0 grams/kg protein daily for tissue repair, fruit is insufficient, as it lacks the amino acids needed for wound healing and immune support on a vegan diet.

Choice B reason: Tuna salad, containing fish, is not suitable for a strict vegan diet, which excludes all animal products. It provides complete proteins (25 grams per can) but is irrelevant for vegan patients, who require plant-based sources to meet high protein needs for burn recovery.

Choice C reason: Beans provide about 15 grams of protein per cup, offering incomplete proteins that can be combined (e.g., with grains) to form complete proteins. For vegan burn patients, beans support tissue repair and collagen synthesis, meeting elevated protein needs critical for healing and immune function.

Choice D reason: Vegetables like broccoli or spinach provide 2-5 grams of protein per cup, insufficient for the high protein demands (1.5-2.0 grams/kg daily) of burn injury recovery. They lack the amino acid density needed for tissue repair, making them less effective than beans for vegan patients.

Choice A reason: Active teenagers, especially during growth spurts, require 0.85-1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight due to increased muscle development, physical activity, and tissue repair needs. A 16-year-old’s high metabolic rate and growth demands elevate protein requirements significantly compared to adults.

Choice B reason: A 47-year-old female pilot, assuming average activity, requires about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for maintenance. This is lower than a teenager’s needs, as adults have stable muscle mass and lower growth demands, unless highly active.

Choice C reason: A 26-year-old sedentary lawyer has minimal protein needs, around 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, due to low physical activity and no growth demands. Sedentary lifestyles reduce muscle synthesis rates, making their protein requirements lower than active individuals.

Choice D reason: A 72-year-old grandfather requires about 0.8-1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight to combat age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia). However, this is generally lower than a teenager’s needs, as growth and activity levels are typically reduced in older adults.