Cottage Cheese and Lean Beef
One cup (226 grams) of low fat cottage cheese contains about 28 grams of protein. It also contains large amounts of leucine, an amino acid vital for building muscles. Like other dairy products, cottage cheese may contain different levels of fat. Cottages that contain high fat like creamed cottages have higher calories.
When choosing a type of cottage cheese to consume, it is important to consider how many calories you want to add to your diet. No matter which type you consume, it is an effective muscle building snack.
Beef contains high levels of protein, creatine, minerals and B vitamins. According to studies, people who consume red meat can increase the amount of lean mass gained with proper weight training. Experts recommend choosing beef that aids muscle gain without providing too many extra calories when trying to build muscle. 3 ounces (85 grams) of 70% lean ground beef contains 235 calories and 16 grams of fat. 95% lean ground beef contains higher amounts of protein, and only 148 calories and 6 grams of fat.