You need at least two servings of good quality protein every day to stay healthy. It's the building block of life- all your muscles and connective tissue and that includes your heart. A small adult that is not very active should have at least 25 grams of protein daily (and that's a low number). You don't get that much just by eating one meal with beans or eating meat in such small amounts, it's like a condiment. If you're active, you need more protein, a lot more if you work out daily and are very active. I'm so tired of vegans acting like meat, poultry and fish have no value. I beg to differ, ABC15, but you're advocating gradual malnutrition/anemia.