Happy Soy Foods Month! Join U.S. soybean farmers as part of their soy checkoff, the U.S. Soy community, the food industry, health professionals, and consumers across the nation in celebrating soy’s important place at the table—from its powerful health benefits and sustainability to its culinary versatility and innovative applications.

Soy is a high-quality plant protein, providing all nine essential amino acids in amounts the body needs. The quality of soy protein is similar to animal protein and higher than the quality of nearly all other plant proteins.

It’s the only plant protein that carries the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s health claim, stating that “25 grams of soy protein a day, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

Further, newly published research supports the benefits of consuming seed oils, including soybean oil, and adds to the possible ways in which they may improve health—including lower risk of cardiovascular disease, congenital heart disease, diabetes, and overall mortality.

Five Ways to Enjoy the Benefits of Soy Foods

1. Snack on soy foods: Adding plant-based soy protein to your diet is simple. Try soy snacks like steamed edamame, soy milk, or soy yogurt-based smoothies, dips made with silken tofu, or air-fried pre-seasoned tofu bites.

2. Support weight maintenance with soy protein: High-protein foods help with satiety and muscle retention. Replace higher-calorie options with soy-based protein sources, such as tofu in stir-fries, edamame in salads, or soy yogurt in smoothies.

3. Eat fermented soy foods for gut health: Fermented soy foods like miso and natto contain probiotics that support gut health, while edamame and soy nuts are sources of fiber and aid digestion—both factors that play a role in weight maintenance.

4. Cook with soybean oil: Many vegetable oils on store shelves are 100% soybean oil. Recognized for its heart health benefits, soybean oil has a neutral flavor and high heat stability, making it an excellent choice for frying, baking, sautéing, and more.

5. Shop your local grocery store: Find soy foods and snacks like edamame, tofu, soy nuts, soy nut butter, soy milk, soy-based yogurt and cheese, tempeh, miso, soy protein bars and powders, and soy-based meat alternatives at your local store. If you don’t see what you’re looking for elsewhere, check the health foods aisle.

Check out this Soy Foods Guide for more.

Bring the Goodness of Soy to Your Kitchen

Try our new dietitian-endorsed recipes, including the Tempeh Burrito Bowl by Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, and bring the goodness of soy to your kitchen! 

Are you a health professional, food retailer, food company, or media outlet? Check out our downloadable tool kits.

And keep the Soy Foods Month conversation going by following @SoyConnection and @U.S. Soy and using the hashtags #SoyFoodsMonth and #USSoy.