How much protein do you need at 55 kg?
At 55 kg (121 lb), aim for 44 g a day to stay healthy, and 88 to 121 g to build muscle.
Updated October 2026
Daily protein at 55 kg by goal
| Goal | Per day | Per meal (4 meals) |
|---|---|---|
| General health | 44 g | 11 g |
| Adults over 65 | 55 to 66 g | 14 to 17 g |
| Active, regular exercise | 66 to 88 g | 17 to 22 g |
| Building muscle | 88 to 121 g | 22 to 30 g |
| Losing fat and keeping muscle | 99 to 132 g | 25 to 33 g |
Foods that add up to 88 g
How many servings of each food it takes to reach 88 g, the low end for building muscle.
| Food | Serving | Protein | Servings for 88 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken breast, cooked | 100 g (3.5 oz) | 31 g | 2.8 |
| Canned tuna, drained | 100 g (3.5 oz) | 25 g | 3.5 |
| Salmon, cooked | 100 g (3.5 oz) | 22 g | 4.0 |
| Lean beef mince, cooked | 100 g (3.5 oz) | 26 g | 3.4 |
| Greek yogurt, plain | 170 g (6 oz) pot | 17 g | 5.2 |
| Cottage cheese | 1 cup (220 g) | 25 g | 3.5 |
| Eggs | 1 large egg | 6 g | 14.7 |
| Milk | 1 cup (240 ml) | 8 g | 11.0 |
| Lentils, cooked | 1 cup (200 g) | 18 g | 4.9 |
| Chickpeas, cooked | 1 cup (160 g) | 15 g | 5.9 |
| Firm tofu | 100 g (3.5 oz) | 10 g | 8.8 |
| Peanut butter | 2 tbsp (32 g) | 7 g | 12.6 |
Other weights
Questions
How much protein should a 55 kg person eat a day?
For general health, about 44 g a day (0.8 g per kg). For regular exercise, 66 to 88 g. For building muscle, 88 to 121 g.
How much protein do I need to build muscle at 55 kg?
88 to 121 g a day, which is 1.6 to 2.2 g per kg of body weight. At 121 lb that works out to 88 g at the low end.
How much protein do I need to lose fat at 55 kg?
99 to 132 g a day while lifting weights in a calorie deficit. The higher end helps you keep muscle.
What does 88 g of protein look like in food?
About 284 g of cooked chicken breast, or 15 large eggs, or a mix across the day. A 100 g portion of cooked chicken breast has about 31 g and a large egg about 6 g.
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