wellness
Neukölln Residents Discover High-Protein Beans, Legumes, Seeds Locally
Neukolln residents are shifting toward beans, legumes and seeds to meet daily protein targets at neighbourhood markets and shops.
How we reported this
Plant-based protein options now fill more than one-third of shopping baskets at Neukolln food stalls this summer. Sales of lentils, chickpeas and tofu have climbed steadily since the start of 2025.
Wellness programmes in the district have pushed the change. Local groups promote varied diets that cut reliance on meat while keeping energy levels steady during long workdays. Rising grocery costs for beef and chicken have added pressure, with many households looking for cheaper staples that still deliver complete amino acids.
Markets and shops on familiar streets
The weekly market along Maybachufer offers bulk bins of dried beans and peas every Tuesday and Friday. Shoppers fill cloth bags with red lentils at 2.80 euros per kilogram. Two blocks east on Weserstraße, the Bio Company store stocks tempeh made in Brandenburg and packs of mixed seeds priced at 3.50 euros for 500 grams. Both locations sit within a short walk from Hermannplatz U-Bahn station.
Staff at the Bio Company location run a short tasting table on Thursdays where customers try roasted chickpeas seasoned with local herbs. The Maybachufer vendors keep printed cards listing protein grams per 100 grams for each item, updated every season by the market association.
Numbers that guide choices
A 2025 report from the Berlin Senate health office recorded a 12 percent rise in legume purchases across Neukolln postcodes between 2023 and 2025. One 400-gram can of chickpeas costs 0.89 euros at the Rewe on Karl-Marx-Straße and supplies 19 grams of protein. The same budget buys roughly 120 grams of chicken breast that delivers a similar protein amount but costs 2.10 euros.
Nutritionists at the district’s adult education centre on Donaustraße note that combining lentils with wholegrain bread or pumpkin seeds raises the usable protein level in a single meal. They hand out simple portion guides that list gram targets for adults aged 30 to 60.
Start with one new item from the Maybachufer stalls this week. Add a measured handful of seeds to a midday salad or stir chickpeas into an evening stew. Track the change for seven days and adjust portions at the next visit to Bio Company.