Great questions! As with everything in science, there are various different perspectives on this topic.
It is generally agreed upon that when it comes to the primary roles of protein, getting enough of it is more important than quality and timing. Protein powders are very effective in helping you get enough.
However, there are benefits to getting your protein from a wide range of sources, that should not be overlooked. Most notably, by getting your protein from a wide range of sources, you are more likely to get a broad range of essential amino acids. If you are getting most of your protein from a single source, you could fall short on some essential amino acids if you are not careful.
With this in mind, as protein quantity increases, protein quality becomes less important. If you are eating 1.0g of protein per kg of BW per day, it would be more important to pay attention to quality as there is less of it to do the job of growth and repair. Essentially, it needs to be more “efficient”.
On the other hand, if you are eating upwards of ~1.6 g of protein per kg of BW, you are more likely to be covering your bases and efficiency becomes less of an issue.
The second thing to consider is that protein from food doesn’t just supply protein. Protein from real food will provide you with a host vitamin and minerals that you need for health.
I reccomend finding some easy-ish real food protein sources, as your go-to’s while traveling. The suggestions so far have been fantastic! Then, supplement the rest as needed with protein powder. Don’t overlook the psychological benefit to eating real food too! Chewing food is more satiating than drinking your protein in the form of a drink, which will help you with your body composition goals.
With all of that said, don’t stress about relying more on protein powders when traveling. From the perspective, of muscle growth, recovery and body composition, it is more important that you get enough protein.
When you are at home, I suggest trying to focus on getting most of your protein from real food to maximise vitamins and minerals. I add egg whites to more things than I’d like to admit. If you’re okay with dairy, yogurt will also be your friend (as many of you guys have already suggested). If you don’t want to eat too much meat, tofu is also great addition.
I hope that helps!