Supermarket pic reveals protein craze has gone too far
It feels like every product at the supermarket has the same buzz words stamped across their labels. But, is it doing more harm than good?
Diets and fads come and go as years pass.
One minute, it’s all about low-fat products. Next, it’s plant-based diets. But, at the moment, it’s protein.
Chances are, you’ve been told by a random TikTok creator this year that you don’t get enough protein in your diet – regardless of what you’re actually eating.
But their solution often has nothing to do with eating more meat and eggs. It’s actually about swapping over your regular purchases to high-protein alternatives.
And, this truly has no limits. Currently, you can buy just about anything with ‘high protein’ stamped across the front – as noted by one TikTok user in a recent video.
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“Nobody is safe from being high protein-ised,” the clip said.
“Next it could be you.”
In the video was a photo of Obela’s Hi-Protein Tzatziki dip. According to commenters, this was just the beginning.
“I once saw high protein cottage cheese … HOW DO U ADD MORE PROTEIN TO COTTAGE CHEESE???” said one commenter.
“I feel like the macros on these aren’t even worth it,” another agreed.
“Once I saw a high protein milkshake. Why?” said a third.
Dairy products have become one of the most popular high protein buys, as noted by the scarcity of protein yoghurts recently.
Last month, protein yoghurts of all kinds were wiped clean from supermarkets, driven by the desire from consumers to tap into the health trend in an easy way, according to nutritionist at Bega Group, Rachael Adams.
“It goes without saying that our diet should be made up of mostly whole and minimally processed foods, but there’s definitely room for convenience options,” she shared with news.com.au.
“Some of these high-protein products can be really useful — say if you’ve left the house without breakfast or need a snack to tide you over, a high-protein smoothie or yoghurt like our Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothies or Farmers Union High Protein Yoghurts can be a nutritious choice that helps you meet your protein needs.”
Ms Adams suggested that the protein trend had been coming for a while, having only surfaced recently as a “mega trend”.
“The protein trend has been building for at least a decade, and now it feels like every aisle of the supermarket has products shouting about protein on the label,” she said.
“Protein has built into the mega trend we see today because it very naturally aligns with multiple health outcomes that consumers really value. People associate it with weight management, muscle growth and repair, and maintaining muscle mass as we age, which supports independence and mobility.
“It also helps keep us feeling full and satisfied between meals, and when paired with healthy fats, it can slow the impact of carbohydrate foods on blood glucose levels.”
However, there is such a thing as too much protein, with no value in consuming it beyond our needs.
So, for this reason, you probably don’t have to source extra in every item on your shopping list.
“It’s worth remembering that not all proteins are created equal. While many products claim ‘high protein’ on the pack, the quality of that protein can vary,” she said.
Instead, Ms Adams said we should try to get as much protein as possible from whole foods, like dairy, meat and alternatives, and things like nuts and legumes.
“At each meal, have a look at your plate and try to make sure you’ve included a quality protein source,” she suggested.
“For example, instead of toast and juice for breakfast, try switching to eggs and grainy bread, high protein yoghurt and oats with fruit or a high protein smoothie with dairy milk or yoghurt. Dairy milk and soy milk are the highest protein milk options, so you could opt for these with your coffee.”
And, if you want to jump onto the next trend early, Ms Adams said we should be looking at fibre instead.
“Fibre is finally getting some of the attention it deserves on social media through trends like fibre maxing. This focus on fibre is well overdue when you consider that most Australians fall short of the recommended 25-30g of fibre daily,” she shared.
“If you’re trying to increase your fibre intake, do it slowly and ensure it’s spread across the day in meals and snacks to help avoid digestive discomfort.”
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Originally published as Supermarket pic reveals protein craze has gone too far
