Protein – five ways to sneak it into your diet

Protein – five ways to sneak it into your diet

Take a look at our five ways to sneak protein into your diet, it’s not all chicken and eggs, y’know…

Proteins are the building blocks of life and it is crucial your body gets enough through your diet. You should aim for around 0.8-1g of protein per pound of bodyweight, if you are working out regularly, to build lean muscle tissue and help you recover efficiently. So, if you weigh 130 pounds, you need to make sure you are eating 130g protein a day. Not a fan of the old plain chicken routine? Well, no problem! You’ve got protein powders, cakes, shakes, bars, water, balls, oats, pasta to choose from.

Whey protein

Whey protein is probably the most well-known method of upping your protein intake on the go. You can buy it from a range of nutrition brands such as MyProtein and Optimum Nutrition. It’s probably the most common form of supplemental protein, but soy, pea and hemp options are also available if dairy or animal products are a no-go for you. Whey protein is a really quick and easy way to add an extra 20-30g protein to your diet, but you don’t just have to have it as the classic ‘shake’. Mix a scoop into your morning oats or yoghurt, use it as an alternative to flour for baking, or even blend with ice and xanthan gum to create a thick ice cream texture.

Go green

Good old vegetables are a great way to add protein to your diet, as well as provide essential vitamins and minerals, which your body will thank you for. Kale, broccoli, spinach, peas and mushrooms are all veggies which can easily be added to meals and are super-easy to prepare or buy on the go. Steam them, fry them, roast them or blend them – it’s up to you!

Snack attack

If you are a chocolate addict and love an afternoon sweet treat, give the Grenade Carb Killa bars a go. These bars are packed with over 20g of protein per bar and come in chocolate chip cookie dough and fudge brownie flavours – yum! Dip them in a cup of tea at your desk, pop them in the microwave for 10 seconds, or just have them as they are.

Seeds

They may be small, but seeds are mighty when it comes to upping your protein intake. Around 100g of pumpkin seeds provides a whopping 19g protein and chia seeds, flaxseeds, sesame and sunflower seeds all provide around the same. Plus, easy to sprinkle over salads, oats, yoghurts or on top of smoothies, they make getting your fill a breeze. It’s time to make these guys your new best friend!

Protein nut butter

If you thought nut butter couldn’t get any better, it just did. You can get a dose of good fats and a decent 11g of protein in just two tablespoons with the Nuts ’n more products. Plus, with Birthday Cake, Chocolate Almond and Cinnamon and Raisin flavours on offer they’re a ridiculously tasty addition to the kitchen cupboard. Spread over rice cakes, bagels or fruit for the perfect pre-workout meal.

For more information about protein, check out our ultimate guide to nutrition and our review of Whey Box (spoiler: we love it!).