You don’t need as much protein as influencers are claiming, say experts
Have you noticed more of your favourite foods suddenly jumping on the ‘proteinmaxxing’ trend?
It’s a trend that puts protein at the forefront of nutrition.
On March 17, Kraft Heinz announced a new version of its classic mac and cheese called PowerMac.
It offers 17 grams of protein per serving — about a 10-gram increase from the traditional Kraft Dinner.
Starbucks and Tim Hortons have also recently added high-protein drinks on their menus.
All kinds of snacks, from Pop-Tarts to Doritos, have also released high-protein versions.
The trend coincides with social media influencers talking about proteinmaxxing — or trying to consume as much protein as possible.
But is this actually good for kids?
CBC Kids News spoke with kids in Toronto, Ontario, to see if they’ve jumped on the protein bandwagon. Keep scrolling to see what they had to say.
But first, see what nutritionists told us about protein for kids.
On March 17, Kraft Heinz announced new versions of its classic mac and cheese called PowerMac, featuring more protein than the original product. (Image credit: Kraft Heinz)
Why is protein trending?
Tim Dewhirst, a professor of marketing at the University of Guelph in southern Ontario, says there are a few reasons why companies might be adding more protein to their products.
New U.S. food guidelines have emphasized the value of protein, so they could be promoting high-protein foods to make them seem healthier, he said.
Protein is an essential nutrient for physical development, including building muscles and strengthening bones. It helps young people get taller and keeps their immune systems strong.
According to Health Canada, kids aged nine to 14 need around 46 to 52 grams of protein a day.
Starbucks added protein cold foam and protein lattes to their menu on Sept. 25. Each beverage has approximately 15 to 36 grams of protein per grande size. (Image credit: Starbucks)
Most kids get enough protein in their regular diets without needing special foods, according to Danielle Battram, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at Western University in London, Ontario.
But some fitness influencers claim that people should eat more protein than health guidelines suggest — often promoting high-protein diets in order to gain muscle and lose fat.
“If [kids] see protein intake associated with fitness influencers and those people that appear healthy and active … one can see how that would be persuasive and influential,” said Dewhirst.
How much protein do you really need?
Battram says these high-protein products aren’t necessarily bad for you, but they’re not the best way to get your protein.
Some of them could contain a lot of sugars, fats or other unhealthy ingredients, she said.
“[Kraft Dinner] is probably not that harmful, but we don’t want to say this is where you should be getting your protein,” Battram said.
“It’s the same thing with drinks — what kind of protein are they? A lot of the time they’re just sweetened beverages.”
It could also be a problem if kids use these products to replace other important nutrients, according to Melissa Fernandez, an associate professor at the school of nutrition at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario.
“There’s not really many dangers associated with eating too much protein, but if you’re drinking a quencher with protein, that is replacing fruits, vegetables and grains that have fibre,” said Fernandez.
Instead of relying on protein-enhanced products, she recommends getting protein from natural sources like milk, eggs, soy, chicken and beef.
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