NATIONAL Protein Day on Thursday highlights its value to build muscle, regulate hormones and help our immune system.
The average woman needs 45g daily, while men need 55g. But working that out can be time-consuming.
Today I test out some meals that calculate it for you . . .
LUNCH POTS
A NEW new range of high-protein lunch pots has been launched by Myprotein – and they are delicious.
Not only are they high in protein, they are low in calories and fat, too.
The Japanese-style chicken curry and rice is especially tasty. It has 32g protein but just 306 calories, 4.9g fat and 4.1g sugar.
The pots could not be easier to prepare, taking just three-and-a-half minutes in the microwave. The salt content is a little high at 2.83g.
The portion isn’t huge but there is a decent amount of chicken at 35 per cent of the total ingredients, and the meal was nicely seasoned with a decent kick. I will buy again.
Priced £4 each (£3 with Nectar card) at Sainsbury’s.
myprotein.com.
Myprotein’s Japanese-style chicken curry and rice is tasty[/caption]
MEAL BOXES
RECIPE boxes can take the stress out of cooking.
Mindful Chef says it is “healthy food, made easy”.
It’s simple to order. You can choose up to five meals from a selection of 24 recipes each week and it’s easy to skip a box or pause the subscription.
The kits come with all the ingredients in the exact amounts you need, plus recipe cards, though mine was missing first-time.
All meals are gluten-free with no refined carbs, and there are high-protein options. I wasn’t blown away by the taste, but felt the food was good for me.
Recent offerings include Ancho-spiced salmon bowl with corn salsa (33g fat, 692cals and 41g protein). From £5.50 a portion.
mindfulchef.com
Mindful Chef’s recipe boxes include Ancho-spiced salmon bowl with corn salsa[/caption]
MICROWAVE MEALS
If you need a ready meal on hand for busy days, you could do far worse than the Prep’d Protein dinners now available at Asda.
I tried Firecracker Chicken, which had a lovely, spicy flavour. It was really filling too so I wasn’t snacking afterwards. It contains a whopping 36g protein but is low in calories with just 435 per serving, and 9.1g fat.
Be aware the salt content is quite high, at 2.22g, so this meal may not be suitable if you have a heart condition or are watching your salt intake. Plus it contains 14.1g sugar.
It takes just over five minutes in the microwave.
There is a chipotle beef chilli meal, too, which also tasted great, and I felt both were reasonably priced, currently on offer for £3.47 at Asda.
prepdprotein.co.uk.
Prep’d Protein dinners are now available at Asda[/caption]
