The benefits of adding protein to your diet

In early September I hosted a seminar in my house that focused on children’s nutrition. The focus was a discussion around healthy lunches, giving parents some ideas of what to pack.  However, I walked away from the event with so much more. I came in with a grade five understanding about food and nutrients and left armed with the knowledge to make informed decisions about the food I feed my kids. The most important lesson I learned is that the majority of the food I give my boys is high in carbs (carbohydrates) which break down quickly and do not provide them with sufficient energy to make it to their next snack or meal. This could directly impact how kids perform in school if they are tired, highly irritable and hungry making them unable to concentrate. So while the saying “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is true, more important is WHAT we eat at breakfast. The food we give our kids is what fuels them for their long day ahead and helps them stay alert and comfortable.

So… what should we be feeding our kids? The answer is protein rich food like milk protein drinks. Protein breaks down slower, providing your kids with sufficient energy to last them for around four to five hours. Other benefits of eating protein include:

• promotes healthy metabolism
• building muscles
• boosts immune system
• helps cells grow
• produces Hemoglobin (the part of blood that carries oxygen to all parts of the body)
  

  After school baseball game with friends

Around the same time as my session with a nutritionist, I also started to refocus on my own wellness. Part of the program that I was on encouraged a specific diet that promoted portion control by food type, eliminating sugar, reducing carbs and increasing protein. I was to eat four cups (portion controlled) of protein rich food daily. So began my “hunt” to increase my repertoire of protein rich food. Besides chicken, fish and eggs which I ate regularly, I started eating cottage cheese. I was already a huge fan of cottage cheese but had neglected eating much of it for the past five years. Now, I eat it daily.

So while I love it, I had to figure out a way to get my kids to eat it. Unfortunately, people seem averse to eating cottage cheese due to its texture. Some of those people are also my kids! I did receive a tip from a nutritionist who said that I should use a hand blender to smooth out the cottage cheese, but really, who has time for that? Most days, I just feel lucky if I get to shower.

However, about a month ago, I was introduced to Nordic Smooth Cottage Cheese as part of my year long Gay Lea Ambassador program (yay!!). These small, individual serving size containers, are packed with 10g of protein per serving. My one year old couldn’t get enough of it. I knew it was a good sign when I had to go and buy more because my family finished the four pack before I could take any pictures of it for this post. The Nordic Smooth Cottage Cheese comes in three flavours: Vanilla Bean, Salted Caramel and Lemon. Personally, I enjoy eating this as a snack, but it would make a great addition to any meal.

If you’re going to make a small but significant change in your family’s overall well being and diet, make sure that protein rich food are a part of that change and stock up your fridge with the new and delicious Nordic Smooth Cottage Cheese. Trust me when I say that one pack won’t be enough.

Disclosure: I am part of the Gay Lea Ambassador Campaign and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.