Ep 62: Why I Am Not a Fan of High Protein Treat Foods After WLS
This post is a companion to Episode 62 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
This is a topic I have been wanting to address for a while. The food industry has spotted an opportunity — putting protein into treat foods and marketing them as healthy choices. Protein chocolate, protein ice cream, high-protein puddings. I want to share three reasons why I am not a fan of these products, and what I think is a better approach.
Reason 1: Cost
High-protein treat foods are almost always more expensive than the standard version. Protein is the "flavour of the month" in food marketing right now — just as low-fat was before it — and manufacturers are charging a premium for it. I am a big believer in spending your food budget wisely after bariatric surgery. A quality protein powder is excellent value. A protein-branded chocolate bar generally is not.
Reason 2: The Psychological Message
The marketing of these products sends the message that they are healthier, that you can have more of them, that they are a better choice. And that framing — consciously or not — can lead people to eat them more frequently and in larger amounts than they would the "real" version. This is food industry manipulation dressed up as health, and it reinforces the idea that you need a special "diet" version of a treat food rather than simply enjoying a small amount of the real thing occasionally.
Reason 3: They Often Do Not Taste as Good
This might seem like a small point, but it matters. If you are going to have a treat, I believe it should be genuinely satisfying. High-protein versions of chocolate, ice cream, and desserts rarely taste exactly like the original — which means you are still in a place of restriction and deprivation, just dressed up differently.
What I Recommend Instead
Have a small amount of the real thing, mindfully and occasionally, as part of a balanced diet. Get your protein from lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, and legumes — not from treat foods. And save your food budget for things that genuinely nourish you.
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