By Dr. Juan Salinas
Protein is a macro nutrient that our body needs to help repair, build muscle and to provide energy. We obtain protein from food such as meat and plants. However, not all protein was created equal, some of the ones found in food are considered “low quality” because they lack one or more “essential amino acids” (building blocks of protein). If the protein is missing any of these essential amino acids, then our body cannot use it efficiently for muscle growth. Unlike meat, most plant proteins, including that of corn and chickpeas (commonly found in most snacks) are “low quality”. Snacks with these ingredients can still claim to have protein however its quality is low, therefore ineffective for someone looking to maximize its fitness lifestyle.
How to find plant-based snacks with “complete” protein?
Having a claim of protein in the front or back panel of a package does not mean that it is of high quality (complete). Here are a few tips on how to find out if the protein in your snack is complete:
- Look for a seal or claim of “Complete protein” in the package
- Look at the ingredient list in the back of the package and search for a combination of at least one legume (such as beans, peanuts, peas, lentilts) and at least one grain (such as rice, corn, wheat, oat, rye, barley).
- Snacks with these grains also contain complete protein: Quinoa, Soybeans, Amarath, hemp.
Left: P-nuff Crunch Baked Peanut Puffs. Right: Biena Chickpea Puffs
Plant-based snacks with “complete” protein
P-nuff Crunch snacks are different from other snacks. The creator, Dr. Juan Salinas, developed a recipe for a healthy snack that is full of “high quality” protein from plants.
He combined natural grain and legumes (Peanuts, Navy beans, Brown Rice) containing protein that complemented each other, creating a “complete” high quality protein that is used efficiently by the body to help repair and build muscle while providing energy.
If you are looking for snacks to compliment your healthy and fitness lifestyle, look for products with “complete” high quality protein. P-nuff Crunch is the crunchy anytime snack that keeps active kids and adults on the go, going strong.
