It Seems Like Everything Has Protein Now

Lately, protein has become all the rage. I noticed this trend at the giant Consumer Packaged Goods Expo West in Anaheim this spring, and a trip to the grocery store makes this more clear. It seems nearly every consumer product makes some type of protein claim. What's clear is that we love our fads and this is the latest and greatest way for us to get fit, lose weight and grow huge muscles. 

 

Of course, protein is an important part of our diet, but is a bag of protein doritos or pop tarts the best way to Maxxxxxx your protein? A 100g serving of Etto pasta has more than the 10g of protein found in those Doritos or Pop-Tarts, and ours is a single-ingredient food. In addition to the first ingredient, "milk protein" (I'm not totally sure what that is), with the Doritos you will also be munching on corn syrup solids, yeast extract and the mysterious "natural flavors". The protein Pop-Tarts aren't much better or perhaps they're worse, with 30 grams of added sugar per serving. 

 

In addition to protein the body needs carbohydrates, and the AMA recommends that this comprises about 50% of your diet. Our pasta is a complex carbohydrate which makes it lower in sugar, especially when cooked al dente and combined with other single ingredient forms of protein like lean meats, legumes or veggies. One plate of our pasta can provide you with at least a few 10g servings of protein, which these companies are touting (see the Fava recipe below as an example which we estimate clocks in at around 30 g of protein). We have ample stock of frozen peeled and ready to use favas that complement our pasta. These not only add protein but also include all nine essential amino acids and lots of dietary fiber. Incidently, I predict fiber maxxing may become the next big food trend.

 

This brings us back to our mantra here at Etto: a balanced diet like the Mediterranean diet, featuring real foods, minimally processed and complemented by uncomplicated ingredients. Sure, I'll stick with my tradition of eating Doritos and Velveeta cheese queso on Super Bowl Sunday, but the rest of the year give me fresh local and pure. I like protein, but I've found real food has plenty of it - maybe eat an egg.

Thanks for all the love and condolences after the loss of our little Picco. I tried to respond to most of you. We have so many animal lovers amongst us which is so sweet.