Focus on Whole Foods for Health

I am often asked, “Should I just drink protein shakes?”

Generally, I get this question from people over 40, like my parents, Ben’s grandma, or the people attending my weekly functional fitness/nutrition classes.

Early on in my health journey, I thought this as well.

I spent hundreds of dollars each month buying expensive protein powders and made myself shakes every day. I even used the powder to make my protein bars.

I genuinely believed there was no way I could get all the protein that I needed without eating more calories than I needed.

I was so focused on calories in, and calories out that I thought I had to use protein shakes so that I could stay, “under my calorie goal.”

The truth is, you don’t need protein shakes. 

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars buying protein powders or shakes to replace meals because you think, 

“This is a way for me to get my protein in without going over my calorie goal.”

Let me talk to you about my parents…

My parents are in their late 70’s and early 80’s right now. 

My mother has Alzheimer’s disease, and my father has type 2 diabetes and was just diagnosed with end-stage COPD at the beginning of February 2024. 

We’re visiting my parents right now and their fridge and pantry are filled with highly processed foods, highly refined carbohydrates, and, as my dad pointed out, vegan protein powder.

I told them they need to stop eating all the carbs and highly processed garbage masquerading as “healthy food” and start eating a lot more meat and eggs.

Animal protein, specifically red meat, is the most digestible, nutrient-dense, and bioavailable food on the planet.

There is no comparison between the nutrients you get from a protein shake, any fruit or vegetable, or vegan protein source and the bio-available nutrients you get from animal protein.

Nuts, seeds, plants, and grains are not complete sources of protein and are difficult to digest and process by the human body.

Animal protein wins every single time.

I’ve had this conversation with my parents more times than I can count, but they still truly believe that the plant-based, processed foods they eat are the best for them.

They believe that the vegan protein powder that they buy to get their protein every day, is better for them than eating whole, unprocessed, animal meat, eggs, or dairy.

And the truth is, that is why they are sick and will continue to stay that way.

It’s the reason that I was sick for so long, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

They are, and I was, focused on the wrong things.

Focus on eating real, whole-food sources of animal protein.

You must make eating animal protein your priority at every meal, especially as you get older.

We don’t serve sides at our meals anymore. We just focus on eating the protein.

As a society, we tend to look for the easy way. We look for the shortcut, the quick fix.

There is no quick fix or shortcut when looking at making yourself truly healthy again.

This applies to what you eat and how you live.

You must make the tough decisions now so that your life in the future doesn’t become one expensive, difficult, health choice after another.

We tend to overcomplicate things and talk ourselves into shortcuts, like drinking a protein shake instead of just eating a whole-food source of animal protein.

Unfortunately for me and my family, my parents choose not to make those hard decisions that could help them be healthier for their loved ones. Instead, they choose the shortcut.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Remember, you are loved. Your health and well-being matters. If you are still breathing, God has a plan for you, and you must ensure you are healthy enough to accomplish it.