An Aussie fitness influencer has shared a clever hack to help hit his protein intake while on the go.
Jackson Adams, a gym enthusiast currently training for the Hyrox fitness competition, said he orders two grilled chicken breasts from McDonald’s, which has a whopping 50 grams of protein in them for just $3.80.
“I was trying to find high protein snacks on the road and thought of it,” he told news.com.au.
“Hitting protein is obviously important to me as an athlete, and it can be difficult being on the road all the time.”
While he usually tries to bring his meal-prepped food with him wherever he goes, when he’s in a pinch, he’ll drop by a drive-through and order some chicken breasts for a solid protein boost.
Sharing his tip to his TikTok followers, he said, “When you’re on the road – Maccaa’s grilled chicken breasts are $1.90 bucks each so two of them are $3.80, which is a game changer”.
He also orders some Big Mac sauce on the side for an extra 50 cents to dip the chicken into.
“It’s so good”, he claimed.
According to Fat Secret Australia, the calorie tracking database that Mr Adams uses, one McDonald’s grilled chicken breast is 120 calories, two grams of fat, two grams of carbs and 24 grams of protein.
Protein is vital for muscle repair and growth, making it particularly important for those with active lifestyles like Adams.
According to dietitian Susie Burrell, it can also help optimize metabolism, renew cells, build hormones, control weight, and help digest food.
“It is recommended that Australian adults get at least 0.75g of protein per kilo of body weight, or 60-80g per day, at a minimum,” she told news.com.au.
“If the goal is to optimise protein intake, prevent muscle mass loss and even increase muscle mass, requirements are between 1.2-1.6 grams per kilo of body weight of protein each day, or upwards of 100-140 grams for the average adult.”
Data from the Australian Health Survey found that only 14 per cent of Australian adults hit their recommended 2.5 servings of high-quality protein each day.
Burrell recommends people aim for at least 20-30 grams of protein per meal from sources like eggs, a tin of tuna, 100g of lean meat or chicken or plant-based proteins like legumes or tofu.
Adams’ hack struck a chord with his health-conscious followers, who were impressed with the simple yet effective tip.
“I am going on a road trip tomorrow. This is going to save me,” said one.
“Clever!” said another, while someone else deemed it “the best hack”.
“Didn’t know you could do this,” wrote someone else. “Brilliant”.
One user who had tried the snack called it “amazing”.
