What is “Boy Kibble”? Listen to what social media has to say.
Boy kibble is a simple, protein-rich meal that has been suggested on social media to be similar to what dogs find appetizing.
In February, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared an end to the “protein wars.” Around the same time, major food companies like Starbucks, Chipotle, and Dunkin’ began incorporating protein into their products, from cold foam to ice cream coolants.
However, due to increased demand for protein, the industry is currently facing shortages and rising prices for whey protein, a milk protein often used as a powdered supplement, forcing brands to rework recipes and reconsider retail prices.
A “best-selling” whey protein tab that normally costs $36 on Amazon reached $57 last month, with small businesses posting on social media that soaring raw material prices have strained production or halted it altogether.
Some food science experts say there is no real war over protein now, and that there never was one to begin with. In fact, protein consumption in the United States is at an all-time high, and many Americans already consume more protein than they need. So, is a lack of whey protein a problem?
The answer is not that simple.
According to registered dietitian Michelle Pirpich, whey protein powder can be added to smoothies, oatmeal, and other foods, making it an easy way to increase your protein intake. However, you can get your protein intake without using fancy products by eating plenty of protein-rich whole foods like meat, eggs, dairy products, edamame, and tofu.
What is whey protein?
Whey protein is obtained from the watery part of milk, which is separated from the curd when making cheese. According to WebMD, it can be used as a dietary supplement to improve athletic performance and increase muscle strength. Some studies have shown that it can be used for immune health and conditions such as asthma.
Whey protein is a complete protein and contains all nine essential amino acids.
Manufacturing the powder involves several steps, including testing and pasteurizing the milk, separating the curds and whey, draining and pasteurizing the liquid whey, and sending it to a processing facility for further liquid removal by evaporation and spray drying. By the end of the process, the whey is reduced to a fine powder that can be flavored or sweetened before being packaged and sold.
Pirpich says that despite being a milk protein, whey protein is a safe supplement for people with lactose intolerance. Lactose is the sugar found in dairy products, and whey is only protein. However, she recommends that people who are extremely sensitive to lactose should look for “whey isolate,” adding that vegans and people with milk allergies should avoid it completely.
Protein is the latest trend, but “more doesn’t necessarily mean better.”
Protein additives are used everywhere: in coffee, lunch, and even Dunkin’ refreshments. “This is our latest obsession with macronutrients,” Amy Bentley, a historian and professor of food studies at New York University, told USA TODAY in February. “Sometimes it’s fiber, sometimes it’s vitamins, and now it’s protein.”
“Proteinmaxxing” is a new trend, with TikTokers sharing “what I ate in a day” videos that consume as much as 186 grams of protein. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average adult weighing 165 pounds should eat 60 grams of protein per day (0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight), but daily dietary recommendations also vary by gender, age, and activity level.
But, says Dr. Priya Jaisinghani, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine expert at New York University Langone, “more is not always better.” Jaisinghani warns that excess protein can accelerate the decline in kidney function in people with diseases such as chronic kidney disease.
And with nearly one in five U.S. adults reporting current or past GLP-1 drug use, the food and diet landscape is already changing. Reduced protein intake due to decreased appetite can negatively impact muscle health in GLP-1 users, leading to decreased bone density, increased risk of osteoporosis, and pelvic floor dysfunction. People taking GLP-1 may benefit from supplementing their diet with protein.
But the demand for more protein requires increased supply, and manufacturers are struggling to keep up.
How to increase your protein intake without supplements
On TikTok, some creators are encouraging people to “stock up on protein powder” as a shortage looms. It’s a popular supplement among “gym broth” and other fitness influencers.
Our bodies need protein. But if whey protein isn’t available or the cost is beyond your budget, natural protein sources such as whole foods are your best bet for a protein-rich diet.
According to Harvard Health, beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds, lean meats like chicken and turkey, fish, dairy products like milk and yogurt, and soybean products like tofu are all good sources of protein.
Many of these choices are high in protein and low in unhealthy saturated fats, such as choosing chicken breast over red meat.
Eating more red meat and saturated fat can lead to a variety of health complications, including an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.
Fish such as salmon and tuna are rich in protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have a positive impact on heart health.
Pirpich says some of these foods seem to have specific parts associated with them, such as eating two eggs “because of the amount.”
“But it’s perfectly fine to eat more; you’ll feel fuller and more satisfied if you do,” she says.
