What makes a high-protein ready meal "healthy"

With so many conflicting voices online, it’s easy to be misled and end up confused about what eating “healthy” should look like. In short, each body is different and will have different requirements. A pregnant woman will require more iron than a man, a taller man will require more calories than a shorter man, and so on. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t some simple one-size-fits-all rules we can follow when trying to determine if something is “healthy” 

Proteins are large, complex molecules that perform many vital roles in the body. It’s responsible for maintaining and replacing muscle tissue and plays an important role in the body's metabolism. Protein can also be a source of energy for the body when it’s not able to draw enough from calories. Eating high-protein foods also helps us to feel fuller, which can be a huge advantage when trying not to overconsume. This fuller effect happens because of Protein’s effect on the hunger hormone, Ghrelin. One study found that increasing protein intake from 15% to 30% of total calories led to overweight women eating 441 fewer calories a day, without having to restrict their diet. To conclude food that is “high in protein” can aid muscle recovery, provide emergency energy, and help us to feel fuller, which in turn leads to less overconsumption. 

The UK government uses a few methods to help consumers decide if a product is considered healthy. The Nutrient Profiling Method is used to determine if the positive nutrient in a product outweighs the negative ones. This tool is especially useful for comparing two products with similar calories, . Let's say for example a doughnut and an apple had the same calories, the Nutrient Profiling method would take the negative nutrients: Energy, saturated fat, sugars, and sodium and compare them to the positive nutrients: protein, fibre and fruit, vegetables. Using a points system, the Nutrient Profiling Model then assigns each product with a score. Food above a 4 is considered “less healthy” whilst food scoring under 4 is considered “healthy”.

All of our Prepped Pots have been given a HFSS certification of “Healthy”, this is because the presence of positive nutrients outweighs the negative nutrients. This classification affects where and how companies are allowed to promote their products. So, whenever we say, “healthy meals, ready in minutes,” we’re not just making a marketing claim; we’re adhering to regulatory standards that demonstrate our commitment to providing nutritious options. This certification allows us to promote our Prepped Pots in a way that aligns with public health guidelines, ensuring that consumers can make informed choices about their meals. By highlighting the positive nutritional aspects of our products, we aim to support healthier eating habits while making convenient meals accessible for everyone.

In short, yes. Rated Healthy by HFSS due to the nutrient profiles of our meals containing more positive nutrients than negative nutrients, and the satiating effect of the protein, keeping you fuller for longer. With our Prepped Pots containing an average 28g of Protein with fat values from 2.5g per pot and average salt values of 1.52g per pot, it's safe to say Prepped Pots can be considered a healthy option.