Food Guide recommends only 5 oz protein a day???

KareninCanada

Looking for opinions of the protein balance in the current Canada's Food Guide. I was stunned when I got the copy of the newest one from my trainer... it recommends only two servings of protein in a day for adults, those being 2.5 ounces each... to me that just seems insanely low. What ever happened to the 4-oz servings they used to recommend?

The irony of it was, one sheet of information told me I should be shooting for about 70g protein per day, and then there's the food guide.... there is just NO way to make those two numbers work together. I may have to bring that up at our next meeting.

Pandorian

I'd go crazy trying to exist on that little protein.
If I get less than 100 grams of protein in a day (my goal is 175 grams) I hit graze mode and want to munch on everything in sight, the more carbs the better. As long as I get my 100 grams I'm fine and not likely to snack.

kodibear123

I try to eat minimum 1 gram of protein per pound of my bodyweight. I lift weights though so that might be too high for you.

VeganInTraining

eggs, milk, beans, brown rice, nuts, protein powder, cottage cheese, nutritional yeast.....all things that are high in protein and aren't meat. I get over 70g of protein on days I don't even eat meat....you gotta try but it's possible

KareninCanada

eggs, milk, beans, brown rice, nuts, protein powder, cottage cheese, nutritional yeast.....all things that are high in protein and aren't meat. I get over 70g of protein on days I don't even eat meat....you gotta try but it's possible

Eggs, beans, and nuts are all considered part of that two servings. Probably so is protein powder.

75 g (2 ½ oz.)/125 mL (½ cup) cooked fish, shellfish, poultry or lean meat
175 mL (¾ cup) cooked beans
2 eggs
30 mL (2 Tbsp) peanut butter



I think it's messed up. :grumble:

bcattoes

I know nothing about that guide, but that sounds more like a recommendation for meat consumption than protein. I don't know how you could even stay that low on protein.

Pandorian

Must ask since you have the food guide available, if they've cut protein down to 5 oz, where did the calories that previously came from a higher protein goal go? I've got an idea of where they went and if that's the case the thing is garbage

KareninCanada

Grains, maybe? It's online here: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/food-guide-aliment/view_eatwell_vue_bienmang-eng.pdf

For me being 34 and female it recommends

1800-2250 calories/day (agreed)

7-8 servings fruit/veg (agreed)
6-7 servings grains (too many for me!)
2 servings dairy (I'm okay with this)
2 servings protein (craziness)

VeganInTraining

eggs, milk, beans, brown rice, nuts, protein powder, cottage cheese, nutritional yeast.....all things that are high in protein and aren't meat. I get over 70g of protein on days I don't even eat meat....you gotta try but it's possible

Eggs, beans, and nuts are all considered part of that two servings. Probably so is protein powder.

75 g (2 ½ oz.)/125 mL (½ cup) cooked fish, shellfish, poultry or lean meat
175 mL (¾ cup) cooked beans
2 eggs
30 mL (2 Tbsp) peanut butter



I think it's messed up. :grumble:

wow, that's bogus.

thankyou4thevenom

That's an awful lot of grain servings.

pupcamper

I think you are getting your oz and grams mixed up. If you have 100g (3.5oz) of lean protein you could get over 20g of protein in it. Dairy products and grains can have protein in it too - I try to follow the canada food guide and get over 80g of protein, 25g of fibre and 100% calcium RDA a day (which is my personal goal!)

As for your grains, please remeber that an average slice of bread had at least 2 serving in it a bagel can sometimes be 4 servings - it isn't as much as you think!

I think that the 2.5oz of lean protein is too low too, my servings are always larger but I think it has some value as a guide that can be adapted to suit individual needs:drinker:

bloodbank

I don't follow the Canada Food Guide. I think it's probably a good outline for some people, but I certainly don't think it's the guide to optimal nutrition for most people. That said, using the low end of the recommendations...

Meat/Alternatives: 2 servings... 5oz chicken breast = approx 30g protein
Milk/Alternatives: 2 servings... 500mL milk = approx 18g protein
Grains: 6 servings... 6 slices whole grain bread = 25g protein
Fruit/Veg: 5 servings... 5 1/2c measures broccoli = 5g protein

Which equals 78g of protein, which is probably sufficient for the person that would be eating on the low end of the recommended servings.

samiam5050

My Doc (and Dietician) tell me that I need between 4 and 6 ounces of protein at each meal. Also, if I eat a snack, I need to start with a small protein. Also-no grains for me, since I have RA and fibro. Only 2 fruits a day, since I have health/weight problems. But, I can pretty much eat as many raw veggies that I want and a moderate amount of cooked veggies. Finally, no dairy product unless it is raw. Oh, goat cheese is ok. The system you speak of seems all wrong to me. My doc's system has you determine how you feel 4 hours later. If you feel great, have good energy, and are satisfied, etc, then you ate properly for you. If you can't agree to the previous statements, or are hunting something to eat, then you didn't eat properly for you. Also, don't forget the importance of the proper amount of water. Life is wonderful...huh?

cydonian

That's odd... I know that the average adult only needs 4-5oz. of ANIMAL protein in a day, and many Americans go over that on a regular meal or hamburger. But any source of protein? Hmmm...

KareninCanada

Well, I guess it hasn't changed as much as I thought it had... protein recommendation went from 2-3 servings of 50-100g each down to 2 servings of 75g each... and they've actually halved the number of servings of grains from twenty years ago.

I was just rather shocked at the idea of serving up a 2.5 oz steak.... lol I can just imagine the response that would get.



1992 Food Guide...

2-3 servings of protein (ie meat 50-100g/1.75-3.5oz)
2-4 servings of dairy (ie milk 1 cup)
5-10 fruits & veg
5-12 grains


2012 Food Guide...

2 protein (ie meat 75g/2.5oz)
2 dairy (ie 1 cup milk)
7-8 fruit & veg
6-7 grains

Grains: 6 servings... 6 slices whole grain bread = 25g protein
Fruit/Veg: 5 servings... 5 1/2c measures broccoli = 5g protein

Good point. I was forgetting to allow for the protein in grains. (Mental holdover from a previous eating plan where the only protein that counted was one you could hold in your hand - ie only nuts, meat, cheese.)

bcattoes

Isn't it actually saying 2 servings of meat or meat alternative, not protein. You can still get protein from all the other groups. The recommendation doesn't see that out of whack. 1.5 cups of beans, 4 eggs, 1/2 cup nuts, 5 oz of meat/fish doesn't seem so crazy. The grains do seem a little high, but the serviing sizes are pretty small so not crazy high.

heathersmilez

I honnestly didn't believe you so I pulled the chart myself, WOW, CRAZY! I'm sorry, I just have no words or response to this oddity but wanted to put the chart up for others.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/food-guide-aliment/view_eatwell_vue_bienmang-eng.pdf

heathersmilez

Grains: 6 servings... 6 slices whole grain bread = 25g protein
Fruit/Veg: 5 servings... 5 1/2c measures broccoli = 5g protein

Good point. I was forgetting to allow for the protein in grains. (Mental holdover from a previous eating plan where the only protein that counted was one you could hold in your hand - ie only nuts, meat, cheese.)

Thanks for this bonk on the head reminder!

KareninCanada

Maybe we just like meat too much around here...LOL It would be quite typical to have two eggs for breakfast, a ham sandwich for lunch, a snack of veggies & hummus or an apple & PB, and then 4oz meat at supper.