{"id":36364,"date":"2026-02-18T09:59:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/?p=36364"},"modified":"2026-02-18T09:59:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T20:59:56","slug":"glp-1-nutrition-why-protein-quality-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/2026\/02\/18\/glp-1-nutrition-why-protein-quality-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"GLP-1 Nutrition: Why protein quality matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">GLP-1 medications reduce appetite and overall food intake.&nbsp;My Food Bag&nbsp;Dietitian Jade Medemblik covers why&nbsp;getting enough&nbsp;high-quality&nbsp;protein becomes especially important for anyone taking GLP-1 medications and how our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freshstart.nz\/glp-1-support-recipes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GLP-1 Support meals<\/a> can help you to include high-quality protein.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35929\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-300x169.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-480x270.jpg 480w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-1080x608.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-1280x720.jpg 1280w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited-980x551.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FS-Hot-Smoked-Salmon-Lentil-Salad-with-Herb-Vinaigrette-edited.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why is protein important? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Protein&nbsp;is an&nbsp;essential&nbsp;macronutrient&nbsp;that helps to build and repair tissues, while supporting&nbsp;key&nbsp;processes&nbsp;in our body&nbsp;such as muscle development, immune health, hormone&nbsp;balance&nbsp;and&nbsp;metabolism&nbsp;(1,2,3).&nbsp;Protein&nbsp;foods&nbsp;supply&nbsp;your&nbsp;body with&nbsp;amino acids&nbsp;\u2013 the building blocks&nbsp;used&nbsp;to&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;lean&nbsp;muscle and produce important molecules like&nbsp;hormones and enzymes&nbsp;(3).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are 9&nbsp;essential amino acids (EAA\u2019s), which are&nbsp;essential as the body&nbsp;can\u2019t&nbsp;make them on its own, you must get them from the food you eat (4).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The essential amino acids:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Histidine&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Isoleucine&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Leucine&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lysine&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Methionine&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Phenylalanine&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Threonine&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tryptophan&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Valine&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How much protein do&nbsp;I need if taking GLP-1 medication?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The recommended amount&nbsp;of protein&nbsp;for&nbsp;anyone&nbsp;taking&nbsp;a&nbsp;GLP-1 medication (like Wegovy\u00ae, Ozempic\u00ae or Saxender\u00ae) is at least 60 grams per&nbsp;day of high-quality protein, or up to 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day<em>&nbsp;<\/em>(5,6).<em>&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prioritising protein can help to support muscle preservation and&nbsp;maintain&nbsp;metabolic&nbsp;health while meeting nutritional needs during weight loss or periods of dietary change&nbsp;(5).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why does protein quality matter more on GLP1&#8217;s?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking GLP-1 medications reduce appetite and overall food intake leading to weight loss (which is often rapid if doses are high). Because less food is consumed,&nbsp;the food you&nbsp;eat&nbsp;becomes even more important&nbsp;as you&nbsp;still&nbsp;need to&nbsp;meet&nbsp;your&nbsp;overall nutrient requirements.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lower energy intake makes it more challenging to&nbsp;consume sufficient&nbsp;protein (5).&nbsp;For this reason,&nbsp;it\u2019s&nbsp;crucial&nbsp;to maximise the nutritional value in every mouthful. This is where protein quality becomes&nbsp;important. Higher quality protein sources provide all essential amino acids&nbsp;(7).&nbsp;When&nbsp;overall food intake is low,&nbsp;prioritising&nbsp;proteins of high-quality&nbsp;helps you&nbsp;to obtain&nbsp;essential amino acid&nbsp;requirements and gaining the&nbsp;associated health benefits&nbsp;(7).<em>&nbsp;<\/em>For those&nbsp;taking GLP-1 medications, consuming&nbsp;high-quality&nbsp;protein throughout the day,&nbsp;aiming for around 30g per meal, can help to preserve muscle mass and support overall metabolic health&nbsp;(8).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What counts as high-quality protein?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all proteins are created&nbsp;equal;&nbsp;protein quality can vary between food sources.&nbsp;Protein quality&nbsp;refers to how well a food provides essential amino acids and how easily your body can digest and use&nbsp;them&nbsp;(1,3).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;high&nbsp;quality&nbsp;protein&nbsp;contains&nbsp;all nine essential amino acids in sufficient amounts. This is particularly important when:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Appetite is reduced (e.g. on GLP-1 medications)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Total food intake is lower&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Preserving lean muscle mass is a priority&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How can I increase the quality of protein in my diet?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Including a&nbsp;variety of protein sources&nbsp;throughout&nbsp;the day will&nbsp;help to&nbsp;increase&nbsp;the quality of protein in your diet,&nbsp;and ensure&nbsp;you meet your daily protein needs.&nbsp;Try to&nbsp;include protein at every meal, especially breakfast!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The highest&nbsp;quality proteins&nbsp;often&nbsp;come from&nbsp;animal sources&nbsp;like&nbsp;meat,&nbsp;egg&nbsp;and&nbsp;dairy, with fish, poultry and lean meats being good&nbsp;choices&nbsp;(5,9).&nbsp;These&nbsp;high-quality&nbsp;proteins&nbsp;are considered \u2018complete\u2019 proteins&nbsp;because&nbsp;they&nbsp;provide all&nbsp;the essential amino acids your body needs. Some&nbsp;plant-based&nbsp;proteins, like tofu, are also complete, but many others like grains, legumes,&nbsp;nuts&nbsp;and seeds are \u2018incomplete\u2019,&nbsp;meaning they may&nbsp;lack or be&nbsp;low in one or more essential amino&nbsp;acids&nbsp;(10).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eating a&nbsp;mix of protein sources throughout the day not only helps you to meet your protein requirements, but also ensures you get a variety of vitamins,&nbsp;minerals&nbsp;and other nutrients these foods provide. While plant proteins are&nbsp;generally lower&nbsp;in protein quality, combining different plant sources&nbsp;can create a complete amino acid profile. Even on their own, plant proteins are valuable for their fibre,&nbsp;vitamins&nbsp;and minerals they provide, making them an important part of a balanced diet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"560\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-1024x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-35673\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-1024x560.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-300x164.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-768x420.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-1536x840.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-2048x1120.jpg 2048w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-1080x590.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-1280x700.jpg 1280w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-980x536.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/protein.1-480x263.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Is total protein more important than protein quality?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Total protein&nbsp;refers to how much protein you eat each day, while protein quality&nbsp;describes&nbsp;how well your body uses it.&nbsp;Protein&nbsp;quality&nbsp;becomes&nbsp;particularly&nbsp;important when overall food or calorie intake is lower&nbsp;(1).&nbsp;Lower quality protein sources may provide fewer essential amino acids, making it harder for the body to meet its needs when intake is already reduced.&nbsp;Prioritising&nbsp;high quality protein helps to ensure your body still&nbsp;receives&nbsp;all the amino acids it needs, even when eating less&nbsp;(3,1).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, total protein intake still matters most. Even the highest quality proteins&nbsp;can\u2019t&nbsp;prevent muscle loss if total protein intake is too low. While protein quality improves how efficiently protein is used, consuming enough protein&nbsp;remains&nbsp;essential for&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;lean muscle mass.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Are protein shakes okay on GLP-1s?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ideally, most protein should come from whole foods, as they provide not only protein but also&nbsp;a full package of&nbsp;bioavailable&nbsp;vitamins&nbsp;and minerals.&nbsp;In whole foods, vitamins and minerals are naturally&nbsp;packaged with fibre, healthy fats, and phytonutrients that work together to enhance absorption and overall nutrient uptake. In contrast, fortified protein powders typically lack these supportive components, which can limit how effectively the body uses the added nutrients.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As GLP-1 medications reduce appetite, protein shakes can still be a helpful and practical way to meet&nbsp;protein needs&nbsp;and support hydration&nbsp;(8). They&nbsp;deliver high quality protein in a small, easy to consume volume, which can be especially useful when eating less.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If choosing a protein powder, whey&nbsp;protein is considered a&nbsp;high-quality&nbsp;option&nbsp;because it&nbsp;contains&nbsp;all&nbsp;essential&nbsp;amino acids and is&nbsp;efficiently digested and used by the body.&nbsp;Plant based protein powders can also be suitable,&nbsp;with soy protein and blended options (e.g.&nbsp;pea and rice) are best, as they provide a more complete amino acid profile.&nbsp;It is also important to consider the&nbsp;additional&nbsp;ingredients included in protein powders.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ideally, the ingredient list should be minimal (around 3\u20135 recognisable ingredients), with little to no added sugar (&lt;5g per 100g) and no artificial sweeteners (such as sucralose or aspartame).&nbsp;Products sweetened with&nbsp;stevia or monk fruit&nbsp;may be a less processed&nbsp;option. As a general guide, look for short ingredient lists with minimal additives overall.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While protein shakes can be a helpful supplement, they&nbsp;shouldn\u2019t&nbsp;replace whole foods entirely. Whenever possible, aim to use them alongside balanced meals to support overall nutrition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What if&nbsp;I&#8217;m&nbsp;vegan or vegetarian?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Following a&nbsp;vegan or vegetarian diet&nbsp;can sometimes mean consuming proteins that are lower in quality&nbsp;when compared&nbsp;to&nbsp;animal-based&nbsp;sources, as most plant proteins are incomplete when eaten&nbsp;on&nbsp;their own&nbsp;(11).&nbsp;However, this&nbsp;doesn\u2019t&nbsp;mean&nbsp;plant-based&nbsp;diets are inadequate or unable to meet protein&nbsp;needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While individual plant proteins may score lower for quality when assessed in isolation, balanced meals and mixed diets can still achieve a high overall protein quality (2).&nbsp;Eating a wide variety of&nbsp;plant-based&nbsp;protein sources throughout the day, such as legumes, grains, nuts, seeds and soy products, allows these proteins to complement&nbsp;one another and improve overall protein&nbsp;quality&nbsp;(1).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research shows that well planned&nbsp;plant-based&nbsp;diets that include a mix of protein sources do not lead to protein deficiency&nbsp;(10).&nbsp;For this reason, vegetarians and vegans&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;from being mindful of protein choices, as relying on a narrow range of plant proteins can make it harder to meet protein needs&nbsp;(2).&nbsp;With thoughtful planning and variety, vegetarian and vegan diets can effectively support protein requirements and overall health.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36374\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited.png 1600w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-300x169.png 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-1024x576.png 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-768x432.png 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-1536x864.png 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-480x270.png 480w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-1080x608.png 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-1280x720.png 1280w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/FS-leftover-black-bean-stuffed-capsicums-edited-980x551.png 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What the GLP-1 Support meal plan provides<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freshstart.nz\/glp-1-support-recipes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GLP-1 Support meals<\/a> are chef and dietitian-designed with protein as a top priority. Each meal provides\u00a020-40g of\u00a0high-quality\u00a0protein per serve. We\u00a0carefully select premium protein sources like fish (including salmon), chicken, beef, pork, and lamb to support both taste and nutrition.\u00a0We have 4 recipes and 4 ready made meals to choose from each week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example meals\u00a0with protein amounts highlighted:\u00a0\u00a0<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36430\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited-500x500.jpg 500w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited-980x980.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-6-edited-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36429\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited-500x500.jpg 500w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited-980x980.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-4-edited-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36428\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited-500x500.jpg 500w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited-980x980.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-4-edited-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example Ready Made meals\u00a0with protein amounts highlighted:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36435\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited-500x500.jpg 500w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited-980x980.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1-7-edited-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36436\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited-500x500.jpg 500w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited-980x980.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2-5-edited-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36437\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited-300x300.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited-150x150.jpg 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited-768x768.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited-500x500.jpg 500w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited-980x980.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/3-5-edited-480x480.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Explore the latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freshstart.nz\/on-the-menu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GLP-1 Support Menu<\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(1)&nbsp;Ajomiwe&nbsp;N, Boland M,&nbsp;Phongthai&nbsp;S,&nbsp;Bagiyal&nbsp;M, Singh J, Kaur L. Protein nutrition: understanding structure, digestibility, and bioavailability for&nbsp;optimal&nbsp;health. Foods. 2024;13(11):1771. doi:10.3390\/foods13111771.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(2) Adhikari S, Schop M, de Boer IJM,&nbsp;Huppertz&nbsp;T. Protein quality in perspective: a review of protein quality metrics and their applications.&nbsp;<em>Nutrients<\/em>. 2022;14(5):947. doi:10.3390\/nu14050947.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(3)&nbsp;Moughan PJ, Fulgoni VL III, Wolfe RR. The importance of dietary protein quality in mid- to high-income countries.&nbsp;<em>J&nbsp;Nutr<\/em>. 2024;154(3):804\u2013814.&nbsp;doi:10.1016\/j.tjnut.2024.01.020.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(4) Lopez MJ, Mohiuddin SS. Biochemistry, Essential Amino Acids. In:&nbsp;StatPearls&nbsp;[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL):&nbsp;StatPearls&nbsp;Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK557711\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK557711\/<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(5)&nbsp;Mozaffarian&nbsp;D, Agarwal M, Aggarwal M, Alexander L, Apovian CM,&nbsp;Bindlish&nbsp;S, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: a joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society.&nbsp;<em>Obesity<\/em>. 2025;33(8):1475\u20131503. doi:10.1002\/oby.24336.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(6)&nbsp;Almandoz JP, Wadden TA, Tewksbury C, Apovian CM, Fitch A, Ard JD,&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. Nutritional considerations with&nbsp;antiobesity&nbsp;medications.&nbsp;<em>Obesity (Silver Spring)<\/em>. 2024 Jun 10. doi:10.1002\/oby.24067. PMID:38853526.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(7)&nbsp;Matthews JJ, Arentson-Lantz EJ, Moughan PJ, Wolfe RR, Ferrando AA, Church DD,&nbsp;<em>et al<\/em>. Understanding Dietary Protein Quality: Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Scores and Beyond.&nbsp;<em>J&nbsp;Nutr<\/em>. 2025 Oct;155(10):3152-3167.&nbsp;doi:10.1016\/j.tjnut.2025.07.005.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(8)&nbsp;Johnson BVB, Milstead M, Green L, Kreider R, Jones R. Diet quality and nutrient distribution while using glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist: A secondary cross-sectional analysis.&nbsp;<em>Obes&nbsp;Pillars<\/em>. 2025&nbsp;Dec;16:100195.&nbsp;doi:10.1016\/j.obpill.2025.100195.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(9) Fitch A, Gigliotti L, Bays HE. Application of nutrition interventions with GLP-1 based therapies: a narrative review of the challenges and solutions.&nbsp;Obes&nbsp;Pillars. 2025 Aug&nbsp;28;16:100205.&nbsp;doi:10.1016\/j.obpill.2025.100205. PMID:41018564.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(10)&nbsp;Alcorta A, Porta A, T\u00e1rrega A, Alvarez MD, Vaquero MP. Foods for plant-based diets: challenges and innovations. Foods. 2021;10(2):293. doi:10.3390\/foods10020293.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(11)&nbsp;Calvez J,&nbsp;Azzout-Marniche&nbsp;D, Tom\u00e9 D. Protein quality,&nbsp;nutrition&nbsp;and health. Front&nbsp;Nutr. 2024 May&nbsp;28;11:1406618. doi:10.3389\/fnut.2024.1406618. PMID:38863590.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GLP-1 medications reduce appetite and overall food intake.&nbsp;My Food Bag&nbsp;Dietitian Jade Medemblik covers why&nbsp;getting enough&nbsp;high-quality&nbsp;protein becomes especially important for anyone taking GLP-1 medications and how our GLP-1 Support meals can help you to include high-quality protein.&nbsp;&nbsp; Why is protein important? Protein&nbsp;is an&nbsp;essential&nbsp;macronutrient&nbsp;that helps to build and repair tissues, while supporting&nbsp;key&nbsp;processes&nbsp;in our body&nbsp;such as muscle development, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":35929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2353,2361,2363,2368],"tags":[1745,2818,2819,1746,1747],"class_list":["post-36364","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-fresh-start","category-lifestyle-wellness-tips","category-nutrition","tag-fresh-start","tag-glp-1","tag-glp-1-support","tag-health","tag-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36364","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36364"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36438,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36364\/revisions\/36438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36364"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}