The Protein Battle: Biltong Jerky vs Trendy Fitness Foods

When we talk about trendy protein snacks for 2018, avocado and poached eggs are a hot topic of debate on Instagram, with almost every foodie posting photos of their mashed green sludge.
As tired as we are of all that, today we're kicking off a look at trending foods for fitness fans, and we'll be focusing specifically on the protein craze.

We seem to really love protein: we crave a food that can deliver fantastic results in no time, helping us out without too many downsides.
It's easy to get that rush of excitement when you hear about all these benefits; the food often sounds delicious, satisfying and tasty, but as soon as we read the label, the excitement vanishes without a trace.

We've picked out some protein-based snacks currently taking social media by storm, to compare with biltong.
You've probably already spotted a few of these while scrolling through social media on your phone, so let's take a closer look and find out whether they're really healthy.

Protein Cakes/Flapjacks

Cakes?! Are cakes healthy now? We all love cakes and flapjacks, so as soon as one is advertised as protein-packed and healthy, it instantly becomes the fitness trend of the moment for enthusiasts (and for anyone with a sweet tooth...). But is it actually healthy? We picked a random pack of protein flapjacks off the shelf of a store — let's see what's inside:

This 53g Protein Flapjack contains:

237 calories
14g fat
13g protein

Protein Spreads

We're all a little guilty of wanting a slice of bread with chocolate spread on top, especially in the morning, and it looks like another protein trend this year is exactly that: protein spreads. Yes, chocolate ones too! They make breakfast a less boring part of the day, but do these protein spreads actually contain enough protein? Let's find out:

This 33g serving of protein spread contains:
176 calories
13g fat
20g protein

Biltong Cruga Jerky

Biltong Cruga dried meat is rich in protein and low in fat and calories. It's also low in sugar and carbs — let's see how it compares to the trendy foods in the world of protein diets:

A 40g pack of Biltong Cruga jerky contains:

110 calories
1.8g fat
22.1g protein

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

So those are the latest trends when it comes to protein.
Some of them may not offer as much good nutrition as others, but what you choose to eat is entirely up to you.

Protein Peanut Butter

Protein peanut butter is one of the most sought-after foods among regular gym-goers.

Whether you like it smooth, creamy or crunchy, peanut butter almost always satisfies your craving for something savoury.

So are we really in luck? I mean, does a food really exist that's incredibly tasty, protein-packed and healthy all at once? Is it really as healthy as they say?

We picked a product, again a protein peanut butter, that's currently a market trend:

25g of Protein Peanut Butter Contains:

0
Calories
0
g fat
0
g protein

Protein Balls

Protein balls caused a real frenzy in 2018. Who would have thought a sphere of protein could become so interesting?

Protein balls are tasty, dense, and often come in nice packaging (perfect for a quick photo to post online).

We picked a random pack of protein balls currently on the market: