Answer Machine #0
Food Section

Protein Playbook

Figure out the meat. Everything else is decoration.

Your Protein Number

Not a range. Not "it depends." A number.

The Phantom Take: Protein powder is a supplement, not a food group. If you're drinking 3 shakes a day, you don't have a nutrition plan, you have a smoothie addiction. Get your protein from food first. Powder fills the gaps.

The Pingo Doce Protein List

What's available, what's affordable, protein per 100g. Stop Googling.

Meat

🍗

Chicken Breast

grilled/baked

31g protein

165 cal • €5.99/kg

🍗

Chicken Thighs

any method

26g protein

209 cal • €3.49/kg

🥩

Ground Beef (lean)

pan-fried

26g protein

250 cal • €7.99/kg

🥩

Pork Loin

roasted/grilled

27g protein

143 cal • €5.49/kg

🦃

Turkey Breast

any method

29g protein

135 cal • €8.99/kg

🥩

Beef Steak

pan/grill

27g protein

271 cal • €14.99/kg

Fish & Seafood

🐟

Tuna (canned)

ready

26g protein

116 cal • €2.49/can 160g

🐟

Salmon

baked/pan

25g protein

208 cal • €12.99/kg

🐟

Cod (Bacalhau)

any method

23g protein

105 cal • €8.99/kg

🐟

Sardines (canned)

ready

25g protein

208 cal • €1.29/can 120g

🦐

Shrimp

any method

24g protein

99 cal • €9.99/kg

Dairy & Eggs

🥛

Greek Yogurt

ready

10g protein

97 cal • €2.49/500g

🧀

Cottage Cheese

ready

11g protein

98 cal • €1.99/250g

🥛

Skyr

ready

11g protein

63 cal • €1.79/450g

🥚

Eggs

any method

13g protein

155 cal • €2.99/12 eggs

🧀

Mozzarella

ready

22g protein

280 cal • €3.99/250g

Plant-Based

🫘

Lentils (cooked)

boiled

9g protein

116 cal • €1.49/500g dry

🫘

Chickpeas (cooked)

ready

9g protein

164 cal • €0.89/can 400g

🧊

Tofu

pan-fried

8g protein

76 cal • €2.49/400g

🫛

Edamame

boiled

11g protein

121 cal • €2.99/500g frozen

🫘

Black Beans

ready

9g protein

132 cal • €0.99/can 400g

Plant proteins are incomplete. Combine legumes with grains (rice + beans, hummus + pita) or supplement with dairy/eggs.

The Phantom Food Philosophy

1.

Protein first. Always.

Figure out the meat, everything else is decoration.

2.

Cook boring, eat boring, live interesting.

Your meals don't need to be content. They need to be fuel.

3.

Batch the hard stuff.

Meat takes time. Rice takes time. Do it once. Eat it all week.

4.

Frozen veg is not a failure.

It's actually more nutritious than the "fresh" stuff sitting there for 2 weeks.

5.

The best meal is the one you'll actually eat.

A "suboptimal" meal you actually make beats a "perfect" meal you never cook.

6.

Stop following American grocery lists.

You live where you live. Cook with what's there. You have frango and arroz. Now what?

Got Your Protein Number?

Now figure out if your goal is even realistic.

Try the Realistic-O-Meter