Experts say there is no quick fix for nutritional goals

“There’s no magic pill, unfortunately, for sustainable health,” nutritionist Jenny Fowler, who runs a consulting practice out of San Carlos, said. 

When her clients come to her with questions about specialty products, her response is always to look for the first ingredient on the label and see if they would eat it. Whether it’s protein powder for adding to a smoothie or products like protein pasta, pancakes or popcorn, Fowler recommends seeking out ingredients and foods that are simple and digestible. 

“We always want to be having protein that … you would eat that source of protein by itself, as a whole food,” she said. “There’s a lot of soy protein isolate being used. No one’s going to have a plate of soy protein isolate.” 

When it comes to eating a balanced diet and meeting one’s nutritional goals, Joelle Spears, whose nutrition consulting practice Be Well With Joelle is Burlingame-based, said putting in time and effort doesn’t have to be a bad thing. 

Avoiding sugar and prioritizing some amount of protein at every meal is key to building muscle, Spears said, particularly for those eating a vegetarian diet. She recommends tofu as one cost-effective option — and emphasized that with the right seasoning, it can taste delicious. 

“Nutrition should never be a trend,” she said. 

Diet supplements, which can be everything from fish oil to magnesium to multivitamins, are a hot trend in the wellness space. But with little regulation, Fowler says she recommends her clients be wary of products being sold by online fitness influencers. They should also be wary of clickbait headlines that emphasize a singular product or food as the key to living a healthy life, she said.

“There’s a big issue with social media influencers, who are trying to sell a product,” she said. “Just because they’re selling it, doesn’t mean that they know the backstory of it.” 

Ultimately, what supplements an individual needs in their diet are often very specific to that person and the foods they consume. Most people need more magnesium — which is said to support muscle function, aid sleep and regulate blood pressure — in their diet, for example, Fowler said. But at the same time, individuals should look closely at what type of magnesium they’re buying, since products vary widely. 

Spears, who said she’s tried a wide variety of supplements throughout her nutritional career, recommends buying the products at certified and professional health stores, like Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco. 

If there is any “hack” or fast fix for nutrition and diet, it’s giving yourself more time to prepare healthy meals and meal prepping for the week, Fowler said. 

“People walk in my office, they’re like, ‘It’s amazing. I started planning my meals, and now there’s food for me to eat,’” she said. 

Sometimes, that means deprioritizing other goals to make planned healthy meals a priority, she said. 

“In a holistic aspect, I’d say, is there something that someone can let go of in their life, to give themselves more energy and time to put towards taking care of themselves, to put towards meal planning for the week?” she said.