Franchises Can Beef Up Menus with Protein

That's a question more Americans may be asking, as protein - the fuel du jour of gym rats everywhere - is increasingly important to U.S. consumers, according to a new NPD Group report titled Protein Perceptions and Needs.

In fact, just under 80 percent said protein is part of a healthy diet, while more than half of adults said they want to incorporate more protein into their eating routines.

However, the best way to get protein is a matter of debate. Approximately half of consumers said good old-fashioned meat and fish was the best source while the other half chose non-meat sources.

“Consumers want more protein in their diets. In fact, the only issue that U.S. adults are now checking on the Nutrition Facts label on the back of foods and beverages is the amount of protein,” Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst at NPD Group, said. “While our interest in protein is growing, we’re looking for alternatives to meat. Many of us are looking to lower the cost of our protein sources, and animal meat is generally more expensive than plant-based protein, which explains the growth in Greek yogurt and other alternate protein sources.”