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protein portion translation

An educational program to translate numerical protein targets into visual portions and meal slots using evidence-based heuristics.

Static — this skill doesn't adapt to your week.

Tags: protein, nutrition-education, meal-planning, portions

Tools used

Procedure

Procedure

  1. Calculate Evidence-Based Protein Targets

    • Determine the user's daily protein requirement using compute_protein_target.
    • Apply the following multipliers based on user goals:
      • General Health (RDA): 0.8 g/kg
      • Active/Maintenance: 1.2–1.6 g/kg
      • Strength/Hypertrophy: 1.6–2.4 g/kg
      • Aging/Recovery: 1.2–1.5 g/kg
  2. Define Meal Slots and Timing

    • Divide the total daily target into 3–5 "protein slots" to ensure even distribution.
    • Aim for 20–40g of protein per meal (or approximately 0.4–0.5 g/kg per meal) to maximize muscle protein synthesis.
    • Advise the user to avoid "back-loading" (consuming most protein at dinner).
  3. Translate Grams to Visual Portions (The Palm Method)

    • Coach the user on the Palm Heuristic: 1 palm-sized portion of dense protein (meat, fish, soy, eggs) is approximately 20–30g of protein.
    • Calculate the number of "palms" required per meal based on their targets (e.g., a 30g target = 1 palm).
  4. Identify Protein Anchors

    • Help the user identify "protein anchors" for their meals.
    • Focus education on protein density in sources like poultry, fish, tofu, and legumes.
    • Instruct the user on label literacy: looking for protein grams per serving rather than just total calories.
  5. Implement Behavioral Strategies

    • Use an Addition Mindset: Suggest adding high-protein items (e.g., 15g Greek yogurt) to existing meals rather than restricting food.
    • Set a SMART goal for the current week (e.g., "Add one 25g protein anchor to breakfast every day").
    • Create a summary note for the user using create_note detailing their "Palm" targets and meal distribution plan.
  6. Monitor Satiety and Adherence

    • Instruct the user to log subjective hunger 2–3 hours after a meal.
    • If hunger is high, suggest increasing the protein portion size for that specific meal slot in the next session.