What Is Protein and Why Is Everyone Obsessed With It? Plus 8 Orders With 40g+

Three phones showing Pleit answering protein questions, with picks like a Swiss Chalet Quarter Chicken Dinner with 63g of protein and a Tim Hortons Protein Latte with 20g

Protein is one of the three macronutrients, and it’s the one your body uses to build and repair basically everything, from muscle to skin to hair. Everyone’s obsessed with it because it keeps you full, it helps you keep muscle, and the internet made “how much protein did you eat today” a whole personality.

Ok so if you’ve ever looked at a protein latte and thought “is this real or is this marketing,” this one’s for you. We’ll cover what protein is, how much you need, why it’s everywhere right now, and 8 takeout orders with 40g or more.

What is protein?

Protein is a nutrient made of amino acids, which are tiny building blocks your body strings together to make muscle, enzymes, hormones and more. There are 20 amino acids, and 9 of them you can only get from food.

Every gram of protein has 4 calories, same as carbs. Fat has 9. So when someone says an order is “high protein,” they usually mean a big chunk of its calories come from protein.

You’ll find protein in chicken, beef, fish, eggs, dairy, tofu, beans and lentils. Grilled and rotisserie chicken are the protein-per-calorie queens on most takeout menus, which is why they’re all over this list.

So what is protein doing for you day to day? It keeps you full, it keeps your muscles around, and it helps you recover.

Here’s where Pleit comes in. Instead of scrolling three apps and squinting at nutrition PDFs, you type “I need 40g of protein” and it gives you three real orders that fit.

How much protein do you actually need?

Adults need about 0.8g of protein per kilogram of body weight every day, according to HealthLinkBC. That’s a minimum, not a target, and athletes, pregnant people and some health conditions need more.

So if you weigh 60kg, that’s about 48g a day. At 75kg, it’s about 60g. One rotisserie chicken breast from St-Hubert gets you 56g, so the “I can never hit my protein” panic is often more about planning than about the food.

If you want your own number, our protein calculator works it out from your weight and how active you are.

Why is everyone so obsessed with protein right now?

Honestly, a few things hit at once. Gym culture went mainstream on TikTok, GLP-1 medications made people care about keeping muscle, and brands figured out that “protein” on a label sells.

Protein also just works for a lot of people. It’s the most filling macro, so a high-protein lunch can be the difference between being fine at 3pm and eating a whole sleeve of cookies.

The obsession part is when it becomes the only thing you care about. Protein is great, but you still want fibre, carbs for energy, and food you actually like eating.

Moodboard collage titled hitting 200g protein without crying, with roast chicken, protein shakes and steak, and the Pleit search box asking what to eat at 60g by 7pm — The protein panic, as a moodboard. Save it on Pinterest

What are the best high-protein takeout orders?

These are 8 takeout orders with 40g of protein or more. Every number comes from the chain’s official Canadian nutrition guide, checked November 2026.

Order	Chain	Protein	Calories
Quarter Chicken Dinner, White Meat	Swiss Chalet	63g	540
Rotisserie chicken, breast	St-Hubert	56g	400
Caesar Wings, Oven Roasted	Little Caesars	56g	560
Just Chicken (Large)	Osmow’s	55g	354
Rotisserie Chicken on a Bun, White Meat	Swiss Chalet	54g	430
Angus beef steak	St-Hubert	42g	380
Papa Burger	A&W	40g	580
Macro Balance Bowl	Freshii	40g	670

Bar chart of protein per 100 calories for 8 takeout orders: Osmow's Just Chicken leads with 15.5g per 100 calories, and the Freshii Macro Balance Bowl has 6g — Grams of protein per 100 calories. Source: official Canadian nutrition guides for each chain, checked November 2026.

If you only remember one thing: protein per calorie is the stat that matters. Osmow’s Just Chicken gives you 55g in 354 calories, while the Macro Balance Bowl gives you 40g in 670 but also 13g of fibre.

And if you want protein in drink form, a medium Tim Hortons Protein Latte has 20g in 170 calories. It’s real, not just marketing.

How does Pleit help you hit your protein?

Pleit is chat-first. You type what you need, like “I need 40g of protein” or “high protein under 500 cal,” and it gives you three orders with the protein and calories right there.

It searches over 1,000 meals from 19 chains’ official nutrition guides, so the numbers aren’t vibes. You order on the app you already use, because Pleit doesn’t deliver.

Want to try it? Ask Pleit on the homepage what to order for your protein goal today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is protein in simple words?

Protein is the nutrient your body uses to build and repair muscle, skin, hair and more. It’s made of amino acids, and you get it from foods like chicken, eggs, dairy, tofu and beans.

How much protein do I need a day?

Most adults need at least 0.8g per kilogram of body weight, so about 48g if you weigh 60kg. Active people often aim higher, and our protein calculator can give you a personal number.

What fast food has the most protein?

Rotisserie chicken is the move. A Swiss Chalet Quarter Chicken Dinner with white meat has 63g, and a St-Hubert rotisserie chicken breast has 56g in 400 calories.

Is too much protein bad for you?

For most healthy adults, eating more than the minimum is fine. If you have kidney disease or another health condition, ask your doctor or a dietitian what’s right for you.