How Celebrity Trainers Hack Their Protein Goals

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the protein chatter—including a new wave of protein powders, bars, and drinks that are constantly flooding your feeds—you’re not alone. But here’s the thing: Most experts recommend against relying on these protein shortcuts to meet your daily goals, instead encouraging the protein obsessed to consume the nutrient through whole foods.

But we get it: Eating the same type of protein over and over again can get boring. So we turned to the pros to help with that. Below, trainers, fitness founders, and nutritionists break down how they meet their protein goals—with a bunch of good tricks (sans the powders, bars, and questionable drinks that are all over social).

Rob Piela, Trainer and Founder of Gotham Gym

Once upon a time, Gotham Gym founder Rob Piela was a vegan. And while he’s no longer on a totally animal-free diet, he still turns to meat alternatives when looking to increase his protein intake. “Some of the best athletes in the world are vegan,” says Piela, who trained celebs like Gigi Hadid. “They eat foods such as peas, lentils, and chickpeas. Then there are soy-based foods like tofu and tempeh. And there’s also nuts and butters—they’re a little heavier in fat, but they’re good sources of protein.”

But pro tip: Be sure to focus on a well-balanced diet rather than just one nutrient. “A protein-only diet is not a good thing,” he adds.

Adena Neglia, MS, RDN, CDN, with Brown Medina Nutrition and Nutrition Consultant for the New York City Ballet

Neglia, who is the nutritional consultant for the New York City Ballet, stresses the importance of protein during long rehearsals to support a dancer’s performance, prevent injury, and fully recover. “Protein is essential for strength and recovery, but it’s still just one part of the bigger fueling picture,” she says. “Since carbs are a dancer’s main energy source, we discuss how protein fits into that balance and where it’s most helpful around training.”

One way she personally gets her protein intake (without getting bored with the same meal over and over) is through tiny adjustments to protein-focused meals. “Small tweaks prevent protein burnout while keeping intake consistent,” she says. Things she recommends to dancers and anyone looking for easy ways to up their protein include:

• Adding Greek yogurt on top of taco, chili, or potato bowls for a creamier, higher-protein finish
• Adding dried edamame as a crunchy topping for salads, soups, or grain bowls
• Cooking frozen shrimp for added quick protein
• Try protein-spiked versions of your favorite foods—for example, higher-protein bread such as Dave’s Killer Bread, Barilla Plus pasta, and Kodiak Cakes oatmeal or pancake mix

Saul Choza, Pilates Instructor and Founder of Winsor Choza Pilates

Saul Choza, who trains celebs like Miley Cyrus, likes to incorporate different types of protein into his diet, including ground turkey for healthy tacos and salmon. (“The trick is to broil the salmon skin side up for a few minutes,” he says. “Then you take it out of the oven, peel the skin off the salmon, [and] the end result is a crispy salmon-skin chip to accompany the meal. It is so delicious, and I have many friends and clients who now use this method.”) He turns to meat alternatives often too.

“Nuts and yogurt are an easy way to get protein when I don’t want eggs in the morning,” Choza says. “Also, rice and beans are perfect protein [sources] when consumed together. It is great for times when I want to give my body a rest from meat, fish, or poultry.”

Dani Coleman, VP of Training at Pvolve

Dani Coleman, who is Jennifer Aniston’s personal trainer, is all about the meal prep. “It not only saves time and resources, but it also allows you to plan ahead and build in variety so you’re not defaulting to the same meals every day.”

For her meal prep, she focuses on whole-food protein sources that are easy for on the go. She loves edamame, hard-boiled eggs, and apples with almond butter—though protein-rich Greek yogurt is her go-to.

“Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and I truly believe it sets the tone for how you feel and perform the rest of the day,” she says. “One of my go-to protein-focused breakfasts is a Greek yogurt parfait that I prep the night before in a mason jar. I mix Greek yogurt with almond butter and flaxseed, then top it with berries and walnuts. It’s perfect for grabbing and going on my extra-early mornings.”

Heather Andersen, founder of NY Pilates

With takeout a few swipes away, it’s all too easy to fall into a food-delivery trap. Heather Andersen has one hack to resist that temptation and keep her protein intake on track (and it’s cost-effective to boot): buying your protein in bulk. “My freezer is my accountability partner,” she says. “I bulk order high-quality proteins so I always have something clean on hand. When I pull out a filet or chicken breast in the morning, I know dinner is already halfway done. It’s the simplest way to avoid last-minute takeout and protect my energy for the next day.”

And if you’re looking for another food option that isn’t the typical red meat or chicken, she loves salmon filets. “I buy them in bulk, thaw one when I need it, and eat a four-ounce filet like it’s a chic, omega-rich protein bar,” she says. “Clean, zero additives, and almost too easy.”

Lili Gattyán, owner of Dogpound

A major misconception when it comes to eating healthy is that it can be bland. Lili Gattyán likes to balance proteins like chicken and tofu with different vegetables like kimchi, purple cabbage, and artichokes and healthy fats like avocados. But the best way to elevate a healthy, protein-focused meal is to add bold flavors. “It’s all about how you dress it,” she says. “Sauces, spices, and dressings are endless, and mixing them up brings out different tastes within the same meal. My current favorites are a spicy cashew sauce and hot sauce—the bolder the better.”

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