Video Protein-packed meals may come with a catch, registered dietitian warns Jamie Lee McIntyre, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Florida, tells Fox News Digital why consumers should be wary of treating a high-protein label as a sign of overall healthfulness.
One of Costco's newer food court additions is packing more protein than anything else on the menu, but a dietitian says shoppers should look beyond the eye-catching number.
The Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad, which Costco highlighted among its new food court offerings this year, contains 59 grams of protein along with 840 calories.
The $7.99 salad includes rotisserie chicken, hard-boiled eggs, bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese on a bed of romaine lettuce, along with tomatoes and creamy peppercorn ranch dressing.
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Jamie Lee McIntyre, a Florida-based registered dietitian nutritionist, told Fox News Digital that protein is only one factor consumers should consider when deciding what to eat.
Costco's food court has become a fan favorite for its members, including the new Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
"That's just a nutrition attribute," McIntyre said of protein. She noted that "a food can be high in protein, but it can also still be high in sodium, saturated fat or calories."
Regarding this particular Costco menu item, McIntyre said the protein "is coming from some good whole foods, chicken and eggs. There's veggies in there. So those are some good building blocks of the meal. But I would say, for a lot of people, 840 calories might be a bit much for a light lunch."
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Other Costco food court options aren't far behind the chef salad when it comes to protein.
The Chicken Caesar Salad contains 58 grams of protein, just one gram less than the Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad.
The Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad isn't the only Costco food court item packing plenty of protein. (Peter Burke/Fox News Digital)
The Chicken Bake is another high-protein option, with 53 grams.
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Online reactions to the Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad have been mixed, with some Costco shoppers criticizing its proportions and others praising its flavor.
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"Tons of toppings, not enough lettuce. Salty for a salad. I wouldn't buy it again, the portions are just way off, and it was a whole thing to assemble," one Reddit user said.
Costco's Rotisserie Chicken Chef Salad (not pictured) contains 59 grams of protein, but some people online say it doesn't have enough lettuce. (iStock)
Another Reddit user was a fan of the salad, particularly the dressing.
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"Someone bought me one, and I went back 2 days later to buy another," someone wrote. "I am not a salad person, but I love this dressing. I wish I knew what company makes the Peppercorn Ranch dressing."
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Fox News Digital reached out to Costco for comment.
Sadie Chafe is a writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
