Growing children need high-quality, complete protein for muscles, bones, connective tissue and immunity. Animal proteins like whey (from milk) provide all essential amino acids (EAAs) in highly digestible form, while plant sources (soy, pea, rice, etc.) often lack one or more EAAs and may be harder to digest. Protein quality is measured by scores like PDCAAS and DIAAS – higher scores mean more of the protein can be used by the body. Whey isolate scores ~1.0 (the maximum) on PDCAAS and even above 1.0 on DIAAS, reflecting its completeness and bioavailability. By contrast, many plant proteins have lower scores (see comparison chart below). For example, soy isolate is close to 1.0 PDCAAS but has a slightly lower DIAAS (~0.91), whereas pea protein isolate is incomplete in sulfur-containing AA (methionine) and scores only ~0.83 PDCAAS (0.66 DIAAS), and rice protein scores ~0.42–0.50 PDCAAS.
Comparison of key protein sources (per 100 g)
Whey isolate is a complete protein (all EAAs) with PDCAAS = 1.0 and DIAAS ≈ 1.09. We combine Whey with Collagen protein which is high in glycine/proline to support joint, skin, and connective tissue health. Soy isolate contains anti-nutrients (phytates, trypsin inhibitors) and phytoestrogens, and is a known allergen. Pea and rice proteins are each incomplete (pea low in Met/Cys/Thr, rice low in lysine) and score below 0.9 (see table). Many plant-based diets must blend proteins (e.g. pea + rice) to approach a complete AA profile.
| Protein Source | EAAs Complete? | PDCAAS | DIAAS | Common Allergens | Anti-Nutrients / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grass-fed Whey Isolate + Collagen | Yes (all EAAs) | 1.00 | 1.09 | Dairy (milk protein) | None (no phytates); very high leucine, highly digestible, rich in immune peptides (e.g. lactoferrin). |
| Soy Protein (isolate) | Yes (all EAAs) | 1.00 | 0.91 | Yes (soy allergy; phytoestrogens) | Contains phytates, trypsin inhibitors and lectins; high leucine but also phytoestrogens (isoflavones). |
| Pea Protein (isolate) | No (low Met/Cys, Thr) | ~0.83 | 0.66 | Low (some legume allergy) | Low phytates in isolate; plant lectins. Limited Met/Cys means often paired with grains (like rice) for complementation. |
| Rice Protein (isolate) | No (low Lys) | 0.42 | 0.37 | Low (hypoallergenic) | Phytic acid; low lysine (typically complemented by legumes). |
| Hemp Protein (seed) | No (low Lys, Leu) | 0.66 | N/A | Low | Contains phytates; lower overall protein quality. |
Each value above is supported by nutrition science. For example, a nutrition review reports whey isolate PDCAAS = 1.00 and DIAAS = 1.09, soy isolate ~1.00/0.91, pea ~0.83/0.66, and rice ~0.42/0.37. In simple terms, a score of 1.0 means the protein provides 100% of each essential amino acid per gram; whey and soy achieve that, while pea and rice fall short on specific EAAs (methionine/lysine) so must be “completed” in the diet.
Protein digestibility
Whey and dairy proteins are absorbed very efficiently (nearly 90–100%). Plant proteins are harder to digest due to fiber or residual anti-nutrients. For instance, legumes contain phytic acid that binds minerals and proteins and lectins that can interfere with nutrient uptake. These anti-nutrients negatively impact bioavailability.
Leucine and growth
Leucine is a key amino acid that triggers muscle protein synthesis. Animal proteins, especially Whey, are very high in leucine. This difference makes a big impact on stimulating growth and repair. Plant proteins have less leucine and other EAAs than Whey. Plant proteins have limited amounts of indispensible AAs like methionine and lysine.
Allergens and other concerns
Whey protein isolate (from dairy) is easier on digestion. Soy is a known allergen and also contains phytoestrogens (isoflavones) making parents worry about hormonal issues. Pea is a legume and can potentially trigger legume allergies. Notably, plant proteins carry anti-nutrients (phytates, lectins, trypsin inhibitors) that plants use for defense; these can inhibit mineral and protein absorption. Animal proteins like whey and collagen have no such anti-nutrients.
Why this matters
A child’s diet needs not just enough grams of protein, but protein that supplies all essential amino acids and is well absorbed. If a protein source is missing an EAA, the child must get more total protein or complementary proteins to make up the difference. For example, rice protein (low lysine) is often paired with pea protein (higher lysine) to reach a balanced amino acid profile. In contrast, whey isolate is already complete, so there’s no need for blending or extra volume. Moreover, high-quality proteins support immunity – whey proteins, in particular, have been shown to boost glutathione (the body’s key antioxidant) and contain immunomodulating peptides. Adequate protein intake is crucial for a robust immune system; insufficient or low-quality protein can impair immunity (especially T-cell function).
Punchies Complete Protein: Whey + Collagen blend
Punchies combines two premium proteins to cover all bases. The grass-fed whey isolate provides a complete amino acid profile (especially high leucine) with 100% digestibility. The added grass-fed collagen peptides (rich in glycine, proline, hydroxyproline) supply extra building blocks for skin, bone, cartilage and connective tissues. Because both ingredients are animal‐derived isolates, the blend contains no fillers, no anti-nutrients, and no phytoestrogens – just pure protein. This mix of clean ingredients is ideal for kids: it delivers maximal bioavailable protein per serving without requiring parents to juggle multiple plant sources or worry about missing amino acids.
Key takeaways for parents
Growing kids thrive on complete, highly-digestible proteins. Animal proteins (like grass-fed whey) have full EAA profiles and top scores for quality. Plant proteins often need blending (e.g. pea+rice) to reach completeness, and they generally contain lower levels of key AAs (leucine, methionine, lysine) and natural compounds (phytates, lectins) that can inhibit absorption. By contrast, Punchies’ whey+collagen blend gives kids a one-stop source of pure, high-quality protein: all essential AAs, extra connective-tissue support, and superior absorption – with none of the typical drawbacks of plant protein snacks.
References
- Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score. Wikipedia.
- O’Connor S. et al. “The impact of protein quality on the promotion of resistance exercise-induced changes in muscle mass.” Nutrition & Metabolism. 2016.
- Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score. Wikipedia.
- Boye J., Wijesinha-Bettoni R., Burlingame B. “Plant Proteins: Assessing Their Nutritional Quality and Effects on Health and Physical Function.” MDPI Nutrients. 2020;12(10):3044.
- Moughan PJ. “Evaluation of nutritional quality of a novel pea protein.” ResearchGate. 2018.
- Warren RR. “How Much Functional Collagen Can Be Added to the Diet and Maintain Indispensable Amino Acid Balance?” Today’s Practitioner.
- Nuzest USA. “How Digestible is Pea Protein?”
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. “Dietary protein quality evaluation in human nutrition: Report of an FAO Expert Consultation.” 2013.