Your new post-workout protein drink could be helping the environment

Published 10:15 am Monday, January 24, 2022

For every cup of strained yogurt that’s produced in our country, two cups of whey are created as a byproduct. Whey can be a problem for the environment if it enters into the waste stream. It’s naturally acidic, and it can damage surrounding ecosystems by disrupting the pH of groundwater, resulting in lower crop yields, depleting oxygen levels in waterways and negatively impacting aquatic life.

In response, The Spare Food Company, founded in New York’s Hudson River Valley by Chef Adam Kaye and his sustainability-minded brother Jeremy, created a new beverage that uses upcycled whey as a main ingredient.

Spare Tonic is made with four simple things: fermented whey, fruit, spices and honey, creating a mildly acidic, effervescent beverage, similar in flavor to kombucha. Like kombucha, Spare Tonic offers probiotic benefits, but whereas kombucha is made with tea, Spare Tonic’s use of whey makes it naturally richer in vitamins and electrolytes. It also provides 7 grams of protein. With a 3:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio, it’s ideal post-workout.

So next time you need a drink, try one that is as refreshingly good for the environment as it is for your body. The flavor offerings are Lemon & Ginger, Cucumber & Lime, Blueberry & Ginger, and Peach & Turmeric, and you’ll find it in the refrigerated section.