I’m forever on a mission to strengthen and better myself, and I frequently turn to technology for a bit of help. That’s why I’m so dedicated to my beloved Peloton app and Bike, for instance, and why I’m always scouring YouTube for new kinds of workouts I can do when I can’t get to the gym. I’ve used apps to monitor my workouts and food intake for years, but I’m still always finding new ways that tech can be helpful—I just didn’t expect my latest discovery to come from, of all things, Peloton’s free YouTube channel.
In comparison to the Peloton app, its YouTube channel doesn’t have much. There’s a landing page full of intro videos for the various instructors, some clips highlighting user stories, and a lot of videos that go over setting up the company’s proprietary equipment for in-home use. But hidden in there is Peloton Fuel, a landing page of recipes and nutrition clips.
You can learn to make chimichurri steak salad, overnight chia seed pudding, and protein-packed breakfasts. The recipes are demonstrated by Peloton instructors, too, and they chit-chat about life and the nutritional value of the meals. Right now, there are just nine videos, but they hint at something bigger coming down the pipeline.
The videos are presented by instructors, but vetted by Peloton nutritionist Dr. Jaime Scher. Usually, this means you see her face and a brief overview of her breakdown of the meal’s value. I appreciate that because, as I’ve said before, for as much fitness and nutrition content as I love to consume on social media, I always feel a little weird when I adopt an exercise or recipe from a random influencer if I can’t be sure they actually have the credentials to be recommending it. Anyone can devise some absurd new way to do a cable kickback or add more protein to a brownie, then film it, blast it out to their followers, and accumulate likes without ever having to prove their method works at all. The fact that these recipes are approved by an actual nutritionist who specializes in fueling the body for exercise is more reassuring.
The videos explain pretty clearly what nutritional elements are at play in each recipe and why that matters. The chimichurri steak salad recipe, for instance, is labeled as having 41 grams of protein per serving and half the daily recommended value of fiber. I’m diligent about tracking my nutrients and regularly check in with my doctor to restructure or affirm the nutritional plan I have in place, so I appreciate clear labeling and recipes that are nutrient-forward.
Best of all, these are free. Whether you’re spending $44 per month on a Peloton All Access membership or not, you can watch these and make the recipes. That’s not true for much of Peloton’s other offerings.
Peloton’s movement into the nutritional space
Dr. Sher’s appearance in the latest Peloton Fuel got me thinking about Peloton’s most recent letter to investors and earnings call, which took place last month. The company revealed there will be some price increases soon, among other things, but Peloton CEO Peter Stern mentioned that, over time, the company is looking to expand its offerings in nutrition and hydration.
The YouTube playlist backs that up. It started three months ago and has turned out recipes at a progressive pace. Two videos came out in the first month, three videos followed the next month, and within the last month there have already been four.
Further, Dr. Sher only came onto the Peloton scene in April, when the company posted about her hiring on Instagram along with a nutrition Q&A. Obviously, this science-backed (yet tasty) content is ramping up, so you should get in while you can and while it still remains firmly outside of the company’s paywall.
