WATCH - What these student athletes think of proteinmaxxing

For 17-year-old shot putter and basketball player Alvin Onyedika, game preparation starts in the grocery aisles.

The student athlete from Sherwood Park, Alberta, helps his mom shop for their meals, including protein and other foods.

He doesn't drink protein shakes, but focuses on having a balanced diet.

"It's ... more sustainable that way," he told CBC Kids News in an interview.

In the store, he's noticed protein in big, bold letters on chip bags and friends at school sometimes bring protein shakes to drink.

Alvin understands that the pressure to proteinmaxx is real among athletes his age.

"People see the word protein and think, 'Oh, this has to be healthy because it's advertised as protein,'" he said.

Experts say the secret to athletic success isn't to focus on one nutrient alone, but to ensure you are eating enough to fuel your body throughout the day.