Hot and sweaty from exercise, I open a pint of “Protein Pints” ice cream, but one bite in, and it’s clear: this isn’t a normal sugary and creamy ice cream. Across every grocery store in America are protein foods, ranging from shakes, bars, ice creams and chips. However, behind the label, “30 grams of protein,” lies the real question: does any of it actually taste good?
I tried four different items: Quest Protein Chips Chili Lime ($9.49 from Target), Protein Pints chocolate ice cream ($7.29 from Target), Nurri Chocolate Protein Shake ($14.99 from Costco) and Pure Protein Chewy Chocolate Chip Bar ($7.99 from Target). Each of these products represents a different type of protein snack commonly seen on store shelves.
Starting strong, the Quest Protein Chips were surprisingly good. I was expecting it to taste bland because it is a “healthy” chip but it tasted like the Chili Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips from Trader Joe’s with a nice spicy and sour flavor. One serving of these chips has 140 calories, 20 grams of protein and five grams of fat which makes these chips guilt-free. Because of how good it tastes along with its macronutrients, I could see myself eating these chips regularly. I would rate this a 5/5.
The Protein Pints chocolate ice cream also delivered. Oftentimes, low calorie high protein ice cream does not taste like normal ice cream, but this one was different. It did not have the icy or artificial texture that many diet ice creams have. It tasted like normal chocolate ice cream, having an identical texture and a slightly less sweet taste compared to normal ice cream. This slight difference actually made it feel less heavy and easier to eat. With 12 grams of sugar, 360 calories and 30 grams of protein, it felt like a good substitute for the indulgent ice cream. I would rate this a 4.5/5.
The Nurri chocolate protein shake was a bit disappointing in terms of taste. It had a weird aftertaste that made it much worse than normal chocolate milk. The aftertaste lingered, making it difficult to fully enjoy each sip. This was what I expected the other two foods to taste like, having a weird flavor after making it “healthy.” Although the flavor was bad, the nutrients were undeniable. Nurri has 150 calories for 30 grams of protein and zero sugar. This makes it one of the most efficient options in terms of protein intake. While it’s not something that I would drink out of enjoyment, it works well to hit my protein goals. I would rate this a 3/5.
Last and definitely least on my rankings is the Pure Protein Chewy Chocolate Chip Bar. First, the texture was extremely dense and chewy, making it very hard to eat and swallow. It almost felt like it got stuck in my teeth with every bite. Second, the flavor did not make up for the texture. It did not taste like chocolate and it had a strange aftertaste, with a very artificial flavor as a result of the low added sugars. This combination of bad taste and bad texture led me to not even finish it. With 200 calories and 20 grams of protein, it looks good on paper but it is not worth eating. I would rate this bar a 1/5.
All of the protein foods contain whey protein, which is widely regarded as the most well-researched protein supplement for muscle-building and recovery. Overall, picking protein alternatives to certain foods is not a bad choice. Some, like the chips and ice cream, managed to balance the nutrition with the taste almost perfectly. Others, like the protein shake and bar, prioritized nutrition over taste. This leaves the decision up to the customer, whether or not they want to compromise flavor for nutrition or not. Ω
