If loving protein snacks is wrong, then frankly, I don’t want to be right. So far in my career as a health and fitness editor, I’ve tried protein coffee, protein sports drinks, protein tortilla chips, protein popcorn, and more protein soda than I’d care to admit. Results vary depending on the product, but generally speaking, the flavors are on point (none of that chalky, whey aftertaste), and I find myself inching closer to my protein goals via snacks I’d be eating anyway. To me, this feels like a good thing – but not everyone agrees.
Walk down any grocery aisle and you’ll see the effects of the recent protein boom on full display. Protein Cheerios, protein ice cream, protein waffles . . . the options are virtually endless. But these protein snacks aren’t just popping up out of nowhere. In 2025, 70 percent of American adults said protein is the nutrient they’re trying the hardest to consume (putting protein on top for the fifth year in a row). Some attribute this trend to the growing popularity of weight-management medications, which can lead to lean muscle loss. Others say protein snacks just make it easier to lead a healthy lifestyle.
To be clear, protein snacks are not a replacement for whole-food protein sources. The snacks often lack important micronutrients, may be more difficult to digest, and can contain hidden “filler” ingredients you won’t find in a slab of ground turkey. But speaking as a person with a chronic illness, I do think there’s some merit to grab-and-go protein sources.
When I’m going through a flare-up, my appetite tends to take a dip, and sometimes I don’t have it in me to consume an entire chicken breast, let alone cook one. Mixing a scoop of protein powder into my iced latte might not be the “cleanest” way to consume my macros, but it makes a world of difference when I’m struggling to fuel myself. Likewise, swapping out the tortilla chips I already eat for a high-protein alternative feels like an obvious hack. Bonus points for layering whole foods like ground beef, fresh salsa, and beans on top. Voila: lazy girl protein. Still, it’s easy to see why people might be experiencing a little protein fatigue. But that doesn’t mean we need to villainize the nutrient either. Two things can be true at once: most people already get enough protein and protein snacks can be convenient and helpful for some people.
I, for one, will not be apologizing for my lazy girl protein anytime soon. There’s already a ton of pressure to eat a certain way and meet certain nutrition goals. What we don’t need to do is judge people for how they get there. Protein isn’t the end-all be-all, but I actually do like having more of it in my snacks . . . if only to make my life a little easier.
Chandler Plante (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the Health & Fitness team at Popsugar. She has over five years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.
