By: Nyah
You may think that I’m here to hate on protein- it’s true, I always tell my friends that it’s super overrated- but, surprisingly, I’m not. Yes, protein has been talked about more this year than any other. It has become all the rage in 2026, making it seem as though none of the other macronutrients matter in comparison. Nora and I have seen the ridiculous new ways that food companies are attempting to add protein into every single one of their products, as I am sure that you have too. And I have something to admit: the two of us are mere sheep in this equation.
If we’re being honest, even though we know that most of the protein-packed foods that we are seeing online and in the grocery store are ultra-processed and not high-quality, we still want to try them. Let’s face it- they typically come in well-designed, snack-size packaging that is transportable and convenient for us busy college students. What I am trying to say here is that we allow ourselves to be gullible consumers sometimes in favor of our curiosity. Because when has a little curiosity ever hurt anyone?
With all that said, we have been tasting many new protein-infused foods over the past several months and are happy to provide our opinions on whether or not they are actually worth your money. (Because we all know that they are more expensive than the original version, yet people like us are still willing to hand over their hard-earned cash for an ultra-processed concoction that no longer resembles where it came from.) Even though no one asked for them, we hope you take our opinions into account the next time you walk down the aisle at the grocery store and are bombarded with various options including but not limited to Protein Water, protein popcorn, protein Cheez-Its, and protein toilet paper. (Protein bug spray coming soon.) Sure, there is research currently being done into whether excess protein consumption causing colon cancer. But we’re not going to worry about that now. These brands are too convincing. So, enjoy!
