By pxlz
Khloé Kardashian is getting in on the snack game — albeit with a twist. The reality star and entrepreneur just announced she’s launching Khloud, a new line of popcorn that’s packed with protein.
As Kardashian announced on Instagram, Khloud will be available at Target and through its website on April 29 with three flavors of popcorn: white cheddar, sweet and salty kettle corn, and olive oil and sea salt. Per the Khloud website, the popcorn is made from whole-grain Nebraska-sourced corn and is non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher and “free from both seed oils and added flavors.”
But it’s the seven grams of protein per serving that is the selling point of the new line — and it’s just one more addition to a slate of snacks that’s chock-full of the macronutrient, such as Legendary’s protein-packed toaster pastries and Quest Protein Chips.
Why protein?
Protein is the most satiating macronutrient — which also includes carbohydrates, fats and fiber — and is the building block of muscle and other important tissues. While individual protein needs vary, the 2020-2025 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend adult men get 56 grams of protein per day, and adult women get 46.
But there are a few reasons why extra protein seems to be cropping up in our food as of late. One is an increased interest in fitness culture — Kardashian herself regularly posts workout videos on social media and even has her own line of athleisure wear. The more we exercise, the more protein we need, as working out breaks down the tissues that protein helps rebuild.
Another reason is the increase in GLP-1 weight loss medications, as people taking these medications are encouraged to up their protein intake so they maintain muscle while reducing fat, dietitian Nina Crowley told Yahoo Life. Companies are even marketing their higher-protein products, from frozen meals by Healthy Choice to condiments like upcoming brand She’s the Sauce, as GLP-1 friendly.
What a dietitian thinks about Khloud
Dietitian Bree Phillips told Yahoo Life that Kardashian’s protein popcorn is minimally processed when compared to other protein-boosted products. Essentially, the snack is just “protein powder covered popcorn,” as Khloud uses a milk protein isolate to boost its protein content to three times that of traditional popcorn.
In general, Phillips is a fan, as popcorn can be a great snack choice on its own thanks to its fiber content.
“When it’s air-popped, popcorn is low in calories and decently high in fiber, and you can have a large volume of it — it’s a great snack food for people who like to nibble and munch while they’re doing other things,” Phillips said. “When it becomes unhealthy is when it’s laden with a bunch of salt or saturated fats like butter. But in general, it can be very satiating.”
The bottom line
Phillips points out that there is a downside to the influx of protein snacks, in that it may encourage people to get their protein from processed snack foods that don’t have many other nutrients, as opposed to whole food sources. A toaster pastry might have added protein, but it might also have sugar, artificial ingredients or just limited nutritional content otherwise. Meanwhile a whole food source like nuts comes with not just protein, but also healthy fats and fiber.
—Crowley also notes that it’s important that we don’t “assign morality” to foods — i.e., label them as “good” or “bad.” She says Kardashian’s protein popcorn may have some benefits, but it shouldn’t be what you eat to assuage guilt for snacking. Instead, “it needs to be something that works for you in your bigger picture of health and eating patterns,” Crowley said. But, if you like the taste of Khloud — and it helps you hit a protein target you want to be at for the day — all the better.