Are Proteinmaxxxed Snacks Actually Good?

TL;DR

Dr. Mike and the Basement Yard podcast hosts blind-taste-test protein-boosted versions of popular snacks to see if they're actually worth eating.

Key Points

• 1.Protein donuts failed the taste test immediately. Mini vanilla glazed protein donuts were described as tasting like 'socks' and 'insulation,' though each donut contains 10g protein, 8g fiber, and less than 1g sugar.
• 2.Protein water was nearly indistinguishable from regular water. Both options tasted like plain water; the winner (Isopure) had 15g protein and 60 calories but listed 'water, whey protein isolate, sodium, contains milk' — raising lactose concerns.
• 3.Protein Pop-Tarts were the surprise standout. Both regular and protein versions tasted nearly identical blind, earning the highest praise of the episode, though the protein version packed 31g of added sugar and nearly 400 calories for two.
• 4.Protein gummies (SmartSweets-style) outperformed regular gummies. The protein bears scored 20g protein per pouch but came with 16g sugar alcohols — enough to cause severe digestive distress if eaten in excess.
• 5.Protein Cup Noodles delivered 16g protein but alarming sodium. The group couldn't tell the versions apart by taste; the protein bowl had 51% of the daily sodium value, prompting jokes about heart failure and chest compressions.
• 6.Protein Starbucks latte and Häagen-Dazs gelato both fooled the panel. The group guessed the latte wrong — the protein version used 'protein-boosted milk' for 27g protein; the gelato varied from 6g to 10g protein per serving at only 120 calories.