Why Protein Is Muscling Its Way Into Your Pasta

The Trend: Added protein isn’t just for weightlifters and bodybuilders anymore. Increasingly, food brands are slipping the macronutrient into everything from candy bars to tortilla chips to pasta.

What People Are Saying: The debate over protein needs has been simmering for years. Current federal guidelines recommend about 0.36 grams per pound. But fitness influencers and some nutrition experts argue for significantly more — closer to 1-1.5 grams per pound. That conversation, combined with the popularity of high-protein diets and the rise of fitness culture on social media, has driven brands to make protein a selling point.

What To Know: Protein plays a key role in maintaining muscle mass, satiety, and metabolic health, especially as we age. While it’s smart to prioritize quality protein sources, ultra-processed “high-protein” snacks can still come with added sugars and fillers. If you want to increase protein, start with whole foods like lean meats, eggs, legumes, and dairy. Think of protein-fortified treats as occasional add-ons, not a foundation.