A closer look at the protein-packed popcorn trend and what’s really inside the bag
I was at a friend’s party and tried Khloud Protein Popcorn, Khloé Kardashian’s venture, and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. My friends and I agreed it was tasty for a popcorn with protein, and admittedly, we were skeptical at first! After a few bites, I was impressed and knew this was one we needed to review together.
I didn’t ask the host for the bag so I could inspect the label because I didn’t want to be that person at a party. Everyone knows what I do for a living, and if you’re new here, I’m a health and lifestyle coach, so I figured I would take a closer look later. A few handfuls at the party weren’t going to make or break my health, and it’s absolutely fine to enjoy food simply because you enjoy it.
Now, looking at the Kloud branding online, they share that Khloud Protein Popcorn has 7 grams of protein per serving, is made with whole grains and non-GMO ingredients, is gluten-free, and contains no seed oils. For context, 7 grams of protein is about 1 ounce of cooked meat, or 1 ounce of a protein source. That means this is a snack that adds some protein, not a meal replacement and not even a full protein serving for many people. Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside.
The flavor I tried was sweet and salty kettle corn, so I pulled up that nutrition label. The serving size is 1 cup, and the bag contains 5 servings. Before we go any further, this is where I have to stop and point something out. One cup of popped popcorn is not much, and it’s incredibly easy to eat more than that without noticing.
Here’s the nutrition breakdown for that 1 cup serving: 150 calories, 9g of fat, including 4g of saturated fat, 12g of carbs with 1g of fiber, 5g of sugar, all of which are added, and 7g of protein. The micronutrients are limited, with only small amounts of iron and potassium.
The fat is a little higher than we would typically want from one packaged snack, and the fiber is lower than what we would usually hope to see. The protein is fine, and again, 7g is about 1 ounce. A typical snack portion of protein is often closer to 2 to 3 ounces. So, if you had 1 cup of this as a snack and you were genuinely hungry, it may only hold you over for a short period before you start looking for something else to eat.
The ingredients are simple and easy to recognize: popcorn, milk protein isolate, cane sugar, olive oil, coconut oil, and Mineral Salt, which includes Himalayan salt and potassium salt. The protein comes from milk protein isolate, which the brand refers to as “cloud dust.” Many people, including some who are sensitive to lactose, can tolerate an isolate, which may be useful information depending on your needs.
I also looked at the other flavors while I was reviewing it. The olive oil and sea salt flavor has no added sugar and slightly less fat, while the white cheddar flavor has a few additional ingredients from the cheese powder, yet it also ends up with the lowest net carbs. I appreciate that the flavors are not all identical from a nutrition standpoint. It gives us choices depending on what we want from a snack and makes me feel more comfortable with the details they are sharing.
If you try Khloud Protein Popcorn, I recommend measuring out one cup the first time you eat it, just so you know what a serving really looks like. As I mentioned, it’s easy to keep reaching for more with a snack like popcorn, especially with sweeter flavors, and that changes the nutrition we are getting. More than one serving increases everything on the label, and that’s where something can shift from a fun snack option into one that may not support the goals you’re working toward.
Finally, I think this is a great reminder, especially during this trend of adding protein to everything from coffee to popcorn, that every snack does not need protein powder. I often say “protein and fiber at every meal and snack,” and yet that does not mean we need to add protein powder to everything we eat. Popcorn can simply be popcorn if that works for you.
And if the Kardashian name behind Kloud and Khloé Kardashian’s Khloud Protein Popcorn helps satisfy a craving while adding some protein, it may be a fitting option for some people. And yes, I would eat it again!