How Popcorn Gets Protein
Khloud was started by a college athlete who wanted a snack that counted toward protein goals without tasting like a supplement. The popcorn is air-popped and then coated in a seasoning built on whey protein isolate, which is why each bag carries 7 g against the roughly 2 g in a plain bag. It also means the popcorn contains milk, and is not vegan.
Starbucks added it in 2025 alongside the protein drinks. It sits on the snack shelf near the register in a bag sized for one.
| Item | Calories | Sugar | Caffeine | Protein | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khloud White Cheddar Protein Popcorn | 160 | 2g | - | 7g | $3.25 |
| Khloud Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn Protein Popcorn | 150 | 5g | - | 7g | $3.25 |
White Cheddar
The Khloud White Cheddar Protein Popcorn is the savory one: a light cheddar dust rather than a heavy cheese coat. 160 calories, 7 g of protein, 2 g of sugar, 13 g of fat.
- Why choose it: a savory snack with the protein of two eggs and almost no sugar.
- Best for: with a cold brew or an iced tea in the afternoon.
Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn
The Khloud Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn Protein Popcorn is kettle corn with the same protein coating, 150 calories, 7 g of protein, 5 g of sugar. The sugar is low for a kettle corn.
- Why choose it: a sweet snack that still counts as protein.
- Best for: anyone who would otherwise reach for a cookie.
Popcorn vs Chips vs a Protein Bar
| Snack | Calories | Protein | Sugar | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khloud White Cheddar Protein Popcorn | 160 | 7 g | 2 g | $3.25 |
| Siete Sea Salt Kettle Cooked Potato Chips | 210 | 0 g | 0 g | $2.85 |
| KIND Salted Caramel & Dark Chocolate Nut Bar | 200 | 6 g | 5 g | $2.55 |
Against the chips the popcorn has fewer calories and seven grams more protein for a little more money. Against a nut bar it has similar protein for fewer calories and no nuts. It is the snack for someone who wants volume; a bag of popcorn takes longer to eat than a bar.
Who It Is For and What to Know
- Nut-free households: no peanuts or tree nuts in either bag.
- Gluten free: popcorn and a whey coating, no wheat.
- Not dairy free: the protein is whey, so it contains milk.
- Kids: the kettle corn is the easier sell, and the bag is a single portion.
- It is a snack, not a meal; pair it with a protein drink or a box for lunch.
Neither bag carries a formal allergen line in the reference data (N/A), but the whey coating is milk-derived, so treat both as containing dairy.