There are countless protein snacks on the market to help you bulk up, stay full between meals, and meet your higher protein needs without constantly eating chicken breasts, but not all of them are equal.
Some are loaded with fat and sugar, and some are no more convenient than just cooking your own wholesome food with the perfect macros.
Today, we’re going to compare protein cookie dough and shakes–two of the most popular options. While they aim to achieve the same goals, they are not the same.
Breaking Down the Nutrients
Every talking point in this comparison is going to ultimately come down to the macros for each protein option.
After all, those simple specs are why anyone chooses these wellness-oriented snacks over a bag of chips or a snack cake. They’re supposed to be packed with nutrients that are good for you.
Protein is the star of the show. So, we’ll start there.
Protein cookie dough bites have 15 grams of protein per serving. On average, protein shakes have about 25 grams of protein. That makes it seem like protein shakes are going to keep you full longer, but it’s much more complicated than that. So, don’t rush to conclusions.
Protein cookie dough bites have 8 grams of healthy fats per serving, making them low-calorie protein snacks that still keep you full.
Protein shakes vary dramatically because the formula used for each product is wildly different. It even varies depending on whether you use a pre-made shake or a powder product. They can have nearly no fat at all, or they can be very heavy on fat.
37 grams of total carbs are in protein cookie dough bites, and 6 grams of that come from simple sugars.
Again, protein shakes vary dramatically, but the average total carb amount is around 20 grams, and there are usually 7 grams of sugar.
Which One is Better for Keeping You Full?
At first glance, you might think that protein cookie dough and shakes are easy to compare, and that a protein shake comes out on top.
It usually has more protein, and if it’s homemade with a powder mixture, then it also has more volume most of the time.
That’s not the case, though. Protein isn’t the only thing that contributes to you feeling full.
1. Protein Cookie Dough Snacks Provide a Well-Rounded Experience
Protein shakes focus mostly on packing the product full of protein. Especially those powder mixtures that are aimed at bodybuilders and people who work out specifically to build muscle mass. The protein content is higher, but a focus tends to be placed on minimizing other nutrients.
Protein cookie dough bites are extremely well-rounded. Protein is the star of the show, and it’s more than enough to be a great post-workout snack, but you also get plenty of complex carbs, a little amount of sugar, and a healthy amount of fat.
Carbs and fat do play a major role in keeping you full, and they’re necessary beyond just building muscle.
2. Reliance on Extra Ingredients
The most common way to enjoy a protein shake is to add a powder mixture to a large amount of milk.
Well, that creates a problem. Is the product itself keeping you full? How much of the effect is actually coming from the milk or other food item you’re mixing the powder into?
In a lot of ways, the shakes that you make at home are just fortified versions of the base ingredient you have to add.
When you use protein cookie dough snacks, you get exactly what it says on the package. Everything is self-contained.
This also helps with consistency issues. You can take the same protein powder and make one shake with whole milk and the other with water, and the protein and fat content will vary dramatically.
That impacts how full you get when you’re done with it. Since protein cookie dough snacks are ready-to-eat, it’s a more consistent experience.
3. Carbs and Fat Help Fill You Up
Protein is a major part of feeling full. It releases hormones that make you feel satisfied. However, it’s not the be-all-end-all of feeling full.
You need fats and carbohydrates to have that long-term feeling of satisfaction.
Protein cookie dough bites are snacks you can enjoy every day, thanks to their balanced mix of nutrients. That balance helps you stay full for longer.
A protein shake will often make you feel full very quickly, but it can wear off faster, too. Since many brands focus on low-fat content, you don’t get a fat reserve for your body to slowly burn through.
4. The Balance of Protein vs. Negative Ingredients
While protein is crucial in any of these products, you also have to weigh the impact of other ingredients and the nutrients they provide.
Premade shakes often have more sugar to make them appealing to the mass market. Especially if you buy the ones that are mainstream and widely known outside of the fitness world.
Powder mixes are often mixed with other ingredients such as sugar or honey to make them taste better, and that throws the macros off entirely.
So, for that small protein boost in comparison to protein cookie dough bites, you might be taking in more sugar than necessary.
In comparison, protein cookie dough bites make you feel very full, but they provide the perfect amount of sugar without the need to add anything.
As a healthy cookie dough option, they give you balance without unnecessary additives, so you get full, provide your body with lots of protein, and don’t have to worry about negative impacts from sugar.
Ingredient quality can also create negative impacts. It doesn’t really matter if a product makes you feel full, but the ingredient quality can create other issues with your body.
Some of those shakes boast large protein amounts, but they’re no better than cola or chips when it comes to the quality of ingredients you’re consuming.
The Final Verdict
Some protein shakes are really good, and we’d even recommend them alongside our bites for different reasons. However, some are really bad.
That’s the issue, though. They’re extremely inconsistent.
Our protein cookie dough snacks are consistent, fill you up for a long time, and are balanced to minimize undesirable effects. They come in two delicious flavors - birthday cake and chocolate chip, made to please every taste.
With FUUL, you know you’re getting consistency and flavor every time.
Contact us today and discover your new favorite snack!