The Nutrient-Packed Snack Some Aldi Shoppers Say Tastes Likes Drywall

There is no battleground quite like the internet when it comes to debates about food. One protein-packed snack in particular that can be found at Aldi has sparked impassioned exchanges on Reddit when it comes to flavor: Elevation Nacho Cheese Protein Puffs. One commenter summed up the taste quite succinctly, describing it as "Drywall with a hint of powdered seasoning." Not exactly what we'd call one of the best new Aldi finds.

Other reviews were even more harsh, with one Redditor stating, "Those Elevation protein puffs. Straight vomit in your mouth." Another claimed, "OMG! These are horrible! And as usual expensive for what little you get! Worse than cardboard and bad fake nacho after taste... the crunch is the only good thing!"

Elevation Nacho Cheese Protein Puffs have a whopping 42 grams of protein per bag,  along with half your daily value of calcium and 15% the standard daily value of vitamin D. Each bag is meant to be two servings. That means one cup of these cheesy puffs has 21 grams of protein, only 2 grams of carbs, and 130 calories. For those tracking their macros or following the ketogenic diet, these sound like a snacker's dream come true — so long as texture and flavor are negotiable.

For those looking to boost their daily protein intake, Elevation Nacho Cheese Protein Puffs serve a purpose. And for others, they simply enjoy the taste. "Yeah, I wouldn't consider these my first snack choice if it only came down to taste, but the macros are great and I'd rather eat an entire bag of these than snack on junk food," said one commenter on Reddit. Another chimed in: "IMO they are fantastic for what they are — a high protein snack for people watching their calories and/or macros. They don't taste like your run of the mill cheesy puffs because they're much more functional with the high protein content."

Across the board on all threads related to Elevation Nacho Cheese Protein Puffs, it seemed like most customers enjoyed the jalapeño variety much more. Reportedly, the spice covers up more of the protein flavor, leading to a more enjoyable snack.

Still, it's clear that reviews of this product are deeply divided. If protein is your focus and not so much calories, you may want to hit up Aldi for this delicious birria taco meat instead, or even head to Taco Bell for its surprisingly protein-packed fast food chicken nuggets.