Restaurants usually offer healthy food items at the beginning of the year, but 2026 has seen some extra intensity.
They are promoting protein, which has become a “cultural obsession,” according to an August report on PBS.
The National Restaurant Association predicts protein add-ons will continue to be huge in its “What’s Hot Culinary Forecast” for 2026. “Diners of all kinds are exploring the physical benefits of protein-rich diets, including muscle building and weight management,” it states.
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In addition, new “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Jan. 7, recommends Americans “prioritize proteins at every meal.” It recommends 1.2-1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight a day. That sets the bar higher than the previous recommendation of 0.8 grams. A kilogram is about 2.2 pounds.
Starbucks announced it was going “all in” last fall, launching protein lattes and cold foams on Sept. 29.
Since then, quick service and casual restaurants have announced dozens of protein-forward items, especially after Jan. 1. Many are limited time offers, but some seem to be part of broader initiatives.
Here are a few of them.
Pasadena-based Dog Haus is serving a breakfast burrito called Swole Chick through Feb. 14. It’s made with egg whites, grilled chicken, avocado, white American cheese and more and delivers 80 grams of protein, which could top the new USDA daily recommendation for some people.
El Pollo Loco, which always has high-protein bowls on its menu, has come up with a trio of Double Pollo Salads — Mexican Caesar, Street Corn, and Bacon Ranch — each with more than 50 grams of protein.
Blaze Pizza has a new Protein-zza, made with double chicken and a cauliflower crust and coming in at 56 grams.
San Diego-based Jack in the Box has a new Fajita Protein Bowl with 35 grams of protein.
Newport Beach-based Chipotle Mexican Grill went big with a new high-protein menu in mid-December. It expanded its online offerings in January with some sports partnerships, including Josh Hart’s High Protein Burrito with 95 grams of protein.
Los Angeles-based Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is serving protein lattes. Flavors include vanilla, caramel and hazelnut, each with 20 grams of protein.
Chains with beverages and acai bowls include Better Buzz Coffee Roasters, with a chocolate whey protein bowl and Nektar, which offers Protein Cleanse, six bottles with a total of 66 grams of protein to be consumed in a 12-hour period.
Risk of missing out
There’s little evidence that Americans aren’t getting enough protein, according to Kayla de la Haye, a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
“One in 10 Americans are eating enough fruits and veggies, but the very vast majority of us are not eating enough fruits and veggies,” she said in a phone interview. “The same is not true of protein. Our protein intake is actually one of the highest in the world.
“The thing we know the most about healthy eating is it’s about getting a good variety of all the healthy foods and nutrients that we need. It’s healthy fats, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals — trying to get all those things. If we just focus on one, the risk is that we’re missing out on some of these other essential nutrients that our bodies need to function and grow.”
She said some people are motivated by the desire to build muscle or like the feeling of being full that high-protein meals gives them. She recommended they get their protein in ways that don’t compromise other key nutrients.
“I see this with athletes, students that I work with or who are in my class. They might eat a ton of chicken breasts and tons of meat and protein. And when we do diet assessments in class, they realize, oh I’m not really eating vegetables or other things that give me key vitamins and minerals like fiber and other stuff my body needs because I’m so focused on getting all this protein. And that can be really bad for your health.”
The high-protein trend is accompanied by a social media trend called “fibermaxxing,” with people trying to boost their fiber intake to improve gut health and digestion. Fiber can be found in whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes such as beans. Some of these foods are also sources of plant-based protein.
People don’t need to limit their protein to meat, de la Haye said.
“Plant-based proteins can add a ton of fiber and be great sources of protein. Those are things like legumes — throwing in a can of beans into soups or stews or salads. Also, if you like Asian food and have tried great dishes with tofu, tofu can be another great source of protein that has fiber in it too. Nuts and seeds are also things we can be thinking about using more.”
Chef-driven solutions
Some protein dishes in restaurants also focus on “real foods.” That was the goal of Gabe Caliendo, vice president of research and development at Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, in creating a new Protein Crunch Bowl. It features the choice of chicken, steak or salmon with jammy eggs, toasted garbanzo beans, slivered almonds, avocado and feta cheese, all on a bed of supergreens.
“The dressing I developed for this is based on apple cider vinegar and honey, which are also buzzwords,” he said in a phone interview.
It comes in at 620–680 calories and 40-51 grams of protein.
“In general you’ve got a bed of salad with a lot of flavorful things on top of it that lend themselves to a higher protein, lower calorie item,” he said in a phone interview.
“I can’t think of a thing that’s processed, except for maybe the apple cider vinegar.”
The bowl is part of a Mindful Meals lineup that includes existing menu items such as Wild-Caught Sea Bass and Chicken Lettuce Wraps.
California Pizza Kitchen has teamed up with the nutrition tracking app MyFitnessPal on a Smart Swaps menu. Paul Pszybylski, vice president of culinary innovation, adapted nine favorite dishes into new creations that are high-protein, lower-calorie or plant-forward. He worked with input from influencers Denise and Katie Austin.
Items include California Club Egg Rolls, lettuce wraps with 64 grams of protein instead of deep-fried wonton rolls, and the West Coast Burger, served as a bowl instead of on a bun for 40 grams of protein.
“What I really enjoy doing is showcasing produce, and that’s what we’ve done,” he said in a phone interview.
When the burger bowl launched, he saw a customer enjoying it and went over to her table.
“She said, ‘Oh, I was completely thinking of protein, and I wanted something with high protein. I came in here today, and that’s exactly what you guys have on the menu and I’m so excited to see it.’ She was talking like it’s harder to find these alternative diets, like high protein.”
“That was really exciting for us to hear,” he said. “We felt like we were going down the right track.”