This weekend, I tried Kaizen’s Protein Pasta after having seen it advertised online. Their advertising worked on me, convincing me that it was more like pasta yet also more full of protein than other choices.
DISCLOSURE: This review is colored by my current health priorities: hitting a daily protein target that’s appropriate for muscle maintenance at my age. This has necessarily reduced my intake of starches and sugars in order for me to hit my calorie target every day. Refer to your own nutritionist or doctor for what’s healthy for you.
Expectations
Based on the ads, I was ready to expect something with a lot of protein and fiber, with the taste of real pasta. But that seemed nigh-impossible. I’ve had the Kraft mac and cheese that’s increased protein, and that does taste like regular pasta, because the increase in protein is modest. The claims for this pasta were extreme in comparison. So, I tempered my expectations somewhat.
I half-expected an off-flavor. That’s my own prejudice against replacement foods with outsized protein or other nutrient claims.
Impressions
This pasta boiled to ready in approximately 6 minutes. The box says 5-6 min, but it was slightly too al dente at 5 minutes. I boiled it in salted water.
Right out of the pot, the pasta tasted surprisingly like pasta. I wasn’t planning a fancy dinner (the rest of the family was eating other things) so I slapped some jar sauce onto the lumache – a shape I am honestly not that familiar with. They’re like little elbow macaroni. I’ve put jar sauce on pasta before, and I’m not really a fan because of how thin the sauce is, but most times it’s OK for a lazy dinner. If disappointing.
These impressions are time-based. That is to say, this pasta has a bit of a plate expiration date. And a thinner, watery sauce is its Kryptonite, I fear.
The box instructions tell you how to prepare one serving, and this turns out to have been a good recommendation. I made two servings. More on this later. I placed these servings into a bowl that had some heated sauce awaiting; some of the liquid came along. I placed a breaded chicken cutlet on top for more protein.
Discounting the disappointing sauce, mouthfuls of the pasta tasted pleasantly like pasta. If you think of it, you will realize that this pasta (which is largely made out of a kind of bean that is a close relative of the peanut) does have a beany, mealy quality to it if you have a large mouthful. That’s not unlike generic wheat pasta. It’s not distracting at first.
I can report that, at this point, this pasta met my expectations.
However.
The chicken cutlet slowed me down, and the two servings took some time to eat. I was dining, not rushing. During that time, I could see some of the pasta cracking and splitting. The pasta did not become mush, but it lost a bit of its structure sitting in the thin, wet sauce.
This leads me to these recommendations:
- Prepare one serving once you’ve determined your ideal serving. Something you’re going to eat relatively quickly.
- Use a thick sauce, or one that isn’t full of water.
- Cook al dente, if your sauce is liquid. The pasta will continue to absorb water.
Flavor
The pasta itself tasted like the salted water, and then like the sauce. It doesn’t have a strong flavor of its own, which you probably want. Maybe there is a slight beany flavor, but beans aren’t really known for strong flavors either.
Satiety
Extremely satisfying. In fact, I almost didn’t finish two servings. My appetite has already adjusted down somewhat, so take this with a grain of salt. I was also eating a chicken cutlet along with it. Two servings are not going to go unnoticed by your tummy. This isn’t a pasta you will eat and feel unsatisfied. Certainly not in comparison to the calories.
Compared to real pasta, it’s ridiculously filling for the calories.
A good use of this pasta would be to fill out a meal that you’re worried won’t have enough protein and will leave you unsatisfied. In other words, it fills a role similar to a side of beans, but with a better ratio of macros.
Nutrition
For 130 calories per serving, you’re getting 20 grams of protein. That’s remarkable for something pretending to be pasta. Just wild. If you were to eat 130 calories worth of white pasta, you’d get about 4 to 4.5g of protein. This is 4 to 5 times the protein.
One cup of traditional pasta is between 100 and 150g. I didn’t weigh this when it was cooked, but I imagine the weight is roughly equivalent. 150g of cooked pasta, which I consider a serving, is 230-or-so calories.
The pasta is partly achieving its remarkable protein content with fava bean protein, which is probably an argument for at least checking out fava beans, which I have never eaten regularly.
On that note, if you have G6PD deficiency or know you are susceptible to favism, you should check with your doctor before eating alternative foods that could contain fava bean protein. Warnings about the fava bean protein aren’t prominent anywhere for this product as far as I can tell, though Kaizen does warn of other allergens. I understand it is a growing problem, now that so many alternative foods are available for people with dietary restrictions, that rare (or not so rare) deficiencies may come across unhealthy (to them) ingredients. Even people who do not know all their sensitivities. G6PD falls into this category, since label regulations haven’t caught up with the increasingly common inclusion of ingredients like fava bean protein. At least it’s on the ingredient list.
One serving of this pasta is roughly half my daily recommended intake of fiber. So… maybe don’t eat two servings right out of the gate, especially if you’ve lately been a fiber lightweight. You know?
Verdict
This was close, especially because I think, with my recommendations above, this could be an A-tier food. However, because of the possibility you will eat this with a not-very-thick sauce, or not pay super special attention to draining it well or cooking it precisely, I have to give it a high B-tier, even though I do not have an official B+.
Each box contains 8oz, and two ounces are one serving, meaning the box is four servings. I generally don’t comment on cost in these reviews, because the cost is going to look different to you depending on your needs, priorities, and financial situation. Based on the Amazon price, you’re paying about $2.37 per serving. That doesn’t sound that bad until you compare it to a $0.60 serving of elbow pasta. Comparing boxes of this stuff with traditional pasta will make your eyes pop out. Or you’ll say “I’ve already basically given up pasta, but if I want to eat pasta on a day I’m not splurging on calories, this is nice ot have in the pantry.” That’s where I land, anyhow.
One thing I’ve noticed with these online companies with brands targeted to specific interests is that they want to give you a discount for
- ordering directly from them instead of Amazon
- ordering on a subscription basis
This can lower the price. However, unless you’re going to make a food a staple of your diet, it’s not practical to have a bunch of subscriptions to targeted foods. Your mileage may vary.
I have ordered this brand’s answer to Kraft Dinner (a.k.a. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese). If you just made a face, I don’t care – I like box mac and cheese for what it is. I will review that product when it arrives, but I have a suspicion that it may shine when it’s covered in cheese (ish) substance rather than wet sauce.
See where this ranks against every other review on the full Snack Tier List.
Product Breakdown
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Protein Pasta |
| Brand | Kaizen |
| Shape | Lumache |
| Category | High-Protein, Low-Net-Carb Pasta Alternative |
| Key Ingredients | Lupini Flour, Fava Bean Protein, Organic Tapioca Starch |
| Full Ingredients | Lupini Flour, Fava Bean Protein, Organic Tapioca Starch, Xanthan Gum |
| Selling Point | 80g protein and 15g fiber per box, only 6g net carbs per serving |
| Net Weight | 8 oz (226g) |
| Calories | 130 kcal / serving (520 kcal / box) |
| Macros (Per Serving) | Protein: 40g | Fat: 3.5g | Carbs: 21g (15g Fiber) |
| Sodium | 100 mg per serving |
| Dietary Badges | Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten-Free |
| Allergens | Contains Lupini (a legume in the same family as peanuts), and contains Fava Bean Protein which may cause problems in people with G6PD deficiency |
AI Disclosure: Language models were used to check the spelling and grammar on this post, and also for formatting/CSS generation. Always follow up on sources when a result has any AI involved, including with Google searches. All writing, math, perceptions, and reasoning on this post are my own.
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