Protein shakes for teenagers: Good or bad idea?

You can take it as a powdered drink, or in a snack bar. Puddings and certain breads are also promoted as "sources of protein," and protein-enriched products like Kindershake and Teen Balance are specifically designed to appeal to a young people — and it appears to be working. In a representative survey of almost 1,000 parents by the University of Michigan in 2024, just under half said their children, who were aged 13 to 17, had consumed protein products over the previous year. The survey found that boys were more likely to do so than girls, especially in connection with sport, or to build muscle. Girls took them to balance their diet, and to lose weight.