Dirty soda is not just a TikTok trend. In fact, we first wrote about Sodalicious and Swig’s battle for the “Mormon Starbucks” title back in 2015—nearly a decade ago. However, its popularity on social media, as well as MomTok’s unhealthy on-air obsession with the bevvy, has made it a topic on everyone’s tongues.
And while dirty soda might not be the healthiest recipe on the internet (especially at the rate Hulu’s Mormon Wives are sipping chugging it), internet users have created a spinoff that’s packed with protein.
Instead of pumping their Diet Cokes and Dr Peppers with sugar-filled syrup and coffee creamer, Utah girlies and TikTokers alike are combining their favorite soda with protein shakes.
While there are tons of different variations of the drink on social media, the formula is relatively the same: you take your favorite pop and top it with a protein shake—most people used Fairlife’s Core Power version, but any works. Some really channeled Demi, Mayci, and Mikayla by adding in sugar-free syrup flavors with the other ingredients.
Personal chef-slash-influencer Wishbone Kitchen (a.k.a Meredith Hayden) even got in on the trend.
“I’m not usually one for viral food trends but I just saw a video on my For You Page about protein Diet Coke that the girlies are drinking down in Utah,” she says in the video. “Utah girlies know their soda, we’re gonna try it. I coincidentally had all these ingredients.”
“Obviously, you know I love Diet Coke and I also love a Coke float, so I feel like this could be similar,” Hayden added.
While the TikToker was unsure before tasting the concoction—”the liquids are already separating in a way that looks really strange,” she said in the video—her tune quickly changed.
“Oh my god. Wow, that is phenomenal. If you like a Coke float or a root beer float, this is like identical. I was expecting to like it, but I love it. I think I’m gonna start doing this like everyday.”
The internet, however, is pretty split on the trend. “The IMMEDIATE “yeah” sold me,” one user commented on Wishbone Kitchen’s video. “Omg I love a coke float too I’m afraid I also must try,” another wrote, while others seemed…apprehensive. “The liquid separating would do it for me 🥴,” a third person wrote.
“I really didn’t wanna have to try this,” one TikToker commented, to which Hayden replied, “I fear you have to 😐.” Welp, that settles it.
Megan Schaltegger is an NYC-based writer. She loves strong coffee, eating her way through the Manhattan food scene, and her dog, Murray. She promises not to talk about herself in third person IRL.