Alex Ossola

Coming up, are you trying to eat more protein?

Fast casual restaurant chains want to help you with that.

That's after the break.

With just hours to go, the Senate is grinding toward a vote later today to fund the government.

If it passes the Senate, it still needs approval from the House, which isn't expected to return until Monday.

That means at least a brief partial shutdown of the government is likely.

Many Americans are obsessed with eating more protein.

The government now recommends that you eat a whole lot more of it.

And restaurant chains like Chipotle and Starbucks are changing up their marketing and their menus to emphasize it.

New protein refreshers, only at Dunkin'.

The companies are hoping that extra protein can help bring in more diners.

Market research firm Black Box Intelligence says restaurant traffic fell 1.9% last year.

Kelly Clunan covers corporate news for the journal and is here to tell us how protein became the new industry watchword.

So, Kelly, I'm struck by the form that some of this protein stuff is taking.

There's protein foam, protein pockets.

What is the unifying element among these things?

So it sounds like some of the stuff that is on these menus is new, like the protein pizza dough, and some of it is sort of like a repackaged version of what already was there, like a cup full of chicken, right?

Charging a premium for protein could help reinvigorate sales, but is there any indication the new menu items are increasing visits to restaurants?

That was WSJ reporter Kelly Clunan.

Thanks, Kelly.