From our community to your inbox, we trace what's worth discovering—the finds, voices, and recommendations shaping how we choose.
Edition #19 • Big Protein, Better Taste
Hello friends,
Protein has been having a moment for a little while now. I don't know exactly when it happened, but somewhere between the cottage cheese renaissance and the 40-gram shakes taking over every grocery store aisle, everyone decided we weren't eating enough of it. My feeds are full of people sneaking protein powder into their morning coffee, stacking Greek yogurt at breakfast, and debating the merits of every bar on the market.
Recently, my 14-year-old, Cole, was told by his lacrosse coach that he needed to up his protein intake to build muscle. Great advice in theory. In practice, that meant I suddenly needed to find things that tasted good enough that a teenager would eat them willingly.
I have a few go-tos my family loves, but I wanted to see what else was out there that didn’t taste like cardboard or wreck your stomach for the rest of the day. That’s the best part of hili. I find recs I had never heard of before along with commentary about taste and any digestive considerations. Cole has already made his way through a few of them. Spoiler: the churro protein bar was a hit.
💪🏻,
Karli
✨ Protein picks that pass the taste test
No chalky aftertaste. No regrets. Just the stuff we buy on repeat trying to get swoll. 🏋️♀️
BUILT Coconut Puff Protein Bars
“As an athlete who doesn’t really love eating meat, these are a staple! 17g of protein and they’re light and delicious!”
Goodles Twist My Parm Mac & Cheese
“All the flavors we’ve tried are delicious and they have 14g protein and 7g fiber.”
Equip Prime Protein Bars
“I haven’t tried them yet, but apparently these are pretty “clean” with 20 g of protein”
FairLife Core Power Elite
“They taste really good, have 42g of protein per bottle, and as someone with a sensitive stomach, have never made me not feel well!”
“These are the best....such an efficient way of getting protein and they're not too heavy.”
Chobani 20g Protein Vanilla Greek Yogurt
“20g of protein. Lactose free. We usually buy them in bulk at Costco so they’re a little cheaper.”
“I'm literally eating this as my midday slump snack!”
Power Crunch Protein Wafer Bars | $65
“These are delicious, not sure about the lactose.”
What are your favorite easy ways to add protein to your diet?
💬 Community asks
This community has such great knowledge and taste. Help out someone else with a rec the need:
I really want to know what “your favorite Easter candy” is! [Share your rec]
Nicole N. is looking for “subtle self-tanning lotion” since she has fair skin and does not want to look orange or fake. [Share your rec]
Any developers out there? Benji S. wants to know “your favorite AI coding assistant.” [Share your rec]
💜 Karli Loves
Here are a few things I have been digging this week:
📷 Charles Brooks takes incredible photos of the insides of various musical instruments making them feel like miniature rooms. The lighting and details captured are breathtaking.
🥜 Have you been keeping up with the Reese’s PB Cup drama? Apparently Hershey’s changed the formula and fans were not pleased including Brad Reese, grandson of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup inventor H.B. Reese. They will be reverting back to the “classic” recipe in 2027.
🪡 These hand-embroidered brooches and patches by British shop Hand & Lock are absolutely stunning. This is perfect way to snazz up a sweater or blazer.