I used to drink protein shakes as a college athlete. I needed help meeting my protein needs, but every protein powder I tried upset my stomach.
Unable to find a protein powder that agreed with me, I took a short list of simple ingredients and made my own. It didn’t upset my stomach!
After graduating from college, I worked as a high school teacher and coach. In my free time, I turned my homemade protein powder into a business.
I partnered with an organic granola company in Massachusetts to create Drink Wholesome. But this was just weeks before the 1st case of COVID was detected in the United States.
My original business plan was to spread awareness at in-person events. As an athlete, I felt that my best chance of building a successful protein powder brand was to target other athletes.
Unfortunately, however, just 2 weeks after I launched, the entire country shut down due to the spread of COVID. All in-person events were canceled, and I was stuck at home with pallets of protein powder and no obvious way of selling them.
I built a website, but months went by and my only sales were to family and friends. I had no idea how to do e-commerce and the pandemic didn’t seem to be going away. Just when I was about to call it quits, however, I got lucky.
In 2021, people with sensitive stomachs started to find Drink Wholesome online. They loved how much better it made them feel and the business started to grow.
My first product was Egg White Protein Powder, which meant I was buying a lot of eggs. That was going well until 2022, when bird flu drove the price of eggs up 500%!
This forced me to diversify and start making Vegan Almond Protein Powders and Meal Replacement Powders.
My sister, Tessa, joined me in September 2023. She brought a background in the natural food industry, having helped brands bring better-for-you products to market.
In 2024, facing ongoing bird flu outbreaks, I further diversified my product line by adding Collagen Protein Powders. I now make Protein Powders from three different protein sources: egg whites, almonds, and collagen.
In July 2025, Kayla joined the team as the lead Registered Dietitian. Her goal is to help people with sensitive stomachs safely meet their protein needs.
In December 2025, I made Forbes 30 Under 30 2025: Food & Drink. This is a testament to that the fact that Drink Wholesome really is the best protein powder for sensitive stomachs.
In March 2026, I became a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Nutrition Coach. This training has helped me with everything from recipe development to customer service.
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