NOW Foods unflavored whey isolate from Amazon. Runs about $135 for 10lb. Haven’t found a better price on pure whey isolate.
For my shakes I add a heaping teaspoon of dutch process ultra-dark cocoa powder, a few drops of sucralose sweetener, and a little bit of NuSalt (it’s a salt substitute that’s pure potassium, so adds some electrolytes and also brings out the chocolate flavor). Tastes exactly like what I remember the ON Double Rich Chocolate tasting like back when it wasn’t so insanely expensive.
I also can't stand the taste of sucralose and don't think everything needs artificial sweetener. I like a protein shake every day.
I've been getting NOW Foods unflavored whey protein isolate in 10lb bags off Amazon when it's on sale. It's great, tastes very neutral, no weird aftertaste. Lately it has jumped way up in price, but so has everything. This is fitmeals, not cheapmeals, right?
If you like chocolate shakes, mix a scoop with a tbsp of baking cocoa powder and a tbsp white sugar (mix dry ingredients together first or the chocolate will clump) then add 12oz milk and shake. If you like vanilla, same thing but a dash of vanilla extract instead of cocoa powder. If you like orange cream, same as vanilla but swap 2/3 of the milk for orange juice.
It's mostly plant-based/chocolate-flavored that are prone to higher levels of lead, esp from cheap brands/drop-ship brands.
That said, I know consumer reports just did a test on five powders, and they all passed. The highest one had 0.53mcg Pb per serving, which is still supposedly ok for 6 servings a week. [their IG post](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTiY4jIkqdd/) and the [F&W writeup](https://www.foodandwine.com/protein-powder-lead-heavy-metals-consumer-reports-study-2026-11883907). And there's a bigger test report [here](https://www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein-powders-and-shakes-contain-high-levels-of-lead-a4206364640/) from earlier this year.
eta: [this](https://www.forbes.com/health/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NOW-Sports-Whey-Protein-Isolate.pdf) is the one I use.
Now Sports whey protein isolate unflavored https://a.co/d/dMx2y0z
their 10lbs is only $0.81/ounce https://a.co/d/angzsAz
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^ I use this for my overnight oats protein bowl
( I make the overnight oats separate, then add a scoop of protein powder, 1 cup of berry blend; and throw it into a ninja creami; it’s delicious, and the protein powder only has 2 ingredients and you’re getting 25 grams of protein in a 28 gram protein powder serving ( 1 scoop ) = 89.2% protein per serving )
I'm a no frills type of person when it comes to protein powder. I avoid the flavored stuff...
I use Now unflavored whey protein isolate in 10 lb bags. If you shop sales, you can usually find it for sub $100 a bag throughout the year (including right now).
That's a great value IMO and it has a high protein % per serving. On a side note, I'm working through a bag of their chocolate whey protein isolate that I bought on a whim...it's alright. Not sweet at all, underwhelming flavor profile.
bing_bang_bum
