It started with a simple idea:
if getting your protein is part of the routine,
it's gotta taste a lot better than shakes and bars.
Built by people who believe you shouldn't have to choose between putting in the work and enjoying really good ice cream.
John Marshall founded REALi with a simple idea: protein ice cream should still feel like real ice cream. What started as an experiment in 2024 became REALi in 2025, built alongside his brothers and shaped by a love of ice cream, fitness, and entrepreneurship. Since then, he has helped grow REALi from its first production run into stores and college campuses, while continuing to push the product, the brand, and what REALi will become.
Joey Mazzara is the CEO of REALi and a former Division I wrestler at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Years of competing at a high level shaped how he thinks about food, performance, and balance. Joey brings that same competitive mindset to REALi, helping lead the brand as it grows across stores, college campuses, athletes, and new markets.
The protein of a full pint. Half the ice cream.
Protein is usually treated like an add-on in dessert. We see it differently.
Reali uses whey protein isolate — a high-quality dairy protein that naturally contains all nine essential amino acids. It blends smoothly into ice cream and delivers 20 grams of protein per half-pint without changing the texture people expect.
The goal isn’t to turn ice cream into a dietary supplement. It’s simply to make a food people already love a little more substantial.
A lot of “better-for-you” desserts rely on substitutes to lower calories or boost macros — artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols and other ingredients designed to mimic the real thing.
Reali takes a simpler approach. Instead of trying to simulate ice cream, we start with the ingredients that have always made ice cream work: dairy, sugar, and flavors that come from real sources.
That decision does more than simplify the label. It’s what allows the product to taste like actual ice cream instead of an imitation of it.
Texture is where most protein desserts fall apart. When ingredients are pushed too far in the name of macros, the result is often icy, chalky, or oddly sweet.
Reali was developed to avoid that trade-off.
By keeping the ingredient list grounded in traditional ice cream and carefully integrating the protein, the result stays creamy, balanced, and familiar — the kind of texture you expect when you open a pint.
Because when something is meant to be enjoyed, it should feel that way from the first spoonful.
Protein ice cream is a type of ice cream made with added protein, often from dairy sources like whey protein isolate. It offers a similar taste and texture to traditional ice cream while delivering more protein per serving.
Each Reali half-pint contains 20 grams of protein, primarily from whey protein isolate.
Reali uses whey protein isolate, a dairy-derived protein known for its high purity and complete amino acid profile.
Yes — that’s the whole point. Reali was developed to avoid the chalky texture and artificial aftertaste often found in protein desserts.
No. Reali does not contain artificial sweeteners and focuses on real ingredients to create its flavor.
No. Reali is made with real dairy.
Yes. Reali ice cream is made without gluten ingredients.
Protein ice cream can be a convenient way to add protein to your daily diet. Protein supports muscle maintenance and recovery when combined with an active lifestyle and balanced nutrition.
Nutritional values vary slightly by flavor. Each half-pint includes 20g of protein along with the nutrients found in dairy-based ice cream.
Reali is made with real sugar and traditional ice cream ingredients. Because of this, it may not fit strict keto or very low-carb diets. Always check the nutrition label to see if it aligns with your personal dietary preferences.
Reali focuses on traditional ice cream ingredients such as dairy, sugar, and flavor ingredients specific to each variety. You can check the ingredient list on each flavor page for the most detailed information about what’s included.
Reali currently offers three flavors:
Vanilla Bean
Chocolate Chunk
Mint Chip
More flavors may be added as the lineup expands.
At the moment, Reali focuses on retail distribution rather than direct-to-consumer shipping.
Reali is available through select retailers. Visit the Find Reali page on the website to locate a store near you.
