alternate_sol.rb

def recommended_experiences(experiences_limit)
  experiences = current_contact
    .available_experiences
    .includes(challenges: :attachments)

  experience_payloads = []

  experiences.find_each do |experience|
    payload = experience_payload(experience)
    empty = payload[:total_challenge_count].zero?

    experience_payloads << payload unless empty

    break if experience_payloads.size == experiences_limit
  end

  experience_payloads
end

This read better but I do not think it's a great solution cuz find_each could potentially do a bunch of queries.