Sometimes our lives get so busy that we don’t have enough time to cook or give our bodies the necessary nutrients. Does it mean we won’t provide our bodies important nutrients that day and allow them to become weak and sick? Nothing to worry about; meal replacement shakes are available for us, which will give us the same amount of proteins, vitamins, and minerals we get from meals. In other words, they are alternatives to nutrients we can get on our busiest days.
In this blog, we will learn about 5 meal replacement milkshakes that are packed with essential nutrients to keep our body energized and healthy even in hectic schedules.
What is a Meal Replacement Shake?
Before understanding different meal replacement milkshakes, we need to understand first what they mean. So, meal replacement milkshakes are an alternative to replace our breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are often filled with the nutrients the human body takes through daily meals.
According to some doctors, men eat between 2,000 and 3,000 calories each day, and women usually eat between 1,600 and 2,400 calories. Experts recommend that our body’s diet should include vegetables, fruits, grains, milk, cheese, yogurt, meats, eggs, beans, oils, and fats each day.
No doubt, meal replacement shakes don’t have vegetables, fruits, or grains, but they include essential nutrients our body takes with those foods.
Now let’s know above those 5 replacement shakes:
1. Soylent
In 2013, Rob Rhinehart and a team of Silicon Valley engineers created it in search of an affordable and efficient source of nutrition. Soylent claims to take the hassle out of maintaining a healthy diet by providing us with all the nutrition in the form of meal replacement milkshakes that are cheap, tasty, and easy to prepare. Drinking 5 Soylent drinks per day will provide 2,000 calories, around 15 grams of fiber, and 100% of the daily recommended essential micronutrients.
They come in different forms:
| Soylent drink | If we prepare five soylent drinks, we’re ready to replace one meal. We can enjoy them in two flavors: original and cacao (chocolate). |
| Soylent powder | It can be mixed with water or milk to prepare soylent meal replacement milkshakes. We can prepare five drinks easily in a single pouch. |
| Soylent cafe | They are similar to soylent drinks, but they contain the addition of caffeine and L-carnitine. Available in three different flavors: coffee, vanilla, and chai flavors. |
Soylent powder is the cheapest option available; otherwise, it costs $1.82–$3.25 per serving.
2. Huel
In 2015, Julian Hearn developed it in the UK, aiming to create a nutritionally balanced meal replacement milkshake that is vegan, affordable, and environmentally conscious. Its formula contains oats, pea proteins, flax seeds, coconut, and sunflower oil. It can be a great choice for people who want a healthy, plant-based meal that’s convenient and sustainable. Cost about $2.50 to $3.00 per serving for the powder, or around $35 to $50 for a bag of 14 meals. Ready-to-drink bottles are typically $4.00 to $5.00 each.
3. Ensure Max Protein
In 1973, Abbott Laboratories developed it, aiming to develop a meal replacement milkshake for people recovering from illness or needing extra nutrition. Ensure it provides high-quality protein to help keep muscles strong and satisfy hunger, along with other key ingredients the body needs. Cost ranges from approximately $2.50 to $3.50 per bottle, or about $30 to $40 for a pack of 12.
Each ready-to-drink milk replacement milkshake has:
- 30 grams of high-quality protein to support our muscles
- 1 gram of sugar
- 25 essential vitamins and minerals
- 4 grams of comfort fiber blend with a prebiotic
- 150 nutritious calories
- 100 milligrams of caffeine—as much as a cup of coffee.
- Includes a blend of espresso flavor and chocolate flavor.
4. SlimFast Advanced Nutrition
SlimFast Advanced Nutrition meal replacement milkshake is popular among people who want to lose weight without leaving out important nutrition. The cost lies roughly around $1.50 to $2.50 per bottle, or about $25 to $35 for a pack of 12.
Each ready-to-drink milk replacement milkshake has:
- Whey and milk proteins help keep our muscles strong.
- Fiber helps with digestion and makes us feel full.
- Essential nutrients like vitamins and calcium.
- Low-fat dairy without providing proteins without extra fat.
- Sweeteners with few calories using things like stevia.
Ample
In 2015, Connor Young created this nutritionally complete, keto-friendly meal replacement milkshake that fits with modern lifestyles. It is popular among those who prefer low-carb and high-fat meals and follow specialized diets for weight management. The cost lies around $3.00 to $4.00 per serving, or around $60 to $80 for a pack of 12.
Each ready-to-drink milk replacement milkshake has:
- Coconut oil for healthy fat.
- Stevia (natural sweetener) for a low-calorie taste.
- 10 grams of MCT oil per serving for quick energy.
- 5 grams of acacia fiber per serving for digestion.
- Essential nutrients like vitamins and calcium.
Pros of Meal Replacement Shakes
- A meal replacement shake is an option that ensures we have something healthy and nutritious to eat even if we don’t have time to stop and eat. This will probably take less time to complete than eating a burger.
- A meal replacement shake can be a good addition to our diet if we want to lose weight. The best part is we will not feel hungry even after losing weight.
- We will never feel like bloating or have constipation. Fiber is added to the shakes, which helps in healthy digestion.
Cons of Meal Replacement Shakes
If we are talking about the pros of meal replacement shakes, then we can’t ignore the cons of it.
- Some products claim to be meal replacements, but they aren’t in reality. Look for at least 3 grams of fiber in the shake. The protein content should be more than or equal to the amount of carbohydrates in the shake.
- Meal replacement shakes typically contain 150 to 200 calories, which is much less than the calories we get in a meal. So make sure to get the calories through other snacks or meals.
- Many shakes include added sugars for better taste. So, make sure to read the labels carefully.
Conclusion
Meal replacement shakes are convenient and nutritious solutions for busy lifestyles, ensuring that our bodies get the essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins when we don’t have time to cook meals. Make sure to read the labels properly while purchasing, as some of them contain extra sugar that can harm us. They can play a valuable part in our balanced diet if used correctly.
