10 Best Meal Replacement Shakes Put Head To Head (Who Is The Winner?)
Why is it that when we're on the go, we often grab a quick bite to eat or skip breakfast altogether?
When what we really need is a filling and nutritious meal.
Enter meal replacement shakes!
They're easy to take with you so you can always have something healthy on hand for those moments where there's no time for anything else.
But which ones are best?
We did the work by putting 10 of them head-to-head.
So if you've been looking for an easy way to slim down without sacrificing taste or nutrition, this could be for you!
Here I'll round up the 10 Best Meal Replacement Shakes that you can buy!
10 Best Meal Replacement Shakes
Meal Replacement Shakes have been in the market for years, initially, they were being used as a meal replacement for patients who have difficulty eating, Now, it has evolved to being used by athletes, who need to lose weight and for people on the go.
So, here are the 10 Best Meal Shakes that you can find on the market.
IdealShape's IdealShake
IdealShake has a low in calories but is high in nutrients. Their secret of managing hunger is the unusual potato extract that they include in the formula.
Nutrition facts:
- 100 calories
- 2.5g fat
- 5g fiber
- 10g carbs
- 1g sugar
- 220mg sodium
- 11g protein
Orgain Organic Meal Replacement Shakes
Orgain is an all-organic meal replacement shake that has a variety of flavors, it has strawberries and cream, ice cafe mocha, sweet vanilla bean, creamy chocolate fudge, bananas and cream.
Nutrition facts:
- 220 calories
- 7 g fat
- 32 g carbs
- 2 g fiber
- 12 g sugar
- 260 mg sodium
- 16 g protein
Herbalife’s Formula 1
Herbalife's Formula 1 is healthy nutritional meal that is beyond expectations, the flavors are superb, and it has four flavors like mint chocolate, wild berry, dulce de leche, and cafe latte.
Nutrition facts:
- 90 calories
- 1g fat
- 13g carbs
- 3g fiber
- 9g sugar
- 95mg sodium
- 9g protein
Vega Protein Ready-to-Drink Meal Replacement Shakes
Vega Protein Ready-to-Drink Meal Replacement Shakes are one of the plant-based shakes in the market that is packed with nutrition and has terrific ingredients that vegans will love. It has hemp protein, cocoa powder, mixed greens powders, and pea.
Nutrition facts:
- 170 calories
- 5g fat
- 14g carbs
- 4g fiber
- 7g sugar
- 230mg sodium
- 20g protein
Ample
Ample is a convenient meal replacement shake with a good serving of fiber, protein, and fat that will keep you full every meal.
Nutrition facts:
- 200 calories
- 12g fat
- 10g carbs
- 5g fiber
- 2g sugar
- 220mg sodium
- 12g protein
Labrada Whey Protein Meal Replacement Shakes
Labrada is a low-calorie replacement shake and is known to be lactose-free; that is why it is suitable for people who are sensitive to dairy. Also, it has zero grams of sugar and has 40 grams of protein and five grams of fiber.
Nutrition facts:
- 280 calories
- 9g fat
- 9g carbs
- 5g fiber
- 0g sugar
- 600mg sodium
- 40 g protein
Premier Protein Meal Replacement Shakes
Premier Protein meal replacement shake that has a recipient of the American Master of Taste Gold Medal (superior taste). You won’t get enough of its smooth and delicious shake. Its flavors are chocolate, cookies & cream, vanilla, and caramel.
Nutrition facts:
- 160 calories
- 3g fat
- 5g carbs
- 3g fiber
- 1g sugar
- 210mg sodium
- 30g protein
Nutrisystem’s TurboShake
Nutrisystem TurboShake meal replacement shake that supports gut health because of its probiotic blend and will help decrease belly fat. It has 22 vitamins and minerals, 15 grams of protein, and dietary fiber. It comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors.
Nutrition facts:
- 130 calories
- 2g fat
- 5g carbs
- 5g fiber
- 7g sugar
- 180 mg sodium
- 15g protein
GNC Total Lean Shake
GNC Total Lean Shake is an athlete-friendly replacement shake that is low calorie and has a 1:3 ratio of protein to carbs. It can also help with weight loss.
Nutrition facts:
- 200 calories
- 3g fat
- 19g carbs
- 8g fiber
- 3g sugar
- 120mg sodium
- 25g protein
SlimFast Advanced Energy Meal Replacement Shakes
SlimFast is a meal replacement shake that fuels the body as it has 24 essential vitamins and minerals. It is packed with five grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein that will make you full for a long time.
You have flavor options of caramel latter, mocha cappuccino, rich chocolate, and vanilla.
Nutrition facts:
- 180 calories
- 9g fat
- 6g carbs
- 5g fiber
- 1g sugar
- 210mg
- 20g protein
Now that we covered much of the recommendable 10 best meal replacement shakes in the market today, let’s get into the more detailed world of meal replacement shakes!
What is Meal Replacement Shakes?
Meal Replacement Shakes are a convenient way to help people resist temptation from unhealthy foods that people consume. It can also help limit your food intake if you want to maintain your weight or lose weight.
Most food, specifically fast food are full of artificial ingredients, refined carbs, and sugar that lacks beneficial nutrients. Also, if you want to make home-cooked meals that is healthy, it is time-consuming and won’t be suitable if you are a busy body. These are the reasons why Meal Replacement Shakes are made for convenience and to make sure you have the adequate nutrients you need for a day.
Meal replacement shakes are mostly favored because it is fast, easy, and convenient and is a healthy alternative.
Why Use Meal Replacement Shakes?
If you are looking for a nutritious and convenient way to be healthy and maintain your weight, then Meal Replacement Shakes are the perfect diet for you. It is intended to provide the nutrition that you need for a full meal.
Meal Replacement Shakes can be easily prepared as it can be mixed with milk or water and can be blended if you want to make it into a smoothie. Some meal replacements are easy to drink and comes from a can or bottle.
Each meal replacement shakes contain 200-400 calories and has the right amount of nutrients and essential vitamins and minerals. If you are looking after your weight and want to lose some, this would be one option you should try.
Can Meal Replacement Shakes Help You Lose Weight?
One of the common reasons why people take Meal Replacement Shakes is to help them lose weight. It is though to stick to a low-calorie diet, especially when there are food temptations everywhere and if your stomach is grumbling from hunger.
If you take Meal Replacement shakes, it will help you feel full, and you don’t have to worry if you are not getting the complete nutrients you need in a day.
Some studies suggest that if you replace one or two meals a day with a meal replacement shake, you’ll be able to speed up your weight loss.
Another study also found out that when the participants followed a meal replacement diet plan, they were able to lose about 2 kilos in just three months compared to those who followed a low-calorie food-based diet.
Meal Replacement meals are more comfortable to follow than a food-based diet meal as it doesn’t require long preparations.
According to some studies, they found out that people who have diabetes can boost their weight loss and can lower fasting blood sugar and LDL cholesterol levels if they take meal replacement shakes. Also, it will help in the maintenance of weight loss after weight loss has been achieved.
How To Use Meal Replacement Shakes
If you are planning to use Meal Replacement Shakes, you should pair it with healthy snacks, which can help you turn it into a full meal and won’t make you quickly hungry.
According to Wendy Bazilian, the author of The SuperfoodsRx Diet, one should consume roughly 400 calories, 5 grams of fiber, around 25 grams of protein, and 10-13 grams of unsaturated fat in every meal so you won’t feel any hunger until your next meal.
So, it is way better if better to make sure you take note of the calories you are consuming to make sure you are getting the proper nutrients so you won’t overeat.
What To Look For in Buying Meal Replacement Shakes
Before we get to the real deal, let me first tell you what you need to know or look for in buying the best meal replacement shakes.
First, you need to read the nutrition label and look for a balance of carbs, proteins, and fat. This is to distinguish if the meal replacement shake is good or bad. Ideally, a meal replacement shake should contain 15-15 grams of protein, 10-13 grams of healthy fat, a proper dosage of fiber, and has at least 18 vitamins and minerals. It would be best if you avoided meal replacement shakes with artificial flavors, added sugars, and with more than 400 calories per serving.
It is vital that before purchasing a meal replacement shake is to do additional research and see what other users say about the product.
Guess what? We just made it easier for you with our 10 Best Meal Replacement Shakes!
Pros And Cons
Surely Meal Replacement Shakes have a lot of benefits and can help you in so many ways. However, it also has not such excellent benefits that you should take note of if you are serious about having it.
Pros
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No cooking needed
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Easy and convenient
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Great for Athletes
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Easy to track calorie intake
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Can make up for nutritional deficiencies
Cons
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Low in protein
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Low in calories
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Aren’t good with phytochemicals
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Not a long term solution
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Won’t be able to fix unhealthy eating habits
Final Thoughts
I must say that Meal Replacement Shakes is a healthy way to help you lose weight as you’ll be able to help you lose weight. It is also convenient to take as it won’t make you a long time to prepare.
Would I recommend it? If you are serious about losing weight, then yes.
You may do some research on what brand of Meal Replacement Shakes will be perfect for you. Maybe some will prefer Lady Boss Lean, While others something less sweet.
You’ll experience some trial and error on this part, but surely you will be able to find a good one for you.
The convenience also is a big player in choosing Meal Replacement Shake as part of the diet as you won’t be hassled in preparing meals. It would take too much of your time and if you are a busy person, I don’t think it is a good idea.
However, I don’t think it should be taken for a long time as it could be unhealthy for long term use. Once you get to your ideal weight, I think going back to eating solid food with a proper diet plan would be the next thing to do.
Remember that Meal Replacement Shakes is only a band-aid solution, without discipline, proper diet, and exercise. You won’t be able to achieve the weight goal that you want to have.