Meal replacement shakes are a convenient alternative to preparing complete meals. They provide adequate nutrition in a single drink and can help a person supplement his or her diet or consume fewer calories while dieting. Most health experts recommend replacing one or two meals per day with a shake. There are a number of different meal replacement shake options that come in a variety of different flavors. The best option for you depends on your goals and your personal taste, but some come more highly recommended than others.
Best Meal Replacement Shakes on the Market
1. Top 10 Meal Replacement Shakes on the Market
| Ranking | Product | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
IdealShape
|
This shake is considered a nutrition powerhouse. Each serving contains more than 50% of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) of vitamins and nutrients, which is good for anyone using this shake to supplement any sort of exercise regimen. A serving contains only 100 calories and 2 grams of sugar. The shake curbs hunger with Slendesta, an extract from potatoes. Drinking it causes your brain release CCK (Cholecystokinin) into your body, which is the hormone that alerts you to fullness. It also contains oat bran and barley beta fiber which are very dense so they help actually fill you up physically. |
| 2 |
Shakeology
|
This shake is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, placing it well over 50% of your RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) per serving. It contains 140 calories per serving and includes several non-essential health nutrients, such as all kinds of fibers, barley grass, wheat grass, and other holistic nutrients. |
| 3 |
Isagenix Pro
|
These shakes are great for fitness buffs. It has a balance of vitamins and minerals (ranging from 30% to 150% of your daily intake), and six grams of fiber. It contains a lot of protein per serving, but if you are drinking it in combination with exercise, it is an ideal amount. The shakes are high-calorie, at 300 per serving, and they also contain nine grams of sugar. This shake uses fiber and chromium as the hunger blocker, which does not work for everyone. |
| 4 |
GNC Lean
|
This shake contains about 180 calories per serving and an average of 20% of your RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) of vitamins and minerals. It uses a combination of 13 grams of dietary and soluble fiber for hunger blocking and is a great option for shakes mixed with fruits and vegetables. |
| 5 |
MyoplexLite
|
This shake contains 20 grams of protein per serving. Holy crap, that’s a ton! However, the protein blend contains taurine, which some people cannot tolerate. It also contains sucralose, which is a sugar substitute that’s received lot of negative attention. The shake contains 180 calories and a little over 50% of your RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) of vitamins and minerals. The shake contains no specific ingredients designed for hunger blocking. |
| 6 |
Special K
|
This shake contains 10 grams of protein and 35% of a person’s RDA for vitamins and minerals. It also has 29 grams of carbs, 18 grams of sugar, and 190 calories. The shake contains 5 grams of dietary fiber, so not a great deal in terms of blocking hunger. |
| 7 |
MonaVie Shakes
|
With 40-50% of your daily value in vitamins and minerals along with 18 grams of protein; these shakes are an option for supplementing a regular meal. It contains 190 calories and 7 grams of protein per serving. It is packed with nutrients and uses 12 gram of fiber to fight hunger. |
| 8 |
RightLight
|
This shake contains 130 calories, 22 grams of protein, and about 50% of your RDI with 23 vitamins and minerals, There is no sugar and only 11 grams of carbs. It contains three grams of fiber and chromium, and is ideal when mixed with fruits and vegetables to create a higher calorie, more filling shake. |
| 9 |
TrimShake
|
This shake contains 33% of your daily intake of 20 vitamins and minerals, 125 calories, and only 0.3 grams of sugar per serving you are really getting a great meal replacement for your buck. There are 16 grams of protein, seven grams of fiber, and doTERRA uses EssentraTrim as a hunger blocker. |
| 10 |
Slender Satisfaction
|
This shake has 80 calories and one gram of sugar per serving. It also 10 grams of protein per which isn’t bad either. It also contains 830% of your RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) of Biotin which is too much. This shake does not provide enough nutrients to replace a meal. It uses Slendesta and 13 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber for hunger blockers. |
2. Considerations of Buying Meal Replacement Shakes
If you are planning to buy a meal replacement shake, consider the following:
- If you buy a powder for creating a shake, it should mix easily with water, juice or milk.
- Choose low-carb meal replacement shakes if you are keeping carbohydrates low in your diet.
- They should provide a balance of calories from protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and all the essential vitamins and minerals.
- It should contain only very limited amounts of saturated fats, trans-fats and sugars. Sometimes shakes are high in sugar to offset the metallic or vitamin taste.
- Carefully choose a shake with the proper calories to help you achieve your goals. Too many defeats weight loss and too few leaves you feeling unsatisfied.
- Compare different brands and do your research. Comparing calorie, fat, protein and carbohydrate content helps you make the right decision for your body.
Best Homemade Meal Replacement Shakes
1. Recipes of Homemade Meal Replacement Shakes
In addition to buying ready made powders and shakes, you can also create your own meal replacement shakes at home. Here are some recipes:
| Creamy Peanut Butter Shake
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Ingredients:
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| Orange Mango Smoothie
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Ingredients:
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| Banana and Mocha Shake
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Ingredients:
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| Apple Pie Shake
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Ingredients:
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2. Considerations of Using Homemade Meal Replacement Shakes
- Meal replacement shakes should be used no more than once per day, unless recommended by your doctor.
- Shakes should contain at least 200 calories, as well as a balance protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, the essential vitamins and minerals your body requires.
- Use meal replacement shakes for the most troublesome meals.
- Use when convenient. If you would otherwise skip a meal or eat something unhealthy, a shake is a great option.
- Avoid boredom by mixing up flavors and brands of shakes.
- Include fresh vegetables and fruits in your shakes whenever possible.
- Shakes are not an excuse to splurge during normal meals. If you want to lose weight, your entire diet must be balanced and under control.