meal replacement shakes meal replacement shakes

15 Amazing Meal Replacement Shakes for All

A guide to the 15 fantastic meal replacement shakes for everyone. 

As the world turns to a new leaf with the pandemic ongoing, it’s inevitable that with stress and time pressure, it can be hard to cook full meals at home and get the essential vitamins and minerals needed for maintaining a healthy body.

What makes things harder is that some people want to maintain a specific diet; ketogenic, vegan, fat-burning, or muscle weight gain. This means that special care needs to be taken to choose the right ingredients.

Drinking meal replacement shakes does not have to be sad and unsatisfying; there are scrumptious options out there!

So for all the busy folks who want some delicious meal replacement shakes to satiate their hunger while nourishing them to the fullest.

Your preferred meal replacement shakes can easily fit into your diet plan, too, be it vegan, protein-heavy, or a simple weight loss smoothie diet! Hopefully, you can find the best meal replacement shake for you!

meal replacement shakes
Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash Copyrights 2019

1. What Is a Meal Replacement Shake?

A meal replacement shake is a full meal in a glass; whether you are on a strict smoothie diet for weight loss or are looking for time-saving alternatives to enable accessibility for visually impaired people who want a simple solution to making full-fledged meals or want to add some extra supplement to your diets, a meal replacement shake can help you with all of them.

Standard protein powders may not fulfill the nutrient requirements of the body. So if you don’t want to use protein powders, you can replace them with meal-replacement shake powders in smoothies, and breakfast shakes.

Many meal replacement shakes are fortified with different sources of nutrients, popular options being protein-heavy ingredients like whey protein concentrate and brown rice protein extract.

Meal Replacement Shakes Weight Loss Recipes  Healthy Protein Smoothies

Per serving, a single meal replacement shake can have the ability to provide you with all of the vitamins and minerals needed for one day! Many meal replacement formulas now boast macronutrients, amino acids, digestive enzymes, and other extra-diet nutrients you may not even get from your regular diet.

These shakes have low carbs, calories, and sugars and should not have artificial flavors. People with less time on their schedules find that they can maintain their lifestyles better with these shakes. 

A meal replacement shake should ideally also taste palatable. You should not have to compromise on taste to lose weight. Indeed, keep eating solid foods and don’t think of these shakes as alternatives to eating food altogether. You must always seek sound medical advice before a heavily restrictive diet.

Always remember that the best meal is the meal you chew! And better yet, you can conjure up some shakes at home too!

2. Best Meal Replacement Shakes

Meal replacement shakes are classified into four forms- ketogenic diets, muscle building, vegans, and weight loss, to get a better way to choose the option that is best for you.

2.1. .Meal Replacement Shakes for Ketogenic Diets

2.1.1. Ample K

Ample K Review - A Keto Meal Replacement, But What About Fats?

Ample K is an amazing option for people on a ketogenic diet; the best part is entirely GMO-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. With pea protein, rice protein, and fats from macadamia oil and coconut, this shake will not only help you lose weight while on a ketogenic diet but will leave you feeling amazingly satiated. The product is available on Amazon and their website, but it is out of stock very often.

Ample K has a variety of 3 flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, and berry, claiming to keep you full for over 4 hours, increase focus and promote gut health. It’s also full of micro-nutrients, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals, so it’s a great option!

2.1.2. Keto Chow

Dr  Berry on Keto Chow at Keto Summit Omaha

Keto Chow is a widely known meal replacement shake among people in the weight loss and keto circuit. It is also dubbed one of the best meal replacement shakes for people on a keto diet.

An advantage you get is that you can adjust the fat content as you like since the replacement lets you add as much or as little as you need. This customization sets it apart from its counterparts!

Keto Chow also has an incredibly vast selection of flavors; customer reviews have said that the flavors are all great, and texture and consistency have been deemed better than most keto meal replacements out there.

It isn’t a good option for lactose intolerants or vegans since a significant chunk of the protein is sourced from milk.

Another great thing is that if you don’t want your meal replacement powders delivered with any flavor, protein, or sugar, you can even purchase the base powder filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals and make your flavors at home!

2.1.3. Ketologie 

Ketologie Shakes Review: Best Keto Shake on the Market

This shake is good for losing weight on keto and low-carbs for maintaining a good diet. It does contain grass-fed protein and is low-carbLEAN BODY, gluten, and lactose-free too.

As a meal replacement, Ketologie may be a good option if you don’t suffer from other issues like diabetes, gall bladder issues, or blood pressure issues since this product is notorious for having a high glycemic index. This can spike your blood sugar very fast.

Of all meal replacements out there, Ketologie is not a good option unless paired with other nutrient-rich foods like fruits and veggies.

Most meal replacement shakes contain ingredients meant to make you feel fuller, which is one of those. So if you are on a keto diet, go for this one only in a severe time shortage.

2.1.4. Sated 

You can turn to Sated keto shakes for a low carbohydrate, high protein content shake. It is a pretty great way to maintain ketosis by using meal replacement shakes while in a time crunch during your keto diet.

Sated is an amazing meal replacement option because the primary source of the bulking protein is a compound called whey protein isolate, and it has a great flavor.

These meal replacements are naturally sweetened and come in four different flavors; chocolate, vanilla, peaches and cream, and strawberry, all flavored with natural ingredients.

These meal replacement shakes boast an array of 27 vitamins and minerals, fiber, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids and are ‘Ultra-Low carb.’ This is one of the best and tastiest choices for a ketogenic diet-friendly meal replacement shake!

2.1.5. SlimFast Keto Shakes

Are Slimfast Keto Products Really Keto-Friendly? – Dr.Berg

Slimfast is a household name for people who regularly consume meal replacement shakes. This brand also offers a keto diet-friendly option to its consumers!

A good thing about this shake is that distributed in ready-to-drink and powder forms, so you can choose whether to consume the meal replacement shake on the go or make a shake that’s customized at home to your liking!

The problem with these meal replacements is that the drink is not very nutrient-rich. In comprising other meal replacement shakes, this one is not one of the best fat-burning meal replacement shakes out there.

It’s recommended that you use this shake occasionally and consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals!

This is because the carbohydrate content is relatively higher, and calories are lower. This means that it may make you feel energized, but it is impossible to sustain a keto diet for a long time on this shake.

2.1.6. Naturefuel Keto 

Nature Fuel Keto

Naturefuel Keto Meal Replacement is a natural keto diet-friendly option for those looking for a creamy and straightforward option for a shake. It’s easy to make and has a good quantity of protein, fewer carbs, more calories, and a lot of essential macronutrients.

Naturefuel Keto meal replacement shakes also offer chocolate and vanilla flavors. Naturefuel is an excellent option to lose weight on a keto weight, but not for vegans and soy intolerants since it contains dairy and soy.

These replacements have no sugar whatsoever, so it’s an excellent option for people with diabetes and those watching their sugar intake.

2.2. Meal Replacement Shakes for Muscle Building

2.2.1. Jacked Factory Authentic Meal Replacement

Jacked Factory’s Authentic Meal Replacement powder is a beautiful substitute for a meal if you want to bulk up while in a time pinch. This is one of the best meal replacement shakes on the market.

This shake is also based on Whey Protein Isolate, making it an entirely natural food source for your protein-hungry muscles. Along with these, Authentic MRP meal replacement shakes are also full of vitamins and minerals, MCT1 oil powder, pea protein isolate, and more!

These meal replacements also have a slightly lower carb quantity, so it’s good to have some carbs otherwise for fuelling heavy-duty workouts and active lifestyles while you continue to lose weight in the form of fat.

It’s also incredibly simple to make, and you don’t even need a blender. This meal replacement can be made by hand in a shaker easily.

2.2.2. Labrada Lean Body Shakes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHPC_g-UVDw

A whopping 40 grams of protein per serving makes Labrada one of the best for protein-heavy dieters. It is an amazingly filling option that can double up like a protein shake.

Labrada shakes contain, along with that, 5 grams of fiber and calorific content as low as 280 calories per serving, fewer calories than most shakes available! Labrada Lean Body meal replacement shakes are known to be incredibly filling since they have a thick and creamy consistency.

Labrada shakes come with as little as 6 grams of carbs per serving, so make sure you fill it up with some nut butter to up your intake of healthy fats. This one is available in bottled and powdered forms in chocolate and vanilla flavors.

If you are watching your sugar, don’t worry, this meal replacement shake contains no sugar at all! What’s more, this option is chock-full of essential nutrients; riboflavin, biotin, niacin, folates, iron, phosphorous, and other essential vitamins and minerals. You can also consume these meal replacements if you’re lactose intolerant; it doesn’t contain dairy!

2.2.3. Pure Protein Shakes

Pure protein meal replacement shakes feature a perfect option for those looking for one with very low calorific content.

This shake has fewer calories 2than your body needs. Iconic Protein Drinks contain only about 140 calories per serving, so you may need some more healthy fat in your diet. If you’re lactose intolerant, this is a good option. Each serving of this shake offers about 30 grams of protein on the higher side.

They offer meal replacement shakes in chocolate, vanilla, peaches and cream, and cookies and cream flavors. This is a good meal replacement shake if you are looking for grass-fed protein in your meal replacement shake.

Unlike traditional protein powders, this shake has several essential vitamins and minerals. You can make it a complete meal by adding some nuts to boost the number of healthy fats in your diet. This is one of the better meal replacements if you can successfully supplement it with nuts for fiber.

2.2.4. Green Regimen Elite Protein 

The Way To Optimum Health with Green Regimen Elite Protein

This shake has got it all and is particularly effective for people who have extreme workout routines. Green Regimen Elite Protein has 25 grams of protein per serving, and what’s more, it’s fully plant-based, so vegan bodybuilders, this one is for you.

Green Regimen Elite Protein shakes double up as a protein shake and a meal replacement, being one of the most liked post-workout recovery shakes out there. They come in chocolate and vanilla flavors and are one of the market’s better-tasting vegan muscle mass-building alternatives.

As far as long-term meal replacements go, the Green regimen can’t keep you entertained consistently since it has only 2 flavors.

2.3. Meal Replacement Shakes for Vegans

2.3.1. Orgain Organic 

Q & Andrew: Orgain Organic Protein Powder

Orgain Organic shakes are great; entirely plant-based, clean, and organic, this is great for a vegan diet where you don’t have the time to take a meal. Many have dubbed this one the best meal replacement shakes for a vegan diet.

Orgain organic meal replacements can provide 20 grams of plant-based protein per serving. It has no artificial flavors and is also very easy to make, and you can get a thick and creamy result by adding water.

This vegan shake has no added sugars, soy, gluten, or GMO and contains several immunity-boosting vitamins and minerals like potassium and thiamin. It also promotes gut health with 7 grams of prebiotic fiber per serving of this vegan formula! This meal replacement shake can also help you lose weight!

2.3.2. Garden of Life: Raw Organic Meal 

When it comes to having a vegan diet that is climate-conscious and organic at the same time, Garden of Life Raw Organic meal shake is one of the best meal replacement shakes for vegans.

They come in an array of 4 flavors, vanilla, chocolate, vanilla chai spiced, and lightly sweet. This meal replacement can help you promote gut health; it contains live probiotics and will keep you full for a long time.

Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal powders are fully GMO3-free, soy, dairy, and gluten-free. This vegan meal replacement shake contains no artificial flavors. Uncommon in a vegan meal replacement shake, this one breaks barriers by boasting 20 grams per serving of clean, plant-based protein derived from pea protein isolate and other vegetables and fruits.

This is quite simply the best meal replacement shake for organic food fans. These meal replacements have a nice creamy consistency and can be mixed very easily with many essential nutrients. Raw organic meal shakes are also delicious, and many online reviews will vouch.

If you want to have an active lifestyle and work out as a vegan, consider a Raw Organic meal from Garden of Life since it can help post-workout recovery. Raw organic meal shakes are also fully sugar-free!

2.4. Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss

2.4.1. SlimFast Energy Shakes

SlimFast is the first option for many people seeking a meal replacement shake that tastes good and aids in weight loss. Particularly if you’re on a smoothie diet, it’s a great option to go for this one.

SlimFast is known to have the best flavor variety in the meal replacement shake market, and they are innovative and wholesome, unlike most meal replacement shakes. This bunch of healthy and delicious meal replacement shakes will leave you feeling satiated and full for hours after consuming it.

However, some flavors of this meal replacement shake can contain caffeine, and it may not work well if you are avoiding it or not drinking enough water. This meal replacement shake might not be very nutritious, as it doesn’t contain a lot of vitamins and minerals.

2.4.2. PhenQ Complete Meal Shake

PhenQ Review - My Experience After 4 Months Using PhenQ Weight Loss Supplement

PhenQ Complete Meal Shake is a fantastic weight loss meal replacement and even more so as it is entirely plant-based. So if you’re a vegan trying to shed some pounds with a weight loss meal replacement, PhenQ Complete meal shake will do just perfectly.

It has 24 essential minerals, vitamins, nutrients, and more packed in. It is low-carb and has a good amount of healthy fats for a perfect addition to your smoothie diet. PhenQ is available in 2 flavors, chocolate and vanilla.

PhenQ claims that this shake can help keep you full for hours and suppress your appetite while keeping you energetic! For those who find it hard to stick to a diet, this one is an excellent fat-burning shake that will help you lose weight more efficiently by keeping you full and reducing cravings.

2.4.3. Exante Shakes

This is one of the best meal replacement shake options out there; you can pick vegan or non-vegan options. They are available in 5 flavors; latte, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and banana, and are perfect for weight loss, especially on a craving-filled smoothie diet!

Exante shakes contain 27 essential vitamins and minerals. Unlike most meal replacement shakes, this one can help you lose weight by depressing your appetite since it has a high protein content and appetite suppressants.

You can try to substitute traditional protein powders in your smoothies and shakes for this one and get a pretty filling meal out of it! The texture and flavors are also rather great! These can be good for you if you include them as part of your diet once in a while.

So, these were some of the best meal replacement shakes out there. You can try any one of the above and see which one works best for your body. 

  1. Nimbkar, Shubham, et al. “Medium chain triglycerides (MCT): State‐of‐the‐art on chemistry, synthesis, health benefits and applications in food industry.” Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety 21.2 (2022): 843-867. ↩︎
  2. Duregon, Eleonora, et al. “Intermittent fasting: from calories to time restriction.” Geroscience 43 (2021): 1083-1092. ↩︎
  3. Teferra, Tadesse Fikre. “Should we still worry about the safety of GMO foods? Why and why not? A review.” Food Science & Nutrition 9.9 (2021): 5324-5331. ↩︎

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