If you follow our podcast at all you’ll know that we’ve tried our fair share of meal replacement shakes. We have publicly endorsed Body By Vi as a shake we were using personally to help with weight loss and weight management. Although shakes are still part of our lives, they don’t make up a core piece of our diet or daily routine anymore.
That hasn’t stopped countless people from asking us our opinion on particular products and meal replacement shakes in general. With so many different choices and options it can be tough to decide if and what shake to go with. Here are some really important things to consider when making your decision:
The shake is safe and you use it safely.
It helps you toward your goals.
You understand it is not a “lose weight quick” method.
It is possible to use meal replacement shakes to aid in weight loss, muscle gain, or just overall health and fitness management. This post is meant to be a guide on choosing the best meal replacement shake for you regardless of your overall health and fitness goals. Although we hope that this information helps, please note that we have not tried and tested all of these shakes, nor can recommend that you use a replacement shake in general – please consult your doctor before making any serious changes to your diet like this.
We don’t recommend you replace good whole-food meals with these quick and easy shakes. In our opinion there is nothing that can replace a high quality and healthy meal. That said, we understand that some people don’t have time to prepare the best meals all the time and having a great tasting and nutritious shake can be a great alternative over fast food or other less healthy options.
Meal Replacement Shake Comparison Chart
All this talk about meal replacement shakes is great and all, but we wanted to put some of these side-by-side so that you could easily review your options and make choices based on nutrients, cost, and reviews. We will be updating this chart with new shakes that we find and are recommended so make sure to check back often.
Note – the nutritional information for the powder mix shakes has been calculated using their suggested type and amount of mix (ie. 250 ml 1% milk). With this style of shake you have more control over what you mix with it – including any additions such as egg whites or fruit to increase nutritional value.
Meal Replacement Shake
Calories
Protein
Fat
Total Carb
Fiber
Form
Price
Visalus VI-Shape Nutritional Shake Mix
240
22
4.5
24
2
Powder Mix (with milk)
$1.57 per serving
Ensure Nutrition Shake
250
9
6
40
0
Drink
$1.25 per serving
Boost Nutritional Energy Drink
240
10
4
41
0
Drink
$1.51 per serving
AdvoCare Meal Replacement Shakes
220
24
3
24
5
Powder Mix (with water)
$3.29 per serving
Slim-Fast Shake
256
13
5.3
39
4.3
Drink
$1.12 per serving
Shakeology Meal Replacement Shake
130
16
2
14
3
Powder (with water)
$5.16 per serving
Met RX Meal Replacement
240
39
3
17
3
Powder (with water)
$1.46 per serving
Labrada Nutrition Lean Body
290
35
7
21
7
Powder (with water)
$2.19 per serving
We will continue to update the table so don’t be alarmed if you check back and something is missing or added – we’ll continue to tweak this with client reviews. As you can see there is a lot of variety when choosing a meal replacement shake. Hopefully this chart will help you make an informed decision based on the options.
The best meal replacement shake for you might not be the best for someone else. It really does depend on your goals and what you are trying to achieve. It might be better for you to have something very easy and pre-made, while others might want to be able to add additional ingredients into a powder shake.
The Best Meal Replacement Shakes
What makes a good meal replacement shake? This is a question that we asked a lot of our clients and readers of the blog and there seems to be a few points that come up over and over again. From what we’ve been told, the best meal replacement shakes are ones that:
Are safe
Have a well balanced nutrient profile
Help you lose weight
Are fast and easy to prepare
Can be taken on the road
Taste great
Affordable
Lets look a little closer at each of these points.
Safe meal replacement shakes
I think this one goes without saying. There needs to be no questionable ingredients, nothing experimental, no stimulants, and nothing that will risk your health.
Have a well-balanced nutrient profile
Of course “well-balanced” is a really hard measurement, but we have to agree with this one as well. There should be a good balance of high quality protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
Help you lose weight
One of the most popular reasons for replacing a meal with a shake is to help lose weight. Using meal replacement shakes for weight loss can be very effective – especially if the alternative used to be a fast food meal or something much less healthier.
Fast and easy to prepare & Being able to be taken on the road
I’m combining these two points because they both are due to a busy lifestyle. One of the main reasons people said they used meal replacement drinks was that they didn’t have time to prepare a meal – this is very popular with a breakfast or lunch amongst “Corporate America.” Another popular reason was due to travel. In both of these cases, making sure the shake can be prepared easily and without much work can make for a great option.
Great Taste
With so many different options, it shouldn’t be difficult to find one you like with some trial and error. This is certainly an important factor since there are many people that replace meals they do not like the taste of with a shake or drink.
Affordable
Meal replacement shakes do not have to be expensive. However, if you want a great option be prepared to pay about as much as you would for a well-balanced meal. Perhaps a bit more due to the convenience.
Meal Replacement Shakes For Weight Loss & Management
Since most people looking for meal replacement shakes are looking to lose weight I wanted to comment especially on this. Choosing a shake will depend on what meal you are trying to replace. For example, if you are replacing breakfast, you’ll want a very high protein shake that is lower in carb but with some fiber. This increase protein first thing in the morning will help kick start your metabolism and burn more fat throughout the day.
However, if you are looking to replace lunch, you’ll want a more even ratio of protein to carbs – but still pay attention to the fiber. Adding fiber to your meals and getting your carbs in fiber form will help you stay full longer and will decrease the chance of a blood sugar spike and insulin response.
We have had some great results with the Visalus shake – but we certainly added some ingredients. From fresh green vegetables to liquid eggs whiles, there is a lot more you can do with a powder-based shake than a pre made one.
It’s important that you don’t replace good meals with a shake. If you always brought a healthy meal for lunch to work, don’t use that meal to replace. On the other hand, if you are among the many people that never eat breakfast – adding a high protein and nutritious shake first thing in the morning will certainly help with weight loss.
If you have any questions or want to suggest another shake for us to take a look at please leave a comment below – we’d love to hear from you and your experiences with different meal replacement shakes.