The best meal replacement shakes offer an easy and convenient way to get all the nutrients your body needs to keep full and energized. They are perfect on-the-go, and can be a real life saver for people with strict dietary requirements and those without access to a kitchen. While it's always best to get all your essential nutrients from whole foods, the best meal replacement shakes can help you close the nutrition gaps for when you don't have enough time or resources to eat a balanced diet.
However, with such a mind-boggling amount of meal replacement shakes available on the market, picking the right product may feel like a challenge. So to help you make the best choice possible, we've tried and tested some of the best meal replacement shakes out there. We've excluded any products that had excessive levels of artificial sweeteners, additives or preservatives and opted for meal replacement shakes rich in natural ingredients. We've covered all bases when considering the texture of the powder, testing how well it mixed into water, milk, and foods such as oatmeal or smoothie bowls. And, of course, we taste tested them to determine whether the taste was reflective of the advertised flavor and if there were any unpleasant aftertastes.
But if you're looking for a protein-only supplement, check our guide to the best protein powders, or if you prefer plant-based options, our roundup of the best vegan protein powders.
The best meal replacement shake overall
Servings per containing: 17
Calories per serving: 400 kcal
Protein per serving: 30g
Carbs per serving: 45g
Sugars: 1g
Fat per serving: 13g
Flavors: 10
Cost per serving: $1.90
+High fiber content
+Contains probiotics and prebiotics
-One container size available
-Contains artificial sweeteners
Huel Powder v3.0 is a plant-based meal replacement shake that comes in 10 different flavors and provides a hefty dose of calories. A single serving contains nearly 30g of complete protein from a blend of pea, flaxseed and brown rice, as well as a whooping 45g of complex carbohydrates for slow energy release.
User reviews
This powder enjoys a 4.3 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with over 200 reviews. Customers like the value for money but aren't so keen on the flavor. "I like this product and have been using it to replace my typical lunch each weekday since I purchased. I believe I still have around a half month's supply left. The shake is filling and I do not feel hungry during the second half of my work day when consuming it," said one reviewer. "It's not the most appetizing shake and a bit difficult to gulp down, but I am becoming accustomed to it and would recommend this shake to anyone trying to improve their eating habits."
A portion of Huel Powder v3.0 also provides 27 different vitamins and minerals, probiotics, kombucha, medium chain triglycerides and nearly 8g of prebiotic fiber. It’s also very low in sugar, containing just 1g per single serving. Therefore it’s safe to assume that due to its rich nutritional value, this meal replacement shake may not be the best choice for people who intend to lose weight. However, it would potentially suit active individuals, athletes, and people with demanding lifestyles who want a substantial and filling meal in an easy liquid form.
The downsides? Huel Powder v3.0 lacks digestive enzymes and is sweetened with synthetic sweeteners. It’s also quite expensive, and you need to purchase at least two tubs of the product in a single order.
The best value meal replacement shake
Servings per container: 15 (484g tub vanilla)/ 28 (1038g tub vanilla)
Calories per serving: 130 kcal
Protein per serving: 20g
Carbs per serving: 12g
Sugars: <1g
Fat per serving: 2g
Flavors: 4
Cost per serving: $1.72 (484g tub vanilla) / $2.14 (1038g tub vanilla)
+High protein content
+Organic ingredients
-Low fiber content
-Low vitamin and mineral content
Garden of Life prides itself on using only real, clean ingredients that are mostly certified USDA Organic and non-GMO verified. It’s also a big proponent of healthy, clean eating – and this shows in its Raw Organic Meal range.
User reviews
This shake scores a 4.2 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with over 30,000 global reviews. People aren't a fan of the taste, but the more positive reviews recommend mixing with fruit and other ingredients to mask this. One reviewer said of the Chocolate flavor: "It tastes amazing with frozen bananas and peanut-butter and some almond milk. That's my husband's favorite recipe. I like to add cold coffee and almond milk for my morning pick-me-up. I also ordered the Vanilla Protein and it's very versatile."
It’s packed with nutritious ingredients and is free from gluten, soy, dairy products and tree nuts, as well as artificial colorings, flavorings or preservatives. One serving delivers nearly 20g of vegan protein that comes from a high quality blend of 13 different sprouted grains and seeds. At the same time, it provides only 130 calories and less than 1g of sugar, making it a great choice for people who want to watch their waistline.
Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal also contains a rich organic fruit and vegetable blend, as well as a substantial dose of probiotics and digestive enzymes. It’s the only product on our list that was made without heat processing in order to preserve the integrity of delicate proteins and more volatile components.
Nevertheless, there are few drawbacks. Although Raw Organic Meal provides nearly 21 different vitamins and minerals, it’s not a huge number compared with amounts found in some competitors' products. There’s also only 3g of dietary fiber in a single serving.
The best meal replacement shake for weight loss
Servings per container: 28
Calories per serving: 120 kcal
Protein per serving: 12g
Carbs per serving: 13g
Sugars: 3g
Fat per serving: 3g
Flavors: 10
Cost per serving: $0.90
+Low sugar content
+Contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber
-Low protein content
-Not suitable for those allergic to milk or soy
When it comes to meal replacement shakes, Exante is one of the most recognizable brands worldwide. Its Exante Meal Replacement Shake is endorsed by the National Health Service in the UK and is commonly prescribed to patients on diabetes and obesity prevention programmes.
User reviews
Exante have a 3.9 out of 5 star rating on TrustPilot (but this does include customer service and website reviews rather than pure product reviews. Customers seem to enjoy the wide range of flavors: "Have used Exante for a few years now. I have a milkshake each day for lunch at work. I can load up my pack lunch bag at start of week with my glass, electric hand whisk, 5 milkshakes and a few snacks (roasted lava beans). That's me sorted. I love the range of flavors," said one reviewer.
Exante is designed to substitute one to two meals a day. It is very low in fats, carbohydrates and sugars, and provides only 120 calories in a single serving. One portion delivers nearly 5g of inulin, a type of fiber with strong prebiotic properties. It also contains a unique ingredient called Slendesta®, which according to the producer’s claims, can block hunger and reduce food cravings for at least three hours following ingestion. However, it’s worth noting that according to the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies, there is no established connection between ingesting Slendesta® and the reduction of body weight.
Still, Exante shakes are a great choice if you’re on a calorie-restricted diet. However, their meal replacements are not designed exclusively for weight loss purposes. Anyone can benefit from the great variety of flavors, a rich blend of digestive enzymes and nearly 26 different vitamins and minerals.
On the other hand, Exante is relatively low in protein, containing only 12g in a portion. This makes it potentially unsuitable for highly active individuals.
This meal replacement shake is packed with vitamins and minerals
Servings per container: 24
Calories per serving: 110
Protein per serving: 18g
Carbs per serving: 6g
Sugars: 3g
Fat per serving: 2g
Flavors: Chocolate and vanilla
Cost per serving: $2.60
+Contains 27 vitamins and minerals, plus probiotic
+Sustainably sourced ingredients
-Only two flavors available
According to the company, Lyfefuel is “not your typical ‘meal replacement’”. That's because, instead of just focusing on calories, carbs, and protein, it provides a full spectrum of essential nutrients. In fact, one serving contains 27 different vitamins and minerals, including 500mcg of vitamin B12 (20,833% DV), 1,200 IU of vitamin D3 (150% DV) and 75mcg of iodine (50% DV). Overall, this is one of the most impressive, nutritionally complete meal replacement shakes we’ve tested. Not only this, it contains a probiotic blend (960 million CFU per serving) and five different digestive enzymes to facilitate absorption.
User reviews
The Vanilla flavor gets a 4.2 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with 60% of customers giving it the full 5 out of 5 stars. One customers said: "So far I have noticed more energy when drinking this. I have for breakfast each morning. I have been changing how I eat and adding weight lifting to my routine. So far, I really like the flavor and the great nutritional benefits of this. I have with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla drink. Put in a shaker and voila! I would recommend this product. Give it a try if you are on a no sugar and low carb diet."
Lyfefuel also prides itself on quality. The All-In-One Essentials Shake is made in an FDA-registered facility and goes through third party testing for heavy metals, pesticides and microbials. The powder itself is gently dried and minimally processed to retain as many nutrients as possible, and it’s vegan-friendly.
We tried both the chocolate and vanilla flavors. Chocolate held its own mixed with plant-based milk, but it really excelled blended with ice and banana for a more substantial breakfast smoothie. An electric mixer also helped to eliminate any smaller lumps that a ball-whisk shaker couldn’t break through.
So what are the cons? First off, it contains just 110 calories per serving. Whilst this may be good news for those with weight loss goals, we thought it felt more like a snack or supplement than a ‘meal’. In fact, Lyfefuel does state that “you can experiment with more scoops and different liquid types and quantities that all impact the taste, texture, and total nutrients for the right balance that fills you up and suits your palate.” So if you’re using the shake as a meal replacement, rather than a snack, you might want to double up.
It’s also one of the more expensive meal replacement shakes we’ve tested — retailing at $70 for 24 servings. But considering it provides at least 50% of your daily value for a host of nutrients, it could be a good financial alternative to dietary supplements.
The best keto friendly meal replacement shake
Servings per container: 9
Calories per serving: 254 kcal
Protein per serving: 15.2g
Carbs per serving: 5g
Sugars: 2.4g
Fat per serving: 16g
Flavors: 3
Cost per serving: $2.32
+Contains digestive enzymes
+Keto-friendly
-High fat content
-Contains artificial sweeteners
PhenQ’s meal replacement shake is specifically designed to help with shedding unwanted pounds. A single serving delivers 254 calories, 17g of fat and nearly 16g of whey protein, as well as only 5g of carbohydrates and less than 3g of sugar, making it a suitable choice for people following a low-carb diet.
User reviews
PhenQ have very mixed reviews on TrustPilot, with some customers converted for life and some saying it doesn't work at all to support weight loss. Many complaints are about the website or delivery service, so aren't based on the actual quality of the shake. One 4 star review said: "I haven't been taking them very long but so far so good! I have endless energy and my appetite is definitely curbed and I'm happy with both of those results, however I can't speak to weight loss because I've just started them 2 weeks ago."
This meal replacement shake is also enriched with a substance called Innoslim®, a blend of Panax notoginseng and Astragalus membranaceus extracts. Both of these herbal additives have been marketed as weight loss aids. However, it’s worth mentioning that the evidence behind these claims remains inconclusive, as described in a review into dietary supplements published in the Nutrients journal.
PhenQ shakes also contain some medium chain triglycerides and two adaptogens (ashwagandha and Reishi mushroom extract), but their contents are slightly lower than the ones found in other brands. The price is definitely a selling point, as it’s one of the cheapest products in this guide.
Still, there are some disadvantages to PhenQ meal replacement shakes. It contains only 13 vitamins and minerals, placing it at the bottom of our list when it comes to micronutrient content. The product is also sweetened with synthetic sweeteners and doesn’t contain any probiotics or digestive enzymes.
The best premium meal replacement shake
Servings per container: 15
Calories per serving: 240 kcal
Protein per serving: 25g
Carbs per serving: 24g
Sugars: 6g
Fat per serving: 7g
Flavors: 5
Cost per serving: $8.3
+Low sugar content
+Contains gut-friendly probiotics
-Only one container size available
If you like to support brands that actively champion environmental causes, you may want to check out Ka’chava. The brand is passionate about endangered species and protecting the rainforests – with every pack of their meal replacement shake, you can help to finance their projects.
User reviews
This shake has a tidy 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with almost 5,500 ratings globally. "I decided to try this out since I've read a lot of good reviews. It gives me energy, and I do not feel tired. Overall, the taste is great but to me it is slightly sweet when I use 2 scoop. I reduced it to about 1.5 scoop and it was perfect. Like everyone is saying that it is expensive. I think it is worth it if it is healthy and good for you. I will continue to drink this and try out other flavors as well," said one customer.
Owing to the exceptional quality of the ingredients used to make these shakes, these products definitely belong in the premium category. A single serving of Ka’chava provides a whooping 25g of complete vegan protein and 6g of fiber, as well as only 6g of sugars. These meal replacements are packed with more than 70 different foods and nutrients too, including antioxidants, omega-3, medium chain triglycerides, probiotics and almost 26 different vitamins and minerals (with Daily Values being mostly above 40% per portion).
Ka’chava products are also free from artificial sweeteners, preservatives, flavorings and fillers. But what makes these shakes truly stand out is their high adaptogen content. According to a review recently published in the Nutrients journal, adaptogens are plant extracts that have the ability to enhance the body’s resistance to stress and physical endurance.
We took Ka'chava on a camping trip and found the chocolate flavor to be deliciously rich. Alongside a banana, one serving of the powder with water and a splash of milk kept us full until lunch too. The vanilla flavor is better made into a smoothie, and while we weren't personally a fan of matcha, some individuals might like this.
However, Ka’chava is a premium product and unfortunately, it comes with a big price tag.
The best high-protein, high-fiber meal replacement shake
Servings per container: 16
Calories per serving: 180 kcal
Protein per serving: 25g
Carbs per serving: 18g
Sugars: 3g
Fat per serving: 3g
Flavors: 7
Cost per serving: $2.40
+Low sugar and fat content
+Relatively inexpensive
-Not suitable for people allergic to dairy products and nuts
-Relatively low vitamin and mineral content
GNC is a versatile health and fitness brand. Its flagship meal replacement, Lean Shake 25, is an affordable product created for people whose primary goal is to lose weight. One serving contains 180 calories, 3g of fat and 3g of sugar, while delivering a whooping 25g of whey protein and 8g of dietary fiber. Lean Shake 25 comes in a range of flavor options, including unique gems like girl scout lemon and girl scout thin mints.
User reviews
This shake has an average of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 68% of customers giving it the full 5 out of 5 stars. Some customers love the flavor, some hate it and some mention how filling it is while others say it does nothing to curb their cravings. "Tastes like chocolate, only downside is the time for stirring. The best tasting chocolate protein shake I’ve had, so it’s a 5* from me," said one 5 star review. "This product does taste amazing so that’s why the three stars but doesn’t do anything as far as the cravings. It is definitely not filling at all," said one 3 star review.
On the other hand, GNC shake delivers only 22 different vitamins and minerals, which is below what competitors tend to offer. Its micronutrient content is also on the low side – most vitamins and minerals cover only 20% of your Daily Value in a single portion. Having said this, the company says to drink two shakes daily in conjunction with a healthy weight management program, so you would still be getting micronutrients from solid food.
Overall, it’s a decent weight loss meal replacement shake, but you may need to invest in additional supplements to keep your health and fitness in peak condition throughout the course of using this product.
The best meal replacement shake, ethically speaking
Servings per container: 16
Calories per serving: 230 kcal
Protein per serving: 20g
Carbs per serving: 25g
Sugars: 2g
Fat per serving: 5g
Flavors: 2
Cost per serving: $2.10
+High protein content
+Organic ingredients
-Lacks certain micronutrients
-Low fiber content
Orgain says it believes in the power of organic food and clean eating, while actively championing initiatives aimed at reducing plastic pollution, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly brands in our guide.
User reviews
Orgain does well on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and 73% of customers giving it a 5 out of 5. Most customers seem to find it very filling, but complain about the flavor. "I am on my first two weeks of having this only for breakfast. I have more energy, and feel way healthier since I started drinking this. Appetite is definitely doing better as days go forward. I mix mine with unsweetened almond milk 12-13oz. blend it with my ninja. Might eat a banana or apple before noon
Second meal of the day is a smoothie I make from plain yogurt, banana, apple cider vinegar, couple strawberries or frozen fruit," said one reviewer.
Its vegan Organic Meal nutrition powder is packed with clean, organic ingredients and provides nearly 20g of high quality pea, brown rice and chia seed protein blend in a single serving. Orgain doesn’t use artificial flavors or preservatives, and it makes sure its meal replacement shake is free from GMOs and gluten. Since it has a low fat and sugar content, Organic Meal may be a good choice for people who want to lose weight too.
On the other hand, one serving of the Organic Meal shake delivers only 2g of fiber and its micronutrient content is quite low in comparison with other brands. It lacks certain vitamins and minerals too, such as vitamin D and several trace elements. It’s also relatively expensive and comes in one container size.
Aisling PigottSocial Links Navigation
Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian
Aisling Pigott is a registered dietician and the founder of Dietitian Wales, a nutrition consultancy based in Wales, UK. She is also a Lead Paediatric Diabetes Dietitian at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. Aisling was awarded a postgraduate degree in Advanced Dietetic Practice from Cardiff Metropolitan University and a certificate in Sports and Exercise Nutrition from Coventry University.
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