You may think that skipping meals is a way to lose weight but unfortunately it is more or less a myth. Skipping meals means that you are denying your body the nutrients it needs. Nowadays, because the world is too busy, you find yourself having no time to prepare food. On the bright side, there’s a growing trend of meal replacement shakes that you can try.
These meal replacement shakes are easy to prepare. They also contain the nutrients that your body needs. However, you’ll need to do a little bit of research first to know which suits you. Shortly, we’ll get to know the meal replacement shakes that are worth trying.
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What’s a Meal Replacement Shake?
For those who are unaware of meal replacement shakes, a meal replacement shake is a drink that’s a meal substitute. It’s intended to be used in place of solid food, an example is vegan meal replacement shakes. These shakes have a specific and controlled quantity of nutrients meant to provide the body with needed nutrients. Said nutrients can vary from drink to drink.
Who Consumes a Meal Replacement Shake?
People who consume these meal replacement shakes have a variety of reasons why they take them. The most usual reason is that they want to lose weight. Another good reason why people take these shakes is when they want to bulk up. Most notable in this case are bodybuilders who intend to meet weight requirements and build up muscle.
10 Recommended Meal Replacement Shakes to Try
It’s time for us to know the best meal replacement shakes to try. Keep in mind that their ingredients and composition vary. It’s best to know what they can provide so you can select which suits you the best. Here are the meal replacement shakes worth trying out as listed:
- Almond, banana, and flax smoothie. A strong source of antioxidants and vitamins. It can also lower cholesterol and aid in weight loss. All you need is a couple of bananas, a bit of almond butter, and flax seeds. You’ll need almond milk and honey or maple syrup. Put them together in a blender, mix them well and it’s best served chilled.
- Spinach, mango, and carrot smoothie. A little strange to have vegetables in this one, but it works just so well. This smoothie is great for those who often engage in heavy exercise. This shake is rich in nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants too so it’s worth making.
You only need two cups of spinach, some frozen mangoes, and baby carrots. It needs to be blended alongside low-fat yogurt, orange juice, and coconut water. You’ll also have to add a couple of peeled oranges. Blend all the ingredients in a blender until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Oatmeal, banana, and strawberry smoothie. Aside from a being huge nutrient goldmine, this smoothie also aids in weight loss due to the fiber present in oatmeal. You need to blend whole oats, almond milk, yogurt, strawberries, bananas, and honey to make this. Use honey as a sweetener, and for extra flavor a bit of vanilla extract.
- PB & J + Banana shake. A little random fun fact, peanut butter is good for the heart. A combination of a ripe banana, almond milk, peanut butter, and frozen berries is needed to make this smoothie. Combine in a blender until the mixture is smooth and creamy. This meal replacement shake is recommended for bodybuilders.
- Avocado & Banana protein shake. A very filling meal replacement shake because of the inclusion of avocados. You need almond milk, an avocado, a ripe banana, a teaspoon of flax, and whey protein powder to make this. Blend all ingredients until the mixture has a creamy consistency.
- Coconut milk and blueberry shake. This is a great option for those who want to lose weight. This is also capable of inhibiting cancer cell growth. To make this meal replacement shake, combine fresh blueberries, coconut milk, honey, and a teaspoon of lemon juice in a blender. Combine until well mixed.
- Spinach, banana, and flax protein smoothie. This smoothie is another potent nutrient-filled shake. This is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium, and protein. To make this protein-packed drink, combine spinach, banana, protein powder, flax seeds, and almond milk in a blender. Mix until it is blended well, this drink is best served chilled.
- Pumpkin & Ginger protein smoothie. This is one of the easiest meal replacement drinks to make due to the ingredients being common. It’s also pretty packed with nutrients. You need to combine pumpkin puree, a frozen banana, crushed ginger root, a bit of cinnamon, and vanilla powder in a blender.
- Avocado, spinach, and kiwi shake. A great detoxifying drink that’s packed with nutrients and anti-cancer properties. Combine spinach, peeled and sliced kiwi, an avocado, coconut milk, honey, and ice in a blender. Blend them all until it’s creamy and enjoy your nutrient-packed drink!
- Chocolate berry shake. Are you craving chocolate right now? If so, a choco-berry shake will work wonders for you. With a ton of health benefits, it’s going to fill your craving for sweets and give you a ton of nutrients at the same time. In a blender, blend cocoa powder, frozen berries, a ripe banana, chia seeds, and almond milk.
Add maple syrup or honey as the sweetener and don’t forget to add ice. You can substitute cocoa powder for dark chocolate. Soy and coconut milk are good substitutes if you don’t have almond milk. Blend well and serve the shake chilled.
FAQs
Here are some questions regarding meal replacement shakes. These are some of the most commonly asked questions. You’ll be seeing some key notes to consider about meal replacement shakes in the answers provided:
- Can I swap out meals with meal replacement shakes? Yes, you can! However, limit yourself to 1-2 meals consuming only the shake. Keep in mind that you’ll still need a healthy diet.
- How long till the results start to show up? The time when the results kick in varies. Some testimonials say their blood sugar lowered within a week. Some say they’ve felt lighter after a month or two.
- Should I check with my doctor first before consuming these shakes? Yes, of course! You must consult with your doctor if your body can handle this form of diet. You’d certainly don’t want to bring more harm than good to your body, after all.
The Bottom Line?
All of these healthy and delicious meal replacement shakes are worth making. They all pack their own set of nutrients and health benefits. They’re also pretty easy to make as you’ll only need to put the ingredients in a blender and mix them. Look up the shakes that you think have the nutrients your body needs.
A little note to consider is that getting the right meal replacement shake fills you up with both nutrients and satisfaction. Plan accordingly on which shakes will you take for the day. Get those ingredients and blend them all together. That way, you can set up a quick way to fill up your stomach and stay healthy even in these busy times.