6 best meal replacement shakes, tried and tested for flavour and balanced nutrition

Whether you’re dieting or simply looking for nourishment on the go, meal replacement shakes can be a quick and efficient way to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs.

These shakes contain essential macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, as well as a range of crucial vitamins and minerals.

Jack Strong

Myprotein delivers some of the most affordable meal replacement shakes on the market[/caption]

Myprotein meal replacement shakes

They are designed to replace whole foods and offer everything in one liquid shake.

More than just a protein fix, many of these meal replacement shakes claim to keep you full for hours on end, championing health and convenience above all.

To help you find the best shake for your needs, we’ve personally tried and tested a selection of the best and most popular meal replacement shakes available on the market.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it!

How we tested

To test each of the meal replacement shakes, I and others at talkSPORT Shopping spent a week with each individual product.

Consuming once a day, we paid attention to a number of details, including: how they tasted, how they dissolved, the texture, and how long each shake kept us full for.

Once our time with the product was up, we noted the pros and cons and then gave each of them a possible rating out of five.

The best meal replacement shakes at a glance

• Best meal replacement shakes for weight loss: Protein Works Vegan Wondershake
• Best meal replacement shakes for vegetarians and vegans: Huel Black Edition
• Best meal replacement shakes for on-the-go: Huel Ready-to-Drink
• Best-tasting meal replacement shakes: Protein Works Diet Meal Replacement Extreme
• Best budget meal replacement shakes: Myprotein Complete Nutrition
• Best breakfast meal replacement: Myprotein Breakfast Smoothie

Best meal replacement shakes for weight loss: Protein Works Vegan Wondershake

Jamie Lewis

The Protein Works Vegan Wondershake has just 94 calories per serving[/caption]

Protein Works Vegan Wondershake, £25.49

• Pros: Just 94 calories per shake, easy to digest, sugar-free
• Cons: Doesn’t keep you full for long
• Rating: 4/5

The Protein Works Vegan Wondershake can be added to chilled water or your choice of non-dairy milk.

I opted for oat milk which gave the drink a pleasant texture once thoroughly mixed.

I’m not generally one for a sweet breakfast, but the shake’s chocolatey taste went down well, making it a good substitute for my first meal of the day.

Each serving contains 20 grams of protein, 0.6 grams of fat and just 94 calories, and the shake contains a mix of pea, soy, pumpkin seed and brown rice proteins.

It is a good option for those looking to drop a meal a day to aid with weight loss.

Some hunger pangs did kick in for the period before lunchtime, so if you’re looking for a product that keeps your appetite truly sated for a lengthy spell between meals, this low-calorie option may not be for you.

Overall, the taste, texture and quality are all big positives.

Reviewed by Jamie Lewis

Per 25g serving:

Calories (kcal)	94kcal
Protein	20g
Carbs	1.9g
Fat	0.6g
Fibre	0.3g
Flavours	10

Best meal replacement shakes for vegetarians and vegans: Huel Black Edition Powder

Jack Strong

Huel is 100% suitable for those with vegetarian and vegan diets[/caption]

Huel Black Edition Powder, £31.65

• Pros: 40gs of protein per serving, 173 health benefits in every shake, decent taste, vegan
• Cons: Doesn’t mix well, Won’t keep you satiated for long
• Rating: 4/5

As far as vegan meal replacement shakes go, Huel Black Edition is one of the best options on the market.

It is entirely plant-based with no animal products or derivatives. It contains 40g of protein per serving, 173 health benefits and a nutritionally complete formula.

The balance of nutrients in the Huel Black Edition is all you need to maintain a healthy vegan diet.

I wholeheartedly enjoyed the Salted Caramel flavour, but I wish the formula mixed a lot easier.

Unless you use a blender to mix the powder, it is extremely difficult to achieve the desired smooth and silky consistency (without any lumps or bumps).

I found that Huel didn’t keep me satiated for very long either, which meant I was often left hungry after a few hours.

Huel does have the Original formula for those seeking more carbs in their diet, but it has slightly less protein (30g). However, I found that having more carbs kept me full for longer.

Per 90g serving:

Calories (kcal)	400kcal
Protein	40g
Carbs	19g
Fat	17g
Fibre	8.2g
Flavours	9

Best meal replacement shakes for on-the-go: Huel Black Edition Ready-to-Drink.

Jack Strong

Huel’s Black Edition Ready-to-Drink is perfect for meals on-the-move[/caption]

Huel Black Edition Ready-to-Drink, £45.50 (12 bottles)

• Pros: 35g of protein per serving, 26 vitamins and minerals, vegan, good for on-the-move
• Cons: Chalky and artificial taste, flavours taste similar, expensive
• Rating: 3.5/5

Another Huel product worth considering is the Ready-to-Drink version of its Black Edition counterpart.

Apart from having slightly less protein (35g), the ready-to-drink shake has the same vitamin and nutritional benefits as the powdered version but without the fuss of mixing it.

The ready-to-drink shakes deliver a welcomed boost of energy and are low in sugar, gluten-free, vegan and high in fibre.

The only downside is the taste, it was chalky and artificial and I couldn’t tell the difference between the three flavours.

Also, at an average of £3.80 per shake, these drinks can be pricer than other alternatives on the market.

But you can now find them in corner shops and supermarkets for less than what Huel is selling them for.

Per 500ml serving:

Calories (kcal)	400kcal
Protein	35g
Carbs	23g
Fat	17g
Fibre	6.6g
Flavours	4

Best-tasting meal replacement shakes: Protein Works Diet Meal Replacement Extreme

Jack Strong

Protein Works Diet Meal Replacement Extreme tastes amazing[/caption]

Protein Works Diet Meal Replacement Extreme, £14.29

• Pros: Fantastic taste, only 212 calories, 25g protein per serving, lots of premium flavours
• Cons: Some alternatives offer fewer calories
• Rating: 4.5/5

It seems to be a running theme that Protein Works products taste fantastic and its Diet Meal Replacement Extreme is no exception to that rule.

Developed to help with dieting and weight loss, the meal replacement is available in several flavours.

Having tried the Chocolate Bueno, I can wholeheartedly attest to the delicious taste and texture.

These shakes are easy to mix and very tasty, and that’s before you even consider the added benefits.

With 25g protein per serving, 23 essential vitamins and minerals, 176 health benefits and only 200 calories, it’s easy to see why 92% of Protein Works customers would buy this product again.

This meal replacement was my favourite out of the bunch I tested, and I would 100% use it again in the future.

Per 60g serving:

Calories (kcal)	214kcal
Protein	24g
Carbs	24g
Fat	1.9g
Fibre	4g
Flavours	15

Best budget meal replacement shakes: Myprotein Complete Nutrition

Maxim Hancock

At around £11, the Myprotein Complete Nutrition shake is well worth checking out[/caption]

Myprotein Complete Nutrition, £11.47

• Pros: Cheap and cheerful, 27 essential vitamins and minerals, offers immunity support, higher protein
• Cons: High in calories when compared to some others
• Rating: 4/5

Boasting 400 calories per serving, this Complete Nutrition meal replacement solution from Myprotein really impressed me.

The ‘cereal milk’ flavour I tested was surprisingly tasty, and the powder dissolved much better than I anticipated, given the recommended powder to liquid ratio.

The shake left me feeling full for hours after consumption, and with 32g of protein per serving, it’s nice to know you’re getting in a solid hit of protein to supplement a workout.

One drawback I found was that although the shake is advertised as a solution for breakfast (or lunch, or dinner), it was a little sickly first thing in the morning.

I was happily surprised by this Myprotein budget option which costs £11.52 per bag, it is a must-try.

Reviewed by Maxim Hancock

Per 102g serving:

Calories (kcal)	400kcal
Protein	33g
Carbs	31g
Fat	14g
Fibre	9.7g
Flavours	5

Best breakfast meal replacement: Myprotein Breakfast Smoothie

Maxim Hancock

Another affordable option worth considering is the Myprotein Breakfast Smoothie[/caption]

Myprotein Breakfast Smoothie, £16.89

• Pros: Convenient, high in protein, affordable
• Cons: Grainy texture, only two flavours available, artificial taste
• Rating: 3.5/5

Coming in strong with an epic 23g of protein per serving, this Myprotein Breakfast Smoothie is a really convenient and nutritious way to start your day.

The shake is high in fibre and made with real fruit, so it is a pretty solid replacement option for breakfast.

It’s ideal for a quick stomach filler before heading out to work or for an on-the-go snack as it only takes 30 seconds to prepare.

It is also affordable — a 1kg bag is only £29.89.

Despite consistently mixing with no clumps, I did find the texture to be a bit grainy.

Disappointingly, this product only comes in strawberry and banana or mango and passionfruit flavours.

So if you’re using this long term you might get tired of the flavours on offer.

I also found the shake to be a bit too sweet and artificial tasting compared to other meal replacements I’ve tried.

It wasn’t a deal breaker, but it made me less keen to use it daily.

For a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast solution on a budget, Myprotein has definitely delivered and at £30 a bag it won’t break the bank.

Reviewed by Maxim Hancock

Per 40g serving:

Calories (kcal)	153kcal
Protein	23g
Carbs	19g
Fat	6.8g
Fibre	9.2g
Flavours	2

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Can meal replacement shakes help you to lose weight?

Yes, meal replacement shakes can help you lose weight.

This is by creating a calorie deficit when replacing meals with shakes that are lower in calories.

For those out of the loop, the only way to lose weight is by being in a calorie deficit.

This means if you are under your maintenance calories, you will lose weight.

For example, if you usually eat a 500-calorie breakfast and you were to replace it with a 200-calorie shake, you would create a calorie deficit for this specific meal.

However, the only way to lose weight is by remaining in a deficit for a prolonged time.

Are meal replacement shakes healthy? 

Meal replacement shakes can be perfectly healthy if used moderately as part of a balanced diet.

While it’s perfectly acceptable to replace one or even two meals a day with meal-replacement shakes, it’s not advisable to completely cut whole foods from your diet.

From a nutritional perspective, most meal replacement shakes contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals most people need.

But meal replacement shakes don’t specifically address any deficiencies you may have.

The best way to ensure you’re healthily using meal replacement shakes is by simply thinking of them as a supplement or alternative to the odd meal from an already healthy diet.

How quickly will you see results?

If you’re using meal replacement shakes to diet, there is no specific time scale to see results.

Results come down to several factors, including your current health, exercise levels, calorie intake and metabolism.

Typically if someone is in a consistent calorie deficit (through meal replacement or other means), they will tend to see results within a few weeks.

This is usually due to the release of excess water you have retained.

Maintaining long-term weight loss goals can be difficult with meal replacement shakes, so it is best to use them in cycles to ensure you’re still getting whole foods in your diet.

I saw results within around two weeks when I was using meal replacement shakes, but it’s worth noting that these shakes were used alongside a calorie deficit diet with plenty of daily steps and time spent in the gym.

Can you safely have two meal replacement shakes a day?

Technically, you can have two meal replacement shakes a day. But to do so healthily, you must ensure you’re giving your body the vitamins and nutrients it needs through other means.

Eating whole foods once a day and maintaining a balanced diet filled with nutrients is the best way to ensure you stay healthy while using meal replacement shakes.

Pay attention to your body’s response to takng meal replacement shakes and if you feel you lack specific vitamins and nutrients consider taking supplements.

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