Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
Chocolate and peanut butter are two classic flavors that simply go together, and can turn your day from drab to fab in moments! In this chocolate protein shake recipe, you also get the addition of powdered peanut butter which is a very low-calorie substitute for typically high-fat/high-calorie nut butters.
The two protein powders together give you a true burst of energy, and can also help to increase your metabolism. Plus, theyll provide extra satiety for helping to curb your hunger. In addition, the recipe features your choice of milk, banana, and cocoa powder for an even greater chocolatey kick.
How To Buy The Best Meal Replacement Shake For You
Why would I want a meal replacement shake?
The most common reason people use meal replacement shakes is to help them lose weight. By swapping out a regular meal for a low-calorie drink, they reduce their overall calorie intake. This puts them in a better position to create a calorie deficit each day and lose weight.
If this is your aim with a shake, you’ll want one thats low in calories, but also relatively high in protein and fibre compared to other nutrients, as this will help you feel full until your next proper meal. Some of these shakes come as part of a full programme to help you lose weight, with snacks and recipes for your other meals provided, along with support from others on the plan.
Another reason to use a meal replacement shake is for simple convenience. Its faster and easier than cooking a meal from scratch, but healthier than getting a takeaway or eating a ready meal. Some people also use these shakes because they have a low impact on the environment compared to some elements of the food industry. Meal replacement shakes used for this purpose dont need to be low in calories instead, you want them to provide all the nutrients that your body would normally get from your diet in the right proportions.
Certain people also use meal replacement shakes when they are looking to build lean muscle. In this case, the shake wont necessarily be very low in calories but will have a high amount of protein at a rough ratio of 1:1 with carbs.
Reduces Chances Of Malnutrition
With increased age, it is quite common to find a decrease in appetites.
This, coupled with a slower metabolism, causes nutritional deficiency in elderly people.
Meal replacement protein powders provide supplementation of their required proteins, vitamins, and minerals within a small amount of caloric intake.
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Lose Weight Maintain Muscle Or Just Save Time With The Best Meal Replacement Shakes
Whatever goals you have when it comes to health and fitness, its essential to support them with your diet. If you can do that purely through a balanced diet without supplements or meal replacements, so much the better, but for some people, meal replacements are a quick and easy way to help achieve their goals especially if theyre trying to lose weight.
No one would suggest replacing all your meals with shakes, but subbing them in for one or two meals over a short period can be an effective way to lose a few pounds here and there. In the long term, they can still be useful as a convenient option for a healthy meal in double-quick time.
Before you stock your cupboards with meal replacement shakes, though, its important to work out which one is right for you. Were here to help you do just that.
Do Smoothies Help You Lose Weight
If you swap out a meal each day with a smoothie, theres a good chance youll lose weight and also have more energy. This is due to the increased nutrition and decrease in overall calories. Whats even better than a smoothie is a green smoothie. When you add in leafy greens youre adding fiber and phytonutrients yet very few calories. Green smoothies are made with nutrient dense foods that curb cravings and keep you full longer.
I have a 7-Day Plant-Based Reset that includes 2 green smoothies a day, plus snacks and meals to help you lose weight, yet more importantly understand how to nourish your body so the weight falls off without ever feeling hungry.
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Garden Of Life Raw Organic Fit Powder
If youre looking for plant-based protein to replace a meal, then look no further. The Garden of Life Raw Organic Fit Powder is as good as it gets when it comes to taste, protein, and nutrition.
You can choose to buy a 10-serving or 20-serving container, so youll be good to go for most of the month.
The four flavors that you can choose from include coffee, vanilla, original, and chocolate. You can choose whatever powder mixes best with your chosen milk, water, or blend it with fruits and vegetables.
These shakes are packed with 28 grams of plant-based protein to promote optimal muscle growth and fat loss.
The fact that the powder is organic contributes to the fact that its a consistently hot-seller among fitness communities. Its also gluten-free, and Kosher certified.
Youll only add less than 1g of sugar and only 2g of fat, both of which are much less than most other flavorful meal replacement shakes.
Phenq Meal Replacement Shake
PhenQ Meal Replacement Shake is a great, easy way to get that nutrient-packed shake you need when you just dont have the time. Get the protein and vitamins your body needs while also keeping cravings at bay with this keto-friendly shake made from 100% plant-based nutrients.
Two scoops give you essential protein, carbs and fat from natural and healthy sources, and at just 269 calories youll be hitting your daily macros consistently. Fiber is the key to letting go of excess weight from food, and you get 2 grams of it along with MCT, BCAAs and all that vitamins and minerals.
PhenQ curbs your cravings as you go on a diet by filling you up with pea protein and brown rice protein. The taste is something to write home about, and you get to choose between Vanilla and chocolate.
No matter the reason for your weight loss, PhenQ has your back. Whether its curbing appetite or giving you the macros to sustain energy, the meal replacement is as close as it gets to a real meal. Every calorie is bursting with beneficial stuff so you wont feel guilty taking them every day. And when you need a cheat, just add a scoop and your body will hardly notice!
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Adding Protein To Your Meal Replacement Smoothies
Make sure you also add in protein powder to your homemade meal replacement smoothies. Protein helps to increase your metabolism and also is quite satiating.
Its an easy way to help meet your protein requirements for the day. Without protein, your body is more likely to burn off muscle than your fat.
Ill usually go with a vanilla or chocolate flavor protein powder when adding them to my smoothies.
You can try adding in some caffeine to your meal replacement smoothies to help give your metabolism an extra boost.
Ill usually use some much green tea or espresso in my morning meal replacement smoothie. Of course, its not a good idea to add caffeine if youre drinking this later in the day as it could make it harder to sleep at night.
What Are Meal Replacement Shakes And What Are Their Benefits
You can find two varieties of meal replacement shakes:
- Ready-to-drink, bottled shakes or
- Powdered supplements that you would mix with water and shake to combine
Unlike protein shakes, the healthiest meal replacement shakes offer a nutrient profile similar to that of a well-balanced meal. That includes healthy fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber.
These shakes are appealing to many and have multiple benefits:
- Convenience: As we said earlier, you don’t have to cook or clean up after a meal if you grab one of these shakes.
- Weight loss: “Meal replacement shakes have shown to be effective for some people who are trying to lose weight, especially those who replace 1-2 of their meals with a meal replacement,” says Amanda A. Kostro Miller, RD, LDN, who serves on the advisory board for Smart Healthy Living. “Many weight loss programs using meal replacement shakes, however, are meant to be temporary for an initial weight loss kick.”
- To feel full: choosing a shake that’s high in protein and/or fiber will keep you fuller longer and slow down the digestion of carbs, which stabilizes blood sugar levels.
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Perfect Keto #1 Best Overall
Perfect Keto has done it again! Their meal replacement shake is made from 100% grass-fed whey isolate. Whats that? Its the protein from milk. So there are fewer carbs and more pure protein.
The only added extras in this product are MCTs and Stevia. We all know MCTs are easily absorbed fat derived from coconuts, which will boost your mental clarity and keep you feeling full for longer. Stevia just adds to the flavor.
While the high protein content is great for building muscle or ensuring you meet your daily protein needs, you do need to take this into account when planning your other meals, especially if youre not working out. You can also add extra coconut oil, acacia fiber or MCT powder to make sure you get enough fat in.
A tiny nutritional drawback is that its a powder, so it needs to be mixed with almond milk or water But in my opinion, it tastes fine with water, so theres no problem there.
The low calories per serving not only means it is good for weight loss, but you can also use it as a post-workout protein supplement without affecting your daily meal plans too much.
Summary: Overall this is my favorite meal replacement shake from a nutritional and taste perspective.
Slimfast Advanced Energy Meal Replacement Shakes
This SlimFast product contains 20 g of protein, and each serving is 180 calories. It has a caramel latte flavor, meaning it may make a suitable replacement for a breakfast meal. As it also contains caffeine, it might help people wake up in the morning.
However, to maintain a balanced diet, a person should consider consuming this alongside other healthful breakfast foods.
It also contains 5 g of dietary fiber, which some
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Naturefuel Keto Meal Replacement
If youre on a keto diet, youll enjoy the NatureFuel Keto Meal Replacement. Even though this brand is not as widely known as other drink powder options, its ingredients make the formula healthy and tasty with its macronutrients included, not to mention the value of purchase. You get 14 servings of the powder for $23. While NatureFuel has 15g of fat for every serving you consume , you will still receive about 10% to 90% of almost all the micronutrients your body needs for the day.
NatureFuel contains a lower protein intake per serving at 8g. Its a lower protein intake than other protein drink powders in the industry. If you want to increase your protein intake for fat burning, you may try another powder. However, if youre going to lower your protein intake but increase your fat intake, this will be great for those on a keto diet.
To add incentive for keto dieters to try out NatureFuel, theres only 9g of carbohydrates in every serving.
To make your chocolate NatureFuel experience creamier, whey protein concentrate and isolate are included in the formula. The collagen peptides help to break down collagen protein into tinier strains to aid in easier digestion. Fat-burning ingredients include the MCT oil blend that is made from grass-fed butter, palm, and coconut.
Ketond Ketogenic Meal Replacement Powder
A Ketond shake is a good option for men and women. Its well-balanced, with the right macros and comparatively few calories per serving. So it will help with fat loss if used with a low-calorie liquid.
The high protein and added BHB and MCTs keep you in ketosis and feeling full of energy. It also has egg protein, something not many shakes have.
And there are no unnatural food ingredients or fillers. But its quite pricey, even with the added essential vitamins and minerals. Also, the flavors are great for those that like it, and not great for those that dont.
- Flavor
- Price
Summary: This is a good choice if youre sharing with someone from the opposite sex and you are both active.
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Oatmeal Banana And Strawberry Smoothie
If theres one food item you must have in your house, its oatmeal! Why? Whole oats are great for any weight loss plan. They are high in soluble fiber and are nutritious.
Strawberries are not only mouthwatering but are high on nutrients and treat gout and arthritis.
This is one of those healthy smoothies for dinner that allows you to sleep better without the feeling of hunger. This is because oats and bananas are filling making a good substitute for a heavy dinner.
Ingredients:
Why Such High Calories
One thing to be aware of is that protein shakes can be higher in calories. On average, the shakes you see below are 200 calories per serving. Because of this, they are best for those who are reducing calories in other areas of their diet or who have a solid and consistent exercise routine. Ideally you should drink this within two hours of exercising.
My protein shakes do keep the calorie count to a minimum and use fresh ingredients such as fruit to boost the nutritional content. In terms of a healthy lifestyle, 200 calories still makes an ideal snack between meals but it is higher than your typical 100 calorie snack so just be aware that the extra protein requires a tradeoff in calories.
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Protein Powders For Smoothie Making
Some Soy Flour on rustic wooden background
Looking to bulk up your smoothie? Then chances are youre going to reach for a protein powder. The question is, which one should you choose? As the options get more plentiful, the choice also gets more confusing. Whichever you decide on, be sure to read the nutrition label to see how much you need to use. Twenty to 25 grams of protein is a safe amount to add, but depending on the protein source, that could mean anywhere from half a scoop to two full scoops, says Kelly Pritchett, Ph.D., R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Heres the rundown on six popular protein mix-ins.
This is considered the king of plant-based proteins and is a great option for vegans and vegetarians. Made from ground soybeans, its a complete protein and has the highest bioavailability of all the plant-based options. Look for soy isolate, rather than soy concentrate, in order to get the most protein bang for your buck.
Hemp
While it is derived from cannabis seeds, hemp wont get you high. What it will do is provide all nine essential amino acids plus Omega-3s and fiber. Hemp is not as protein-packed as other sources , but you can pair it with another plant-based option to create a more complete protein.
Do Meal Replacement Shakes Cause Side Effects
Meal Replacement shakes are, as their name suggests, replacements for your daily meals or snacks. They are an alternative form of nutrition and can be used to replace whole foods or solid food on days when you are extremely busy.
These meal replacement shakes are completely safe, and they provide essential vitamins and minerals, proteins, and other nutrients in easy-to-make shake forms.
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How We Decide The Best
Meal replacement shakes vary enormously concerning the nutrition they provide and human beings differ significantly when it comes to the nutrition they need. Athletes might want more carbs. Women might want more biotin. Men might want more Vitamin D. Some folks want a lot of calories. Others may want a nutritious snack. Here are the criteria we used when trying to select the best meal replacement for various needs.
Exante Meal Replacement Shakes
Exante offers a lineup of low-calorie meal replacement sharks and weight loss drinks. Like other shakes on this list, Exantes options are marketed as alternatives for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Theyre creamy and delicious, emphasizing flavor and texture while still offering 25% of your daily recommended vitamins and minerals per serving.
For those looking for affordable, protein-rich meal replacement shakes with fewer than 120 calories per serving, Exantes meal replacement shakes are an effective and affordable option. Although pricing isnt as rock bottom as other options on this list, Exante customers can save money with sample packs, bestsellers bundles, and regular sales throughout the year.
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Green Regimen Elite Protein
Chocoholics rejoice! Theres a way for you to consume chocolate healthfully on a diet in the form of a meal replacement powder. Green Regimens Elite Protein has plant-based ingredients mixed with natural chocolate ingredients, and it costs $52 per canister. You get 25g of organic, plant-based protein per serving, as well. This Green Regimen product is filled with a superfoods ingredient list, much like the other selections on our list.
The distinctive feature of Green Regimens Elite Protein is that there are amino acids included in the ingredients to encourage nutritive benefits during the weight loss process. Protein consumption is not the only way to be sure that your body is fully functioning. If you want to cut sugar and other unneeded fillers out of your diet, youll be satisfied to hear that the Elite Protein powder does not have any added artificial flavors, sugars, or stevia. You only taste the all-natural ingredients. Another distinctive feature of Elite Protein is its 4g of organic fiber in every serving mixed with digestive enzymes. This means that it will be easier for your body to digest what you consume and go through proper protein breakdown.
- Get your Elite Protein from Green Regimen for $52