When it comes to eating right, the one thing most people fail to do is get a large variety of food and nutrients that the body really needs. Some people will diet, but eat only one or two kinds of either a fruit or vegetable – most often the only kind they actually enjoy eating. The problem with dieting and only eating one or two different types of healthy food is that the body is not getting what it needs to survive. Sure, it’s great to cut out the soda and chips and start eating apples and carrots. Perhaps grapes and brocoli is what you fancy? The problem is that people just aren’t getting enough of what they need. If you plan on dieting or simply want to lose a little weight, a healthy meal replacement is essential.
Meal Replacement Diets
A great meal replacement diet will ensure that your body is getting everything it needs on a day to day basis. A meal replacement is great not only for weight loss as it cuts out any unwanted extra fat and calories and sticks to only what the body needs, but it is great for the people on the go. A lot of people are too busy to take the time to cook a large variety of healthy meals a
There are a variety of options when it comes to meal replacements, and they can all prove to be very effective; it simply depends on the kind and form that works for you. No time to prepare meals, even mix a drink in the morning? No matter what your lifestyle or what you have access to on a daily basis, there is a meal replacement option that will suit your needs.
Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss
When it comes down to it, a nutrient rich meal replacement shake is often the ideal route for people to take. They have a lot of what the body needs and come in a variety of flavors. Meal replacement shakes are most commonly found in vanilla or chocolate, but personally I prefer the vanilla. Another great feature about the shakes are that they are usually re-sealable if you feel you don’t need a whole meal and only a little boost of nutrients either, especially in the morning.
I have tried a few different brands, but the product that I have used for a while now is called Boost. In my opinion, Boost is one of the best meal replacement drinks on the market today. The brand named speaks for itself in the context in which I use it. I don’t usually drink one everyday or skip many meals with them; however sometimes I don’t get a lot of time in the morning to make a big breakfast so instead I drink a Boost.
Best Meal Replacement Bars
Meal replacement bars are especially good for those busy people that just can’t find the time to cook or that can’t even get to a fridge to keep their drink cold. Bars are great because they can easily slip into a purse or pocket. For those of you that are up and out of the house in no time, meal replacement bars are great because there is zero preparation and it can be eaten in the car on the way to work.
Vector Meal Replacement Energy Bars are a great choice when it comes to picking a good meal replacement bar. They come in a wide variety of flavors, including chocolate! They all have ingredients that your body needs such as rolled oats, sugars, soy ingredients, fruit pieces and so much more! There is a great balance of energy from calories and carbohydrates with the healthy ingredients found within.
Best Meal Replacement Protein
Taking protein is not essentially a meal replacement, as it is a beneficial supplement to any meal. Experts will always tell you to take protein immediately after a workout – which is definitely a good idea; however for those that are simply doing cardio exercises or that don’t have a lot of time to work out, there is another option. Take your protein in the morning when you wake up. Breakfast is important, but a lot of people are not getting enough protein to start their day. The protein will help increase memory and brain function for your day’s tasks.
Adding a bit of whey protein powder to a drink (thick blended drinks such as smoothies are often the drink of choice when adding protein as they are thick enough to mask the taste and it is quite easy to add protein to something that is blended together) can be a great way to get a little boost of energy and have you feeling fuller longer. The added protein will keep your muscles going just a bit longer making it that much easier to make it to your next meal without any unwanted snacking. For those of you taking great meal replacement shakes in the mornings, if there’s time, adding a little protein to a fruit smoothie will leave you feeling fantastic for the rest of the day.
When it comes to choosing which protein will best suit your needs, it does not matter a whole lot, especially if it is only for taking in the morning. Any whey protein isolate such as one from MuscleTech, Rivalus or even a no name brand would work great. Simply find one that is a reasonable price and a flavor you think you’ll like (we recommend peanut butter with fruit smoothies and soft serve vanilla with white milk). Keep an eye out for ones with a lot of calories though! A trick I use for the mornings is to take half the recommended dose of protein because I am not using it to restore muscle after a workout, therefore I will only need about half as much. Lasts twice as long!
Great Meal Replacement Shake Recipes
My girlfriend loves her shakes and has one every morning for breakfast because she’s out the door quickly and never liked eating so early. This is what she uses for her shake:
1/2 cup mixed frozen berries
1 small banana
2 tbsp low-fat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup of skim milk
1/2 scoop whey protein
Simple and tasty. You can easily add a small amount of frozen vegetables, and a couple ice cubes if you’d like.
My meal replacement shakes were usually made up of the follow:
1/2 cup frozen spinach
1 small banana
2 tbsp of peanut butter
3-4 large ice cubes.
1 scoop whey protein (peanut butter flavored)
Dash of cinnamon
This shake was great for breakfast or lunch. I found I could add as much as a cup of frozen spinach without even tasting it. If you love bananas and peanut butter together, you’ll die for this shake. Also, a little cinnamon is great as an anti-oxidant.
There are many great meal replacement products out there and if you are looking to either lose weight or trying to eat better due to lack of preparation time, there is no doubt a product for you. Two key pointers would be to first double check with your physician to see if there is ample nutrients in the product you are wanting to use to replace an entire meal. Secondly, choose one that you like and tastes good; if you struggle to get it down, you will never end up drinking it and might not even bother eating anything at all. Never eat nothing, it is far to unsafe. Enjoy the meals!
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