We Asked Dietitians to Share the Best Meal Replacement Shakes for Weight Loss and Here Are Their Picks

Huel Black Edition comes in four stevia-sweetened flavors: chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and strawberry banana. Huel shakes aren’t third-party tested because they are ready-to-drink food products, not supplements. While these premade shakes are more expensive per serving than comparable plant-based powders, they're also more convenient. Our research found that many customers like the taste of Huel, but some say the consistency is grainy.

Each shake contains 4 g of fiber per serving from chicory root. The protein comes from grass-fed milk protein isolate, and the shakes are sweetened with stevia and monk fruit. They're available in vanilla, coffee, chocolate truffle, and cacao plus greens flavors.

They're also Non-GMO Project verified. At $4 per bottle, they're more expensive than many other meal replacements, but these shakes are convenient and highly rated for taste. "They are the best-tasting proteins I've found on the market," says Davis. However, because this shake has only 140 calories, it is best used as a snack or part of a meal, rather than a full meal replacement.

Berger adds, "It's formulated to help manage appetite and provide sustained energy, making it easier to stick to your weight loss goals without feeling deprived." A serving contains 20 g of protein from pea protein. But because of its low calorie count (150 calories), this shake should be considered a nutritious snack or part of a meal, rather than a full meal replacement. It's certified organic and sweetened with stevia leaf extract, which some customers say leaves a bitter aftertaste.

Most meal replacements are fairly low in fat, but they may not be the best fit for people on lower-carb, higher-fat diets like keto. This meal replacement, however, is high in fat, protein, and fiber while keeping added sugars low. This makes it an ideal meal replacement for anyone following keto or other low-carb, high-fat eating patterns.

It provides 27 g of protein from whey protein concentrate, grass-fed collagen, and egg whites, and it's sweetened with monk fruit and stevia leaf. It also contains digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics to support digestion. With 400 calories per serving, it's filling enough to replace a complete meal like breakfast or lunch.

Our research found that many people like the taste of these meal replacement powders but say they can be clumpy and chalky. Hlth Code costs about $4 per serving, which is pricier than most other powdered meal replacements. Because they're made with whey, collagen, and egg whites, they're also not vegan, although Hlth Code now offers a plant-based version.

Meal replacements can be expensive, but Soylent Complete Meal Powder is a nutritionally complete meal replacement powder that starts at about $1.71 per serving, making it affordable for those on a budget. Although the powder isn't quite as convenient as ready-to-drink options, our research shows that it's well received by most customers and mixes easily.

It's made with soy protein isolate and provides 20 g of protein per serving and 6 g of fiber. At 400 calories per serving, it's a true meal replacement that you can use to replace a more substantial meal, whether that’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, while still providing what you need. It's formulated precisely to provide 20 percent of the daily value (the recommended amount you should consume daily) for over 20 vitamins and minerals.

Garden of Life Raw Organic Meal features a sprouted plant-based protein blend with peas, brown rice, amaranth, and buckwheat. Sprouting makes these plant foods easier to digest. It provides 20 g of protein per serving and 7 g of fiber from tapioca, guar gum, and flax meal. In addition, each meal contains an added fruit and vegetable blend, vitamins and minerals, enzymes, and probiotics, ensuring that it is nutritionally complete. Because of its low calorie count (only 150 calories), however, it’s more of a breakfast, snack, or component of a meal, rather than a full meal replacement.

It's available in four flavors: vanilla, chocolate, lightly sweetened, and spiced chai. The shakes are sweetened with organic erythritol and stevia leaf. This product is third-party tested and certified by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). However, our research noted that many customers dislike the thick texture and strong stevia aftertaste.

The protein in this meal replacement comes from a blend of rice and pea protein, and it's sweetened with real cane sugar and monk fruit extract. MediClear-SGS is available in chocolate and vanilla. Thorne uses a combination of in-house and third-party testing to verify the purity, safety, and label accuracy of each product.

While most customers like the taste and texture of the shake, some say it has a strange taste from all of the added ingredients. It's also lower in fiber than many other meal replacements on this list, containing just 1 g per serving.

Shakes and powders aren't the only way to replace a meal. Meal replacement bars are a great on-the-go option to stash in your purse, gym bag, or pocket. ProBar Meal Bars provide 8 g to 11 g of protein per serving from nuts and seeds and 3 g of fiber. They're also non-GMO, made with whole foods like oats and seeds, and sweetened with brown rice syrup and dates. They’re our favorite meal replacement bar.

Meal replacement bars usually contain highly processed ingredients, artificial sweeteners, and flavors, so ProBar's recipes are a significant step up. ProBar Meal Bars are available in a dozen flavors, including s'mores and peanut butter. ProBar Meal Bars are a food product, so they are not third-party tested.