Meal replacement shakes might get a bad rap but, if you're on the move a lot or don't have a passion for cooking, they can be a brilliant way of ensuring you're eating a balanced diet without spending hours in the kitchen.
Originally touted as a weight loss option before being marketed more widely as a time saving tool, meal replacement shakes have certainly come a long way since they first gained popularity.
Previously, you probably wouldn't have found a decent vegan meal replacement shake but, with the rise of dairy-free milks and impressive technology, you'll now find any number of plant powered mixable shakes that taste good and do good at the same time.
Meal replacement shakes either come in pre-mixed format or powder form. If you're buying meal replacement shakes on the basis of saving time, you'll probably want to choose a pre-mixed option.
While these take the stress out of finding the right container and mixing to the right consistency, they also mean you're stuck with one specific portion size. In contrast, if you've got a little more time on your hands or you're reaching for a meal replacement shake on a weight loss basis, you've got far more freedom with a powder-based option.
These are usually recommended to be mixed with a milk of your choice but there's nothing stopping you from mixing with water for a lower calorie option or mixing into a smoothie bowl or oat-based dish to bulk up the calories.
We've rounded up all of the best vegan meal replacement shakes.
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Bulk 1™ Complete Food Shake
Packed with protein, high in fibre and low in sugar, it’s hard to beat Bulk’s trademarked 1 Complete Food Shake if you’re looking for health and flavour at the same time. The vegan-friendly ingredients list never seems to end on this meal replacement shake - in a good way.
Each shake includes a rainbow of superfoods including sweet potato, avocado, coconut, pumpkin seeds and peas as well as added essential vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and live cultures to rack up your nutritional intake.
Buy now £19.49, Bulk
MyVegan Vegan Whole Fuel Blend
My Vegan’s Vegan Whole Fuel Blend is a nutritionally complete meal developed by experts, and a super easy way to get all the nutrients your body needs to thrive – without the need for meal prep or fancy ingredients.
Choose between Chocolate, Natural Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Vanilla or Unflavoured and expect 27 vitamins and minerals, added live cultures to support digestion, a complete (and high) source of protein as well as a delicious flavour.
Buy now £16.24, MyVegan
Yfood Vegan Drink
All of Yfood’s bottles are designed as meal replacements, which means each meal is rich in protein and fibre and contains 26 vitamins and minerals. It’s everything you need in meal form, making it perfect for grabbing on the go if you’ve got a busy day ahead.
Some meal replacement shakes - particularly vegan ones - can struggle to include enough protein but each of Yfood’s includes a huge 33 grams of protein as well as plenty of fibre. It puts virtually no strain on your metabolism, tastes great and is easy to digest. And, with 500 calories per 500 ml bottle, one drink covers around 25 per cent of your average energy needs.
Buy now £41.88, Yfood
Huel Ready-to-drink Vanilla
Huel makes some of the most popular meal replacement shakes and the brand’s Ready To Drink Vanilla might just be the most delicious of the lot. It’s nutritionally complete food, which means you get vitamins and minerals, 20g of plant-based protein, slow-release carbs and more in each bottle.
It comes in a few different flavours but vanilla is our favourite. It also contains sweeteners rather than sugar, making it a healthier option, too.
Buy now £3.50, Huel
Protein Works Vegan Diet Meal Replacement Extreme
The Protein Works’ Vegan Diet Meal Replacement Extreme comes in powder form rather than pre-mixed, making it great for mixing up into your own strength preference.
A great choice for those calorie counting, it’s a high protein, low-calorie meal replacement shake that’s boosted with green tea, L-Carnitine and MCT Powder derived from coconut. It’s also infused with the brand’s unique essential vitamin and mineral blend to ensure that, with every sip, you’re getting the protein and nutrients your body needs to support healthy weight loss.
Buy now £13.00, Protein Works
Garden of Life Raw Organic All-In-One Shake - Chocolate
Each scoop of Garden of Life’s Raw Organic All-In-One Shake comes packed with incredible nutrition that fits your on-the-go lifestyle, making it a versatile option for busy lifestyles when you still need to hit your macros.
Available in three flavours (vanilla, lightly sweetened, and chocolate), this All-in-One shake combines the goodness of multiple Garden of Life products into one complete raw shake, providing you with everything you need.
Each 36g serving scoop provides 20 grams of clean, vegan protein, derived from 13 raw sprouted ingredients, along with greens, healthy fats, 7g of organic fibre, microbiomes, enzymes and a combination of 21 vitamins and minerals.
Buy now £32.49, Garden of Life
USN Diet Fuel Vegan Meal Replacement Shake Strawberry
USN’s Diet Fuel Vegan Meal Replacement Shake is an OG meal replacement shake that’s stood the test of time over the years. With 26 grams of protein as well as a high amount of vitamins and minerals, these meal replacement shakes are vegan-friendly and support healthy weight loss while keeping your body satisfied. It also contains vitamin B12 and Iron, which help to contribute towards a normal energy-yielding metabolism.
Buy now £20.00, Holland & Barrett
MIGHTY Protein Chocolate Shake
MIGHTY’s Protein Chocolate Shake comes in a pre-mixed format, which means all of the nutritional benefits and none of the fuss of having to measure out powder and liquid each time you want to drink one. This chocolate shake is subtly sweetened by agave syrup so no artificial sweeteners or sugar - making it ideal for kids and adults alike.
It also has 40 per cent less sugar than other flavoured milks and is high in calcium and vitamin D. While these aren’t designed as full replacement shakes, they’re great for adding a boost of extra nutrients to your day.
Buy now £15.00, Amazon
Vivo Life Whole Plant Protein Meal Caramel Biscuit
With 21g plant protein, 22 essential plant-based vitamins and minerals, live cultures, turmeric and ashwagandha in each Vivo Life Whole Plant Protein Meal, you’ll start to wonder whether you should just swap meals for these shakes on a permanent basis.
This wholesome blend of plant protein, essential fats, vitamins, minerals and herbs was designed so you can stay nourished when time is short without waving goodbye to nutritionally complete meals. Add it to a smoothie bowl, your favourite oats recipe, or simply just add water.
Buy now £47.99, Amazon
Free Soul Vegan Protein Blend
Available in chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel and berry flavours, Free Soul’s vegan protein blend is a tempting, tasty choice. The award-winning formula serves 20g lean protein per 30g serving and is specially designed for women.
Pea protein isolate and white hemp protein are blended with nutrients, vitamins and minerals to aid and support hormone balance, energy and mood throughout the day.
The product is also soy-free, gluten-free and GMO-free.
Buy now £19.99, Free Soul
The Fast 800 Vegan Shake – Vanilla
Developed to give the nutrient blend that you need to keep you full and satisfied throughout the day, these vegan meal replacement shakes are nutritionally dense yet ideal for weight loss thanks to their low-calorie blend of ingredients.
Low in sugar and starchy carbs and high in protein, fibre and quality fats, each serving of The Fast 800 Vegan Shake is based on the principles of a Mediterranean-style diet. Made with entirely natural dairy-free and gluten-free ingredients, The Fast 800 vegan meal replacement shakes are designed to keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.
Buy now £22.99, The Fast 800
Verdict
The clue's in the name with Bulk's 1™ Complete Food Shake: it really is the number one complete shake you should be reaching for next time you're looking for a nutritionally complete vegan meal replacement shake.
