Nutritionally Complete Powders

No, protein powders are not usually considered true meal replacements. This is because most protein powders only (or mainly) contain just one macronutrient: protein. To be a true meal replacement, a powder should contain all three macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat) as well as essential vitamins and minerals. For example, Huel Black Edition is a high-protein meal replacement powder that has 40g of protein per serving, but also contains all the other macronutrients and micronutrients your body needs as part of a balanced diet.

No, we would advise against using protein powder as a longer-term meal replacement. This is because most regular protein powders are not nutritionally complete, meaning they have no (or very little) carbohydrates and fats, and also will not contain all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Replacing your meals with protein powder could lead to nutritional deficiencies. That being said, some powders, such as Huel Black Edition, contain 40g of protein per serving, but are still nutritionally complete.

A meal replacement powder is a product that is mixed with water (or another liquid) and is designed to be consumed in place of a traditional solid meal. To be a ‘true’ meal replacement powder, a product should be nutritionally complete: containing all the micronutrients and macronutrients you would get from a solid meal (assuming you follow a balanced diet). 

People consume meal replacement powders for different reasons. For some, it’s simply about speed and convenience—these meals take seconds to prepare, without cooking and cleaning. For others, they help with weight loss or weight gain goals (you know exactly how many calories are in each meal). They might also be used as an alternative to traditional protein powders.

If you are consuming a nutritionally complete meal replacement powder, you may be able to replace all solid meals with shakes for a limited period of time (with the support of a nutritionist). However, they are not intended as a long-term alternative to solid food. Just consuming shakes could become monotonous, and means you miss out on the other benefits of food - such as tasting different flavours or eating with others. At Huel, we generally advise against replacing more than one or two solid meals with meal replacement powders per day.