Composition of Meals and Label Nutritional Information:
| Nutrient | Huel Powder (400kcal) | Oatmeal, banana and honey (426kcal) | Chicken Bacon Club (400kcal) | Cheeseburger (292kcal) | Omnivore home-cooked meal (471kcal) | Vegan home-cooked meal (531kcal) |
| Fat (g) | 13.0 | 7.6 | 14.5 | 12.0 | 9.7 | 4.4 |
| Saturated Fat (g) | 2.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 |
| Added sugars (g) | 0.9 | 12.2 | 3.8 | 6.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiber (g) | 7.0 | 6.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 11.3 | 15.3 |
| Protein (g) | 29 | 14.4 | 21 | 15 | 45.7 | 21.8 |
| Sodium (mg) | 330 | 140 | 880 | 642 | 216 | 388 |
| Nutrient | Huel Powder v3.0 Vanilla |
| Energy (kcal) | 400 |
| Fat (g) | 13 |
| Saturates (g) | 2.3 |
| Added sugars (g) | 0.9 |
| Fiber (g) | 7.0 |
| Protein (g) | 29 |
| Sodium (mg) | 330 |
| Nutrient | Oats (1.4oz) | Whole Milk (9floz) | Medium banana | Honey (1 tbsp) | Total |
| Energy (kcal) | 147 | 125 | 105 | 49 | 426 |
| Fat (g) | 3.1 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 7.6 |
| Saturates (g) | 0.5 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 | 3.3 |
| Added sugars (g) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.2 | 12.2 |
| Fiber (g) | 3.6 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 6.6 |
| Protein (g) | 4.3 | 9.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 14.4 |
| Sodium (mg) | 0 | 100 | 0 | 40 | 140 |
| Nutrient | Walmart |
| Energy (kcal) | 400 |
| Fat (g) | 15 |
| Saturates (g) | 4.5 |
| Added sugars (g) | 3.8 |
| Fiber (g) | 2.0 |
| Protein (g) | 21.0 |
| Sodium (mg) | 880 |
*Correct as of 02/16/21
| Nutrient | McDonald's | Burger King | Average |
| Energy (kcal) | 300 | 283 | 292 |
| Fat (g) | 13 | 13.1 | 13.1 |
| Saturates (g) | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| Added sugars (g) | 7 | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| Fiber (g) | 2 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| Protein (g) | 15 | 14.8 | 14.9 |
| Sodium (mg) | 720 | 563 | 642 |
*Correct as of 02/16/21
| Nutrient | Uncooked Chicken Breast (5.6oz) | Baked Sweet potato wedges (6.2oz) | Steamed Broccoli (2.8oz) | Lemon Juice (0.8oz - half a lemon) | Total |
| Energy (kcal) | 176 | 264 | 29 | 2 | 471 |
| Fat (g) | 2.6 | 6.8 | 0.3 | 0 | 9.7 |
| Saturates (g) | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
| Added sugars (g) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiber (g) | 0 | 9.1 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 11.3 |
| Protein (g) | 38.3 | 5.1 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 45.7 |
| Sodium (mg) | 68 | 120 | 28 | 0 | 216 |
| Nutrient | Brown rice (uncooked - 2.6oz) | Mixed chili beans (5.6oz) | Diced tomatoes (7oz) | Onion (half medium onion - 2.8oz) | Spinach (1oz) | Lemon Juice (0.8oz - half a lemon) | Total |
| Energy (kcal) | 269 | 178 | 44 | 33 | 2 | 6 | 532 |
| Fat (g) | 2.4 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.2 | 4.4 |
| Saturates (g) | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 |
| Added sugars (g) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiber (g) | 2.7 | 8.8 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 15.3 |
| Protein (g) | 5.9 | 12 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 21.8 |
| Sodium (mg) | 0 | 376 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 388 |
All values, except for Huel Powder v3.0 Vanilla, were obtained using NutriCalc® nutrition software. Huel Powder v3.0 Vanilla values were obtained from the Huel website.
| Vitamin | Huel Powder (400kcal) | Oatmeal, banana and honey (426kcal) | Chicken Bacon Club (400kcal) | Cheeseburger (292kcal) | Omnivore home-cooked meal (471kcal) | Vegan home-cooked meal (531kcal) |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 60 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 88 | 41 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Mineral | Huel Powder (400kcal) | Oatmeal, banana and honey (426kcal) | Chicken Bacon Club (400kcal) | Cheeseburger (292kcal) | Omnivore home-cooked meal (471kcal) | Vegan home-cooked meal (531kcal) |
| Iron (mg) | 8 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 5.2 |
| Calcium (mg) | 260 | 311 | 128 | 101 | 100 | 186 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 90 | 128 | 43 | 24 | 128 | 183 |
| Potassium (mg) | 700 | 931 | 499 | 196 | 2061 | 1397 |
| Nutrient | Amount per serving | Daily Value (DV) | (Amount/RDA)*100 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 60.0 | 90 | 67 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 4.0 | 20 | 20 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0.8 | 2.4 | 33 |
| Iron (mg) | 7.8 | 18 | 44 |
| Calcium (mg) | 260.0 | 1300 | 20 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 90.0 | 420 | 21 |
| Potassium (mg) | 700.0 | 4700 | 15 |
| Protein (g) | 29.0 | 50 | 58 |
| Fiber (g) | 7.0 | 28 | 25 |
| Nutrient | Oats (1.4oz) | Whole Milk (9floz) | Medium Banana | Honey (1 tbsp) | Total |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 0 | 0 | 10.27 | 0.08 | 10.4 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 |
| Iron (mg) | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 2.3 |
| Calcium (mg) | 21.6 | 283.0 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 311.4 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 70.8 | 25.0 | 31.9 | 0.3 | 128.0 |
| Potassium (mg) | 171.6 | 330.0 | 422.0 | 7.8 | 931.4 |
| Nutrient | Amount per serving | Daily Value (DV) | (Amount/RDA)*100 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 10.4 | 90 | 11 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 5 | 20 | 25 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 1.1 | 2.4 | 46 |
| Iron (mg) | 2.3 | 18 | 13 |
| Calcium (mg) | 311.4 | 1300 | 24 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 128.0 | 420 | 30 |
| Potassium (mg) | 931.4 | 4700 | 20 |
| Protein (g) | 14.4 | 50 | 29 |
| Fiber (g) | 6.6 | 28 | 24 |
| Nutrient | Deli sliced chicken breast (60g) | Bacon rashers (x2 rashers/60g) | White bread (78g - 2 slices) | Mayonnaise (15g) | Total |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| Iron (mg) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0 | 1.6 |
| Calcium (mg) | 6.6 | 3.0 | 118 | 0.3 | 127.9 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 15.6 | 10.2 | 16.7 | 0 | 42.5 |
| Potassium (mg) | 216.0 | 180.0 | 102.0 | 0.6 | 498.6 |
| Nutrient | Amount per serving | Daily Value (DV) | (Amount/RDA)*100 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 0 | 90 | 0 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0.2 | 20 | 1 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0.7 | 2.4 | 29 |
| Iron (mg) | 1.6 | 18 | 9 |
| Calcium (mg) | 127.9 | 1300 | 10 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 42.5 | 420 | 10 |
| Potassium (mg) | 498.6 | 4700 | 11 |
| Protein (g) | 21 | 50 | 42 |
| Fiber (g) | 2.0 | 28 | 7 |
| Nutrient | Amount per serving | Daily Value (DV) | (Amount/RDA)*100 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 0.7 | 90 | 1 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0.1 | 20 | 1 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 1.4 | 2.4 | 58 |
| Iron (mg) | 3.1 | 18 | 17 |
| Calcium (mg) | 101.0 | 1300 | 8 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 24.0 | 420 | 6 |
| Potassium (mg) | 195.6 | 4700 | 4 |
| Protein (g) | 15.0 | 50 | 30 |
| Fiber (g) | 1.5 | 28 | 5 |
| Nutrient | Uncooked Chicken Breast (5.6oz) | Baked Sweet potato wedges (6.2oz) | Steamed Broccoli (2.8oz) | Lemon Juice (0.8oz - half a lemon) | Total |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 0 | 8.8 | 71.4 | 7.9 | 88.1 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.3 |
| Iron (mg) | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0 | 2.9 |
| Calcium (mg) | 7.0 | 53.0 | 38.0 | 1.5 | 99.5 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 43.0 | 66.5 | 17.0 | 1.5 | 128.0 |
| Potassium (mg) | 552.0 | 1227.0 | 253.0 | 29.0 | 2061.0 |
| Nutrient | Amount per serving | Daily Value (DV) | (Amount/RDA)*100 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 88.1 | 90 | 98 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0.4 | 20 | 2 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0.3 | 2.4 | 13 |
| Iron (mg) | 2.9 | 18 | 16 |
| Calcium (mg) | 99.5 | 1300 | 8 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 128.0 | 420 | 30 |
| Potassium (mg) | 2061.0 | 4700 | 44 |
| Protein (g) | 45.7 | 50 | 91 |
| Fiber (g) | 11.3 | 28 | 40 |
| Nutrient | Brown rice (uncooked - 2.6oz) | Mixed chili beans (5.6oz) | Diced tomatoes (7oz) | Onion (half medium onion - 2.8oz) | Spinach (1oz) | Lemon Juice (0.8oz - half a lemon) | Total |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 0 | 0.2 | 22.0 | 2.4 | 8.7 | 7.9 | 41.2 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Iron (mg) | 1.0 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0 | 5.2 |
| Calcium (mg) | 6.8 | 96.0 | 22.0 | 24.0 | 35.7 | 1.5 | 186.0 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 87.0 | 49.6 | 20.0 | 0.64 | 24.0 | 1.5 | 182.7 |
| Potassium (mg) | 188.0 | 441.0 | 424.0 | 110.0 | 205.0 | 29.0 | 1397.0 |
| Nutrient | Amount per serving | Daily Value (DV) | (Amount/RDA)*100 |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 41.2 | 90 | 46 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 0 | 2.4 | 0 |
| Iron (mg) | 5.2 | 18 | 29 |
| Calcium (mg) | 186.0 | 1300 | 14 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 182.7 | 420 | 44 |
| Potassium (mg) | 1397.0 | 4700 | 30 |
| Protein (g) | 21.8 | 50 | 44 |
| Fiber (g) | 15.3 | 28 | 55 |
The home-cooked meals’ carbon footprint was calculated using the University of Michigan’s database of Food Impacts on the Environment for Linking to Diets (dataFIELD). dataFIELD can be found here.
| Meal | Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal |
| CO2e (g) | 608 | 600 | 1030 | 2672 | 795 | 336 |
| Food | Chicken, meat (160g)* | Sweet potato (175g) | Broccoli (80g) | Lemon Juice (22g) | Total |
| CO2e (g) | 671 | 53 | 64 | 7 | 795 |
*Assumes 25% reduction in chicken weight during cooking
| Food | Brown rice (75g) | Pinto beans (80g) | Red kidney beans (80g) | Tomatoes (200g) | Onion (80g) | Lemon Juice (22g) | Spinach (30g) | Total |
| CO2e (g) | 155 | 25 | 25 | 94 | 21 | 7 | 9 | 336 |
All prices are correct as of 02/16/21.
The price of a Huel meal is based on a 2 pouch subscription order.
The price of the other meals is calculated using the Walmart.
Where multiple ingredients are required meals were based on cooking for two people where possible.
| Meal | Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal |
| Price ($) | 1.91 | 0.62 | 2.98 | 1.00 | 1.98 | 1.49 |
| Oats (1.4oz) | Whole Milk (9floz) | Medium Banana | Honey (1 tbsp) | Total | |
| Walmart | 0.09 | 0.17 | 0.22 | 0.14 | 0.62 |
| Size of product | 42oz | 1 gallon | 1 individual banana | Average sized squeezy honey pot |
| Fast-Food Chain | Price ($) |
| McDonald's | 1.00 |
| Burger King | 1.00 |
| Average | 1.00 |
| Uncooked Chicken Breast (5.6oz) | Baked Sweet potato wedges (6.2oz) | Steamed Broccoli (2.8oz) | Lemon Juice (0.8oz - half a lemon) | Total | |
| Walmart | 1.04 | 0.46 | 0.26 | 0.22 | 1.98 |
| Size of product | 2.5lb | 1 loose potato | 1 loose floret | 1 loose lemon |
*Assumes 25% reduction in chicken weight during cooking
| Brown rice (uncooked - 2.6oz) | Mixed chili beans (5.6oz) | Diced tomatoes (7oz) | Onion (half medium onion - 2.8oz) | Spinach (1oz) | Lemon Juice (0.8oz - half a lemon) | Total | |
| Walmart | 0.12 | 0.27 | 0.22 | 0.35 | 0.31 | 0.22 | 1.49 |
| Size of product | 16oz | 15oz can | 15oz can | 1 loose onion | 6oz bag | 1 loose lemon |
| Meal | Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal |
| Time (Minutes) | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 30 |
| Description | 30 seconds to measure water to fill line, scoop in 2 scoops of powder and shake | 1 minute to measure Oatmeal and milk | Based on time to chop and cook sweet potatoes in the oven. Chicken and broccoli can be prepared in the time taken for sweet potatoes to cook. | Based on time to weigh and cook brown rice. Rest of the ingredients are prepared in the time taken for rice to cook. |
| Ranking Points | Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal |
| Macronutrients | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Vitamins and Minerals | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Sustainability | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Price | 3 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Convenience | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 22 | 19 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 20 |
The higher the total score relative to the other meals the higher the ranking.
| Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal | |
| Saturates | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Sugars | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Fiber | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Protein | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Salt | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Total | 23 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 23 | 21 |
*Fat was not included because higher/lower quantities of fat do not infer much about the nutritionally quality of a food, unlike fiber or salt.
Higher fiber and protein values are given higher scores and higher saturates, sugars and salt values are given lower scores.
| Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal | |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Vitamin D (μg) | 6 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Vitamin B12 (μg) | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Iron (mg) | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Calcium (mg) | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Potassium (mg) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Total | 32 | 25 | 16 | 18 | 27 | 26 |
Higher vitamin and mineral values are given higher scores.
| Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal | |
| Ranking | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
Lower CO2e are given higher scores.
| Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal | |
| Ranking | 3 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
Cheaper prices are given higher scores.
| Huel Powder | Oatmeal, banana and honey | Chicken Bacon Club | Cheeseburger | Omnivore home-cooked meal | Vegan home-cooked meal | |
| Ranking | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
Quicker preparation times are given higher scores.