The majority of supplements on the market come in various shapes, sizes, and choices, but the nature of the product means they are often heavily processed. This can make finding an ideal supplement to help you achieve your goals difficult for those who prioritise natural products.
This is especially true of meal replacement shakes, as they have to fit so much into the powder to be effective. However, just because they are harder to find does not mean that they don’t exist. From a raw organic meal shake to a vegan protein powder, there are options out there.
In the following article, we want to shine a light on these products, as we show you the very best unprocessed meal replacement shakes on the market, to ensure even those following the most natural diets can get incredible nutrition and hit their goals while living an on the go life.
The Best Unprocessed Meal Replacement Overall – Rootana
Rootana is a meal replacement shake made using a formula that consists of 27 vitamins and minerals and only carefully selected, clinically proven, vegan friendly ingredients (1). It also contains no artificial colours, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners.
At 400 calories, 44 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein, 16 grams of fat, and 7 grams of fibre per serving, it is perfectly balanced to provide all of the essential nutrients you need and fill you up. This means it can be a snack, replace a meal, or help you lose weight or build muscle.
The formula is based around pea protein isolate, the best plant based protein available as it has a complete amino acid profile. It is then surrounded by nutrient rich ingredients that include golden milled flaxseed, oat flour, sunflower seed oil, coconut sugar, and sunflower lecithin.
This ensures every Rootana serving is deliciously sweet and packed with complex carbs, fibre, protein, healthy Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It also won’t spike your blood sugar and offers countless mental and physical health benefits.
This includes boosting energy and recovery, fighting diseases and health issues, lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, enhancing cognitive functions, and reducing the signs of aging and the risk of heart disease.
Rootana is even reasonably priced, easy to mix and drink, and available in a choice of three flavours that includes original, cacao, and vanilla. This makes it a fabulous meal replacement shake option to help keep the vast majority of people healthy, strong, satiated, and supple.
Pros
- Made using an incredible range of proteins, healthy fat, complex carbs, fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
- Doesn’t contain any artificial colours, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners
- 400 calories per serving is enough to fill you up and replace whole meals
- Offers a wide range of both mental and physical health benefits
- Incredibly quick, easy, and convenient to mix and drink
- Provides amazing value, especially considering what it contains
Cons
- Three flavour choices is a bit more restrictive than some other meal replacement shakes
- Protein content could ideally be a little higher
The Best Unprocessed Gluten Free Meal Replacement Shake- Ka’Chava
Ka’Chava is a gluten free meal replacement shake and greens supplement in one (2). Made with a natural, vegan formula of over 85 different superfoods, it uses only scientifically proven ingredients, such as amaranth, brown rice protein, green vegetables, pea protein, quinoa, and sacha inchi.
Using countless antioxidants, digestive enzymes, fibres, adaptogens, vitamins, and minerals, it can offer an huge range of health benefits. This is all while being vegan friendly and free from artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, and sweeteners, as well as gluten, dairy, and soy.
Available in a range of 5 flavours, including chai, chocolate, coconut acai, matcha, and vanilla, there will be an option suitable for people of all tastes. This ensures that, no matter what you need or are looking for in a meal replacement shake, Ka’Chava should have you covered.
Despite all of this though, there are two glaring issues with Ka’Chava which will put a number of people off and need to be addressed. First off is the fact that it only contains 250 calories per serving, which means it won’t be able to replace entire meals on its own.
What makes this worse though is the price, which is more expensive than most other healthy meal replacement shakes. It is still a good gluten free snack capable of promoting healthy weight loss, it just isn’t a good option for people shopping on a budget.
Pros
- Made from a potent and varied vegan protein powder blend
- Contains countless antioxidants, adaptogens, digestive enzymes, fibres, vitamins, and minerals
- Can promote healthy weight loss and provide other mental and physical health benefits
- Comes in a choice of 5 different flavours
Cons
- One of the most expensive meal replacement shakes on the market
- 250 calories per serving isn’t enough to replace whole meals
The Best Unprocessed Raw Organic Meal Replacement Shake – Garden Of Life Raw Organic Shake, Meal Replacement
The Garden Of Life Raw Organic Meal Shake is made entirely from organic ingredients and raw foods (3). It features 44 superfoods, such as fruits, greens, and vegetables, 21 whole food vitamins and minerals, and 1.5 billion CFU live probiotics and enzymes.
Brown rice protein and pea protein headline an impressive range of proteins in the Garden Of Life Raw Organic Meal Shake formula. That said, with so many different protein sources being used, it is a shame the shake still only contains a fairly low 20 grams of protein per serving.
The organic fiber blend is very similar, in that it is made from a wide range of ingredients, yet there is just 2 grams of fiber in each serving. The calorie content of the Garden Of Life Raw Organic Meal Replacement Shake continues the trend, with only 130 calories in each shake. This all makes The Garden Of Life Raw Organic Meal Replacement a shake that is designed for a very specific type of person.
It won’t be able to replace whole meals, build huge muscles, or satiate you for extended periods. However, if you just want to ease your hunger to help manage weight loss between meals, while consuming only raw foods and organic products, then the Garden Of Life Raw Organic Meal Replacement Shake is a good option to try.
Pros
- All of the ingredients are raw, organic, and plant based
- Low calorie content can make it useful as a snack
Cons
- Calories are far too low for people trying to build muscle or replace whole meals
- Protein and fibre content is quite low, especially considering how many sources are used
- Price is a little high, given the obvious drawbacks of the product
The Best Unprocessed Keto Meal Replacement Shake – Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan
Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan is carefully formulated from organic, plant based ingredients. It provides essential nutrients and 19 grams of fat per serving, to offer numerous health benefits, without knocking you out of ketosis.
Its formula is fuelled by organic pea protein, quinoa, and healthy fat sources, sweetened with monk fruit extract, coconut milk powder, and cacao, which all offer other health benefits, and then supported by added digestive enzymes and probiotics, to ensure it is properly absorbed.
Admittedly, 12 grams of protein and 270 calories a serving is lower than you will find in most meal replacement shakes, but the high fat content should still keep you satiated. A choice of chocolate and vanilla flavours will also make it slightly easier to avoid cheating on your diet.
The 12 grams of carbs is also a little high for a keto meal replacement shake. 5 grams of them coming from fibre makes it acceptable, but you will still need to be very careful when planning the rest of your diet if you want to avoid getting knocked out of ketosis (4).
There is, however, one major issue with the Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan shake, and that is the price. Costing more than most meal replacement shakes means it is only suitable for those specifically seeking an organic, vegan, keto friendly shake, as everyone else will be able to find far more economic options.
Pros
- High fat and low carb content makes it an ideal meal replacement for people on a keto diet
- All of the ingredients are organic and plant based
Cons
- Very expensive
- Only comes in two flavours choices
- Doesn’t contain enough calories to completely replace full meals
- Its carb content is bit higher than optimal for a keto meal replacement shake
Final Thoughts On The Best Unprocessed Meal Replacement Shakes
Finding unprocessed meal replacement shakes may be challenging, but there are plenty of great options out there, provided you know where to look. That said, Rootana still manages to stand head and shoulders above the rest and is easily the best option for most people.
It can provide incredible nutrition for people living an on the go life, while its pleasant flavour and satiating ingredients make it an enjoyable way to keep hunger at bay. Its price even makes it an extremely affordable and economical addition to your diet.
If, for whatever reason, you don’t feel Rootana is the option for you, one of the other meal replacement shakes we have looked at almost certainly will be. For everyone else though, we highly recommend giving Rootana a try.
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