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The best meal replacement shakes in 2021: from Huel to Jimmy Joy, tried and tested

Huel vs burger, in our best meal replacement shakes test.

The best meal replacement shakes in 2021: from Huel to Jimmy Joy, tried and tested
01 October 2021

With many of us working from home now, there is more of a need to fill the lunch void. You will soon get sick of the sandwich time and time again which is why we are here to find the best meal replacement shake that's right for you.

Something will always get missed out in your list of priorities, and it is often cooking a proper healthy meal. Especially if you're working to a deadline or have kids to look after.

UPDATE:Huel, which consistently tops many of the best meal replacement lists, now comes in a new Huel Hot & Savoury flavour: Mac And Cheeze. We have taste tested and it's a great meal replacement, packed with flavour. The bonus is that it is prepped in 5 minutes and completely vegan friendly. It's so good, we've added it to this list (even though it's not strictly a shake).

If you’re able to find a meal replacement that does the trick for you, then that means you can spend more time doing the other things that matter, be it hitting the gym, working your day job or making progress on your side hustle so you can fit in more of the stuff that matters. Just don't rely on them all the time – 'real' food is always better than a shake, after all.

We’ve picked out some of the best options on the market, helping you cut down on hour after hour of meal prep every week.

Upvote your favourite. And add any meal-replacers at the bottom you think deserve a fair shake.

The best meal replacement shakes

The best meal replacement shakes

1. Huel

£33 (12 bottles)
View now at Huel

Huel prides itself on being ‘nutritionally complete’, which means paying close attention to amounts of (plant-based) protein, carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals. The company makes a variety of other products, as well as its vanilla or berry flavoured ready-to-drink offering. It contains 20g of protein per serving, meaning you don’t have to worry about chowing down on a chicken leg of hard-boiling a couple of eggs to get your fix. The Huel offering has recently been updated to include a new chocolate flavour, as well as a ready-to-drink line for easy meal replacement on-the-move.

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The best meal replacement shakes

2. Huel Hot & Savoury - Mac And Cheeze

£54.99 (for three bags)
Buy now from Huel

Huel's savoury range is something of a game changer for those who don't want a creamy shake to gulp when replacing a meal. Its latest is really bloody tasty. We've been having Mac & Cheeze from its Hot & Savoury range for lunch for a while now and it really is a decent tasting meal. It's prepped in 5 (we'd leave it a little longer if you'd rather your pasta didn't have a touch of crunch) and it's packed with protein and some 26 different minerals and vitamins

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The best meal replacement shakes

3. Jimmy Joy

From £7.00
View now at Jimmy Joy

Another company that offers both pre-mixed and powdered options, Jimmy Joy is based in the Netherlands but delivers across Europe. The company has only been around for five years, but was an early mover in Europe when the whole meal replacement trend was much bigger in the US. Founder Joey van Koningsbruggen started the company in his bedroom, and within a few years had a 22-strong company selling shakes in seven flavours – including a coffee and caffeine version of Jimmy Joy’s ‘Plenny’ shake.

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4. USN Diet Fuel

£14.49
View now at Amazon

USN’s Diet Fuel uses plant-based protein to ensure that it is suitable for vegans. Each 55g serving contains just over 200 calories, 26g of protein, and vitamin B12 and iron - both credited with supporting the immune system and a ‘normal energy-yielding metabolism’. The protein powder is available in two flavours; chocolate and strawberry.

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The best meal replacement shakes

5. The Protein Works Diet Meal Replacement

£25.99
View now at Amazon

The Protein Works points to the “slow digesting carbohydrates” in its diet meal replacement product. It knows it does not just need to replace the nutrients in a traditional meal, but to keep you full afterwards. The company offers vegan and paleo protein powder for those on specific diets, as well as a range of ‘zero syrups’ (zero calories, zero carbs, zero fat and zero sugars) to add different flavours to its shakes.

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6. Purition

£18.75
View now at Amazon

One of the handful of UK-based companies in the meal replacement market, Purition sells supplements as well as meal replacements, but its original range is what you want to pay attention to. The company makes a big deal about including ‘real’ ingredients – think pumpkin seeds, strawberries and pistachios – and its powder comes in nine different flavours. There’s also an unflavoured option if chai latte or macadamia & vanilla flavours aren’t your bag.

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The best meal replacement shakes

7. YFood

£41.99
View now at Amazon

German company YFood packs a huge 33g of protein into its pre-mixed drink, which has been described as ‘a meal in a bottle’ and ‘astronaut food’. As with so many of these drinks, it’s nutritionally balanced to the point that it can actually replace the nutrients from meals as well as saving you preparation of time. Its European offering is strong, with ‘Alpine Chocolate’ among the four available flavours.

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8. Feed

From £3.50
View now at Feed

Lots of the meal replacement brands on this list are vegan free, but with Feed you get products that are not only vegan, but gluten-free, lactose-free and GM-free. Which makes them a great option if you have a number of allergies or intolerances to consider. Feed have a big range of products, from savoury meal replacement powders, including tomato and carrot and pumpkin flavours, as well as ready-to-drink meal replacement shakes, including chocolate and vanilla and much more.

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The best meal replacement shakes

9. MyProtein Whole Fuel

£18.99
View now at Amazon

As the name suggests, MyProtein is responsible for a variety of high-protein meal replacement shakes, and its WholeFuel meal replacement offers a choice of five flavours: banana, chocolate, salted Caramel, strawberry and vanilla. A single serving clocks in at 200 calories, with attention paid to all of your macros so you can fit it in to your schedule easily. One serving contains 27 different vitamins and minerals, giving you your fill of Vitamins A, B12, C, D and more.

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The best meal replacement shakes

10. Genesis Foods

From £23.30
View now at Genesis

London-based Genesis Foods boast of being the first company to sell keto-friendly meal replacements in Europe, but they have more strings to their bow beyond the ‘Ketogenesis’ product. The company even offers discounts to carers, emergency service workers and those in the armed forces, so their powder could be one to try if you fall into one of these categories. Flavours include caramel macchiato and lemon meringue, as well as some more conventional options.

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The best meal replacement shakes

11. Vega One

£46.95
View now at Amazon

Unlike some other meal replacements, Vega One contains plenty of greens. Its chocolate and vanilla flavoured powder includes broccoli, kale and spinach (among other ingredients). The company is aware you won’t always need a full meal replacement, and suggests adding it to smoothie or baking recipes when you’re not just having a glass of the stuff with water, almond milk or another go-to mixer.

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The best meal replacement shakes

12. Saturo

£29.85
View now at Amazon

Saturo claims it keeps you full for up to five hours, making it a popular choice with those who never have time for breakfast. In each shake portion there's 25g vegan protein and 26 valuable minerals & vitamins so pretty much all you need then to set you up for the day and beyond

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