Easy Meal Replacement Shakes

You’re in a hurry. You have so many different things to do throughout your day. You may not always have time to sit down and have a proper meal. Even though this may present a problem for you, you can easily solve this issue. Enter meal replacement shakes. Whether home made or pre-packaged, they are a great way to squeeze in a meal into a busy, hectic schedule. Although they are a great, convenient way to get a meal on the go, it is easy to go overboard and put the wrong ingredients in a shake and make it less than healthy for you. By the end of this article, you will understand what a meal replacement shake contains, as well as how to make some of your own.

A meal replacement shake, or MRP (meal replacement powder) as they are commonly called, is composed of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The protein in the shake (usually) comes from whey protein. They usually range from fifteen to forty grams of protein. It is important that you take a look at the source of protein in these shakes, making sure that the protein is coming from whey protein isolate or whey protein concentrate. These are the two highest quality protein sources, ensuring the proper repair of muscle tissue. Also, it is important to keep an eye on how much protein is in these meal replacement shakes. Forty grams for most people can be a bit too much, and if this is the case for you (if you are under two hundred pounds of solid muscle), then you can cut your shake in half and still get the benefits of the MRP and get the most of the supplement for you money.

A meal replacement shake is also comprised of some form of carbohydrates. It is important to note the source of these carbohydrates; there is a big difference between carbohydrates that come from sugars and carbohydrates that come from complex carbohydrates. Simple sugars are often displayed on the label as sucrose and fructose, whereas complex carbohydrates are coming from maltodextrin and other sources, such as rice and oats.

In addition to protein and carbohydrates, there is the fat content. It is important to discern between the saturated fats and the healthy fats. Your saturated fat content should be less than fifty percent of the total fat in the shake.

Making your own meal replacement shakes are quite easy, and can be a cost-effective way to supplement a meal on the run. There are many different ingredients that one can use to make a shake.

My personal favorite is the chunky monkey variety of meal replacement shakes. This includes milk (of your choice), two scoops of all natural peanut butter, a banana, and a scoop (or two) of chocolate whey protein powder. Put all the ingredients in a blender with a few ice cubes, hit blend for about forty five seconds to a minute, and you will have a tasty shake. If you are trying to gain weight, you can add a half cup of uncooked oatmeal to the shake, but do not go overboard, as it can wind up having a less than desirable texture.

Another great option is to make a morning smoothie. Many people opt for frozen fruit instead of fresh fruit with this recipe. My suggestion with this is that you take your blender carafe (the cup you put the ingredients in) and put your frozen fruit in the carafe and place the carafe in the refrigerator the night before. Go to bed, and when you wake up in the morning, your fruit will be softer and at a more desirable consistency.   After you have taken your carafe out of the refrigerator, you can add your milk and vanilla protein powder. Blend your mixture for forty five seconds to a minute, and you now have a quick and easy breakfast that you can take with you, or enjoy on the spot.