11. Soylent Meal Replacement Shakes
Soylent’s vegan- and kosher-friendly meal replacement shakes are 400 calories, which makes them a convenient choice for a full-on meal when you don’t have time to pick up breakfast. One shake has 20 g protein and 3 g fiber, plus hefty doses of vitamin D, iron, magnesium, and other nutrients. Plus, they come in coffee shop-like flavors including chai, cafe latte, and cafe mocha.
What reviewers say: “Soylent is pretty good! I love chai so I was excited to try this flavor. You can definitely taste the chai and it doesn’t taste too much like a protein drink. I am excited to try the other flavors and I love that it keeps me full for several hours,” an Amazon reviewer writes.
12. Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Protein Shake
You’d be hard-pressed to find another meal replacement shake that comes as highly reviewed as Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Protein Shake. This grab-and-go drink has more than 211,000 reviews on Amazon, with an impressive 82% of them registered as 5-star ratings. The drink comes in two standard flavors—chocolate and vanilla—with no added sugars and 24 g protein. At just 140 calories a pop, one of these drinks certainly needs to be paired with an extra snack to add calories, fats, and fiber, but if you’re looking for an easy way to add protein to your diet after a workout, this is a good way to go.
What reviewers say: “I’ve tried a lot of different protein shakes. Some have a chalky taste, some are a little rough on the stomach. This one is one of the only pre-made shakes that tastes good AND is easily digested. The flavor is really good too. I prefer drinking it chilled, it tastes the best that way,” a happy Amazon customer says.
Make it a meal: Pair this shake with 6 baby carrots (24 calories), 3 tbsp hummus (75 calories), and 11 whole-wheat pita chips (about 120 calories).