Meal replacement diets involve replacing one or two meals a day with a liquid sustenance or food bar. They can be a short-term weight loss solution and are convenient for busy people, but may lack variety and fail to educate about nutrition. Consult a medical professional before starting.
A meal replacement diet is a common weight loss strategy in which a person replaces a meal with a special food bar, protein shake, or other form of liquid sustenance for one or two regular meals each day. Originally, meal replacement bars and shakes were used by athletes as energy boosters, but today’s meal replacement items are different from plain energy bars. They are generally intended to provide a certain amount of calories, as well as important nutrients that contribute to adequate and safe daily nutrition. Following a meal replacement diet can have advantages and disadvantages, so someone considering it should research the options available and consult a medical professional for advice.
Typically, someone who chooses to follow a meal replacement diet selects one of the many options available on the market today. The directions typically include replacing breakfast, and sometimes lunch, with a meal replacement drink or cereal bar. The dieter usually eats a regular healthy meal for dinner, which may contain around 600 or 700 calories. Following this type of plan often results in a total daily intake of 1,200 calories or less, which may be enough to promote significant weight loss in many people.
One advantage of a meal replacement diet is that it can be used for short-term weight loss. In other words, once someone has reached their weight loss goal, he or she can go back to eating regular meals. Also, meal replacement can be a convenient option for busy people. This is, in large part, because a meal replacement protein shake is relatively simple and quick to make, and a meal replacement bar is generally portable and easy to eat on the go. Portions of these foods are generally controlled in terms of calories and serving size. Therefore, a dieter often does not have to think or spend a lot of time planning their meals.
Some nutritionists acknowledge that an occasional meal replacement bar or shake can be part of a successful weight loss plan, if it contains enough nutrients. They also recognize that it may be convenient for someone on the go. However, many professionals suggest that a bar or drink should contain around 230 calories and five or fewer grams of fat. Nutrition experts also tend to recommend that these items contain three to five grams of fiber and 10 to 15 grams of protein per serving.
There are some disadvantages associated with a meal replacement diet. Like some other “quick weight loss” plans, meal replacement alone probably does little to educate people about nutrition and help them form long-term healthy eating habits. Also, such a diet often has little variety, so the selection of shake or bar flavors may be limited. Meal replacement products can also be expensive, compared to other grocery items. For all of these reasons, someone considering a meal replacement diet may choose to seek professional guidance on realistic weight loss options.
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