11 Best Dairy Free Meal Replacement Shakes
Macronutrients build your body. Maintaining your body with the top of the line and affordable meal replacement was alien ten years ago as much as elastic band training in the ’70s.
You no longer have to be a leopard pattern tight wearing strength training maverick to enjoy the benefits of dairy-free meal replacement. There are many brands to choose from. You aren’t forced into one just because of your dietary restrictions.
Today we’re going to explore the meal replacement shakes that are friendly to a dairy free diet.
Table of Contents
Top Picks for You
Top 11 Dairy-Free Meal Replacements
We have already created a list of 11 of the best vegan meal replacements to help you find the nutrition you need.
1. Ample (Editor’s Choice)
The second thing I noticed was that it kept me full until lunch. I didn’t snack in between.
You might ask what about the taste? Surely you would notice that second? The truth is, I like the flavor of every meal replacement. I’m lucky that way.
Unable to be picky, I rely on others’ reviews. The consensus is in. It tastes great.
It covers every requirement for a good shake. Intelligent protein blend, premium fats, high protein, organic and high-quality ingredients, all the way to probiotics.
Ample V is only available in a tasty berry flavor. To my taste, berry flavor is the best.
2. Garden Of Life
If wholesome ingredients are your jam, then look no further than Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Meal. It is the most digestible meal shake replacement products available.
This is a personal taste, but I like the branding of Garden of Life. It fits on my shelves like a little piece of art.
Because of its incredibly diverse blend of organic fruit, vegetables, and greens, Garden of Life boasts one of the best Vitamin B12 proportions on the market.
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin for you to feel energized.
Garden of Life meal replacement powder is available in four flavors. Chocolate, Vanilla, Vanilla Spiced Chai, and Lightly Sweet.
Lightly Sweet is a clever idea, it allows you to experiment with the taste.
3. Orgain
Organifi’s Complete Protein Meal Replacement specializes in weight loss.
What does that mean?
It means that it has the proper amount of carbohydrates to help you control your hunger. You don’t want to be fighting yourself. You shouldn’t feel tempted to snack continuously throughout the day.
Organifi achieves the seemingly impossible. Their meal replacement is also Keto friendly.
The only part you lose out on is taste. It only comes in two flavors of vanilla and chocolate. Which leaves little room for experimentation.
4. Owyn
Owyn provides meal replacement in two flavors. Their ingredient list isn’t as long as a novel, and they provide all the macro and micronutrients your body needs to thrive during the day, from grams of high protein to fiber.
What impressed me most about Owyn meal replacement shakes is their commitment to being allergen-free. Naturally, they are dairy free. Also, they are peanut, tree nut, soy, and wheat-free.
Most of the time, vanilla is one of the only flavors available.
Owyn surprises. Instead of vanilla, they provide chai flavor. Owyn also provides crowd-pleaser chocolate.
5. Ka’Chava
There is something about Ka’Chava that makes me want to travel to Peru. It has this adventurous vibe.
This might have something to do with their support of the Rainforest Trust. The love of the planet has seeped into their product design.
Super-foods are a difficult subject to write about. Every season a new fruit, nut, or seed has proclaimed the savior of mankind.
Ka’Chava has a unique approach to ensuring their product will always have the current super-food.
They included all of them.
Ka’Chava is available in the classic flavors of chocolate and vanilla.
6. Katefarms
With their subscription, Katefarms is the most affordable meal replacement I know of. Coming in just under $4 a meal.
Everyone I know considers a lunch for $10 a steal.
I appreciate the word farm a lot. Seeing the word farm on my shelves brings a beaming grin to my face.
Katefarms provide their meal replacement in three flavors. Chocolate, vanilla, and coffee.
7. Almased
One of my favorite foods growing up has been honey. Almased’s replacement shakes are the only dairy-free shake I know of that uses honey as a primary ingredient.
This shake is designed for weight loss. Because of its precise focus, it is positioned to be one of the most affordable replacement shake available.
Almased is intended to be mixed with other ingredients. It does not have an added flavor.
8. Ambronite
Ambronite is a vegan replacement shake. It stands out among competitors. It uses commonly overlooked ingredients. This is the first nutrition shake that used oat protein.
Their website is full of free nutrition articles. I appreciate when a company takes time to help their customers.
Want to make a quick buck? Ambronite has a %110 percent money-back guarantee.
Actually, you will enjoy it too much you won’t want to return it.
Ambronite meal pouches are available in chocolate, vanilla, and my personal favorite, mixed berry.
9. Powerootz
Powerootz uses a pea and peanut protein blend, this makes it better than other products. Protein blends allow for one of the plant protein to cover the weaknesses of the other.
Powerootz only suffers from their bratty branding. I don’t like how the bottles look.
I appreciate them providing a peanut butter flavor. It also comes in chocolate peanut butter and just chocolate. Or as they call it, cacao mania.
10. Complete Start
This shake is among my favorite breakfast meal replacement shakes. Dairy-free protein has never been more affordable.
If you are a veteran Amazon user, this will fit right into your lifestyle. They primarily sell on Amazon.
Complete Start also has a satisfaction guarantee. Backed with a 100% money-back policy if you aren’t happy with their product.
Their breakfast meal replacement shakes boost three extremely unique flavors. Rich mocha, super greens, and peanut butter, and banana.
11. Soylent
Soylent has always made me think about Soylent Green. Despite that, it is a high-quality dairy-free meal replacement that should be on your radar.
As the name implies, it uses soybean protein as a Macro-nutrient. Despite soy’s controversy, it is a preferred protein source for muscle building.
One of the first things you will notice is that Soylent offers its product as both ready to drink, mixable powder, or an edible food bar.
If you find that Soylent hits the spot, they have a format that fits your life like new leggings.
Soylent provides its powder bags in vanilla and chocolate.
Their premixed drinks are available in a wide range of flavors. Strawberry, mint chocolate, vanilla, cacao, and a house blend called original flavor.
What makes a good meal replacement shake?
Nutrition is a complicated subject. Mammalian metabolism is the most complicated thing we know about, second only to the human brain.
With that in mind, you have to be a life long learner.
High-quality ingredients are necessary for the best vegan nutrition.
In order to make meal replacement shake, a complete macro-nutrient profile is needed. Macronutrients are broadly divided into three parts.
- Protein
- Fats
- Carbohydrates
You might already be familiar with protein because of protein shakes. Meal replacement adds to that formula with plant-based fats and carbohydrates.
Vitamins, micronutrients, are invited to the party as well. Higher quality shakes have precise formulas that provide vitamins.
Probiotics, the same bacteria friends that make yogurt a refrigerator staple, are present in the best dairy-free meal replacement shakes.
High in protein
The meals you eat should provide protein. Wouldn’t be much of a meal without it.
Protein contains the amino acids that you need to build your body. Protein is isolated from the other macronutrients for the exact balance between them to be perfected.
Keto diets highlight the balance between protein and carbs. They maximize protein intake while limiting or completely removing carbohydrate intake.
Healthy Fats
Man doesn’t live on protein alone. Otherwise, I would recommend just getting a protein shake.
Meal replacements also provide fats. One of the common sources is coconut oil.
Fats are often vilified, but not all fats are created equal. Highly-processed fats should be avoided. High-quality ingredients provide the healthy fats you need for heart health.
The best meal replacement shakes do that for you.
Carbohydrates
There are three primary types of carbs.
- Sugar
- Starch
- Fiber
Fiber is interesting for two reasons. First, a vast proportion of Americans are not eating enough fiber.
Second, fiber is a necessary carbohydrate for feeling full. If a meal shake doesn’t satisfy, whether a dairy-free meal replacement one or not, is more likely to binge eat.
Probiotic
Yogurt is an integral part of my diet. The friendly bacteria help make the meal replacement shakes that I enjoy. And best of all, it is dairy free.
Probiotics are live bacteria that live in your digestive system. While most bacteria cause problems, these little guys are here to help.
They do their best labor where they are. They help with your digestion.
Your microscopic friends are included in high-quality replacement shakes.
Micronutrients
Vegan calcium without a chalky aftertaste. Yes. This is possible.
Calcium supplements use calcium citrate as the primary source for the vitamin. However, calcium citrate is extremely chalky.
Vegan meal replacement shakes provide this essential micro-nutrient while being a pleasure to eat.
Of course, calcium isn’t the only micro-nutrient that a meal replacement shake provides. They are developed to have the complete gambit of vitamins your body needs.
To maintain every system in your body at peak efficiency, you need micronutrients. They may also aid your body in fighting disease. The right meal replacement shakes get you covered in this.
How do meal replacement shakes compare?
There are many meal replacement shakes to choose from. How can you choose one that is good for you?
Protein Choice and Blend
Every meal replacement shake has its own choice of protein and blending between proteins.
The three most popular proteins that are dairy free are soy, pea, and rice. Of these, pea and rice are considered the best. This is especially true when they are blended.
Using a protein blend can cover the weaknesses of one protein with the strengths of the other. And vice versa.
Vegan protein has many other sources, including oat, peanut, and quinoa. The best meal replacement shake options to drink are the ones where the source of the protein is organic and grass-fed, per the same amount of grams.
Balanced Fiber
Fiber is a key ingredient in making you feel full. When a meal replacement shake lacks the necessary amount of fiber, your meal will feel more like a snack. This encourages constant binge eating.
Most people in first world countries are not eating the proper amount of fiber. Your meal replacements shakes should not leave you in this rut.
Sweet Sweet Taste
Eating should be enjoyable.
It is hard enough to form good eating habits. The hurdle of taste is one of the biggest we face.
Junk food is scientifically addicting. These products are the perfect balance of fats, protein, sugars, and carbs that cause our tongues to demand more.
People who are concerned with nutrition are aware of this. Food scientists on the other side work to create addictive taste. This time your tongue will work for you and point to wholesome foods.
I enjoy imagining that food scientists on both sides are locked in an eternal battle. Not realistic, but fun to think about.
Dairy-free meal replacement shakes come in different flavors. Some brands have more variety than others, allowing you to zero in on the exact taste you want to wake you up every morning.
Despite flavor being a matter of taste, some dairy-free meal replacement shakes have an objectively bad texture. Before you add one to your meal plan, I may be able to help you avoid chalky, gritty, and bland shakes.
Natural and ethical ingredients
People the world over are concerned with natural, vegan, and organic ingredients. Dairy-free meal replacement shakes are proud of there traceable ingredients. So you can be too.
All protein powder shake drink is processed, but select powders can be organic.
Since we are talking about meal shake replacements its not all about the protein powder. Every ingredient that makes a dairy-free meal replacement is chosen carefully.
You can drink with confidence.
Vegan Nutrition
Whether you are avoiding dairy products as a life choice or to save your stomach, plant-based protein provide excellent nutrition.
Pea protein is a complete protein. This means that it provides the amino acids your body cannot produce.
Everything that Whey (Milk-based) protein provides you can get from plant protein.
Should you be using meal replacement shakes?
Nutritional scientists are working hard to provide you with a healthy meal replacement. I am happy using meal replacements because I can maintain a healthy lifestyle while saving time to do the things I love.
Take advantage of professionals with lifetimes of experience. They have created shakes that you can get for less than a value meal at a fast-food joint.
On the go nutrition
Often we don’t have the time to prepare food. And no one wants to leave the house hungry.
Lots of the meal replacement shake companies are attentive to this issue. Some provide premixed drinks. There will never be a faster breakfast.
A traditional protein shake will often be filled with high protein and low fiber made from lousy quality non-organic ingredients, and most importantly, non-dairy-free.
Ample V has an interesting mix on the go system. I don’t have to neglect my almond milk addiction.
Even if replacement meal shakes are not part of your diet plan, they provide the option to eat on the go.
Weight loss
Calorie counting is hard. It can be daunting for anyone who is trying to be more observant of their eating habits. Since the best dairy-free meal replacement shakes already have their calories counted, you can ease into a balanced diet without learning calculus.
However, you might be a seasoned veteran. Replacement meals shakes are an opportunity to fine-tune your eating habits. You don’t have to sacrifice vegan or organic ingredients either. Nor your intake of the right grams ratio of protein and fiber.
Like-minded nutrition, scientists have been hard at work to solve those problems for you.
F.A.Q.
Is there a Dairy Free ensure?
Sure thing! All of the meal replacements in this list are not only rich in fiber, the right amount of grams of protein, but also will make you enjoy a
Because we can’t stand for products we don’t produce, you need also to check for a dairy ensure in every shake.
Is there a dairy free Slim Fast?
The options in this list are all dairy free alternatives to Slim Fast.
They in fact have a similar amount of fiber, grams of protein, and you will find a similar taste based on the one you choose.
Is there a dairy free protein drink?
Our favorite dairy free protein drink is Ample because of its balance between grams of protein, fiber, and quality of the ingredients.
You can find several other options with similar amount grams of protein, if not higher, in this list. There is ultimately not one single best protein drink. You need to find the one that make the best choice for your need.
Also, there are not just the grams of protein to take into account. Also, the amount of calories and grams of sugar, grams of fiber, as well as other elements are greatly important.
What meal replacement shakes are lactose free?
There are many options that we listed in this article. My personal favorite is Ample V, but you can find several others with also a similar amount of grams and ingredients that might better fit your taste and fitness goals.
First meal replacement you should try
My recommendation is to try Ample V first. This product fulfills all the foundational requirements that make a good vegan meal replacement. Its precise protein blend, healthy fats, and taste bring it to the top of my list.
Ample V provides the complete macro-nutrient profile, sure. It also provides many of the vitamins and probiotics that complete the nutrition profile—a complete approach to a dairy-free meal replacement drink.
Meal replacement is a complicated science, and it is still quite new. New products have likely been made in the time it took me to write this list. Protein meal shakes are an ever-expanding market. Find what works with your lifestyle. I know I have found mine.
Dairy-free meal replacement shakes are an even smaller subsection of all the shakes that do exist.
You might add bananas to yours, and I use almond milk with mine. We are all learning about ourselves. Becoming the best we can be.
So whenever you get that chalky taste in your mouth, please remember, that is the taste of progress!
- Do Meal Replacement Shakes Work? My Experience + Facts - July 22, 2020
