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Tips on Nutritional Meal Replacements

In today's active world it seems no one has time to sit down to a healthy meal. Instead, people grab snacks to give them quick energy for the rest of the day. More and more people rely on energy bars and drinks for a nutritional meal replacement. However, just how healthy is the meal replacement bar or drink you use to keep your food cravings under control?

  1. Replacement Bars and Drinks

    • Go into any grocery or health food store and you will find at least one aisle dedicated to meal replacement bars and drinks. Many of these products contain a high sugar count that will satisfy hunger. However, they may not provide the necessary nutrients the body needs while providing more sugar than the body should ingest. The trick is to read the ingredients list and the nutrition label. Stick with products that contain 200 to 250 calories or less and provide less than 5 grams of fat per serving. It should also provide more than 3 grams of fiber, at least 10 grams of protein and 33 percent of daily vitamins and minerals according to Medicine Net.

      Another thing to check when reading the nutrition label is how many servings the product contains. Many times the nutrient list seems to be in the correct target range. However, upon careful inspection of the nutrient label, one discovers that the product is actually two or more servings. If you eat the bar in one serving, you are getting double the amounts listed. Do not take for granted that a bar or drink is a single serving; get into the habit of reading the nutrient label completely before buying or ingesting the meal replacement bar or drink.

    Healthy Meal Replacements

    • Consider other alternatives to energy bars or drinks. Pick up a piece of fruit such as an apple, pear, peach or banana instead of the energy bar. Go to the produce section of the grocery store and look at the choices. Most stores prepare fresh fruit cups, tasty salads or finger food snack fruits. Look for these items on the produce shelves. Cut up carrots, celery or broccoli offer nutritional meal replacements with few calories and plenty of fiber.

      Try raisins for a nutritional meal replacement. Ocean Spray (see Resources below) makes Craisens in cranberry or cranberry chocolate flavor for people who want an added kick to plain raisins. These products are naturally fat free and cholesterol free and provide the same nutrition as a piece of fruit.

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