Are you looking for an on-the-go meal replacement shake that’s also vegan? It’s definitely a unique situation as most meal replacement shakes contain a milk and dairy ingredients to provide protein. Vegan meal replacement shakes rely on a variety of protein sources such as pea protein, soy protein, and brown rice protein and can can differ considerably in terms of the nutrition provided. I am a vegan dietitian and I wanted to provide you with options that are high in protein and considerable in calories to help keep you full. Because here’s the thing, you can consume a traditional vegan protein shake but if there isn’t enough fiber, fat, and overall calories, it likely will not keep you full for long.
Before we get into the 5 best vegan meal replacement shakes, I want you to know that I am a food first dietitian and I very much so encourage and recommend that my clients and patients consume a variety of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and definitely beans/legumes. However, I am also a dietitian who lives in the real world with my husband (hence the we) and I am cognizant that sometimes life happens and we need nutrition on-the-go and he is a big time consumer of these meal replacement shakes on late office nights or busy travel days.
With that being said, let’s dive into the 5 best vegan meal replacement shakes….
5. Orgain Plant-Based Organic Vegan Nutrition Shake – Vanilla Bean – Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Non-GMO – 220 calories and 16 grams of protein
What we love: Orgain has several vegan (and non-vegan) protein bars, powders, and shakes on the market but the Organic Vegan Nutritional Shake has a bit more calories and protein for sustained nutrition. It comes in a resealable tetra pack container that doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opening, making it easy to store at the office, in your gym bag, or in your pantry (although it is best served chilled). We also really enjoy that the non-gritty shake contains added fruits and vegetables to help round out the shake and make it more of a meal replacement instead of a straight protein shake.
Considerations: The newer formulation isn’t as great as the old, which is why it’s number 5 on the list but still definitely a great contender and worth checking out on Amazon.
See our complete Orgain Vegan Nutritional Shake review here.
4. Evolve Vegan Protein Shake – Classic Chocolate – 160 calories with 20 grams of plant-based protein
What we love: Evolve shakes have minimal ingredients and use pea protein as the protein source which tends to be easily digested for most people. Evolve adds 10 grams of soluble fiber to not only help keep you satisfied, but that fiber helps support a healthy gut microbiome. The overall taste is rich and clean without grit or an aftertaste and can be found on Amazon.
Considerations: The Evolve Protein Shakes are lower in calories than virtually any other plant-based protein shake out there and unless you are in full weight loss mode, you will very, very likely need to consume additional calories if using it as a meal replacement.
3. OWYN Vegan Protein Shake – Dark Chocolate – 180 calories and 20 grams of protein
What we love: OWYN has been tested extensively and is free of the top 8 allergens, making it a great choice for anyone with wheat, soy, nut, egg, soybean, milk, and peanut allergies who also follow a vegan or plant-based lifestyle. The protein source is a blend of pea protein, pumpkin seed protein, and flax to provide a well rounded taste compared to a single source protein. Find this unique vegan shake on Amazon in all 4 flavors (ps: our other favorite flavor is the cold brew coffee flavor!).
Considerations: As mentioned with the Evolve Vegan Protein Shakes, the OWYN Protein Shakes are low in overall calories and it may be a good idea to pair the meal replacement shake with fruit, a piece of toast, or a add into a smoothie with fruit and greens for more nutrition.
2. Soylent Vegan Meal Replacement Shake- Cafe Chai (with caffeine) or Cacao – 400 calories and 20 grams of vegan soy protein
What we love: Unlike some of the other meal replacement shakes, Soylent is actually calorically dense enough to sustain your energy level. The vegan shake tastes great too – the cacao tastes like chocolate milk and the cafe chai is like a cold chai with a boat load of protein that barely notice. The shakes have a considerable amount of minerals and vitamins added to help fill in nutritional gaps. You can find Soylent vegan shakes in some health food stores, but I find the best price is usually on Amazon.
Considerations: Soylent Vegan Meal Replacement Shakes are a close comparison to any of the conventional meal replacement shakes in that they contain less real food and more ingredients to create a food “project” with a “perfect” nutrition label. With soy as the main protein source, and corn fiber as the main fiber source, it may not be helpful for people with intolerances to those foods
1. Kate Farms Komplete Vanilla Meal Replacement Shake – 290 calories with 16 grams of plant-based protein
What we love: Kate Farms understands that it’s more than just the nutritional label but that the ingredients matter as well and with organic pea protein and organic rice protein, the protein source is easily digestible and high quality. Inspired to give their then 4 year old daughter high quality clean nutrition to help her thrive with cerebral palsy, Kate Farms is free of common allergens like corn, soy, dairy, and gluten and promotes anti-inflammation with the ingredients and the overall nutrition provided. Plus, Kate Farms Meal Replacement shake has won taste awards. So not only is a healthy and nutritious option, it tastes great! Check out this awesome vegan meal replacement shake on Amazon no matter what your nutrition needs are.
Considerations: This meal replacement is on the higher price point but honestly as a dietitian who is a proponent of food first, this is as close as it comes when looking at vegan meal replacement shakes and the quality of the ingredients (plus the taste) speak for themselves.
I hope you found this list of 5 of the best vegan meal replacement shakes helpful. Whether you are looking to supplement your nutrition or grab an on-the go shake, these options are completely animal free and some are allergen free as well. These are great shelf stable options where you don’t have to sacrifice your health or your time. If you have any questions or if you’re wondering about a shake, comment below and I can’t wait to hear which one(s) you find yourself gravitating towards.
Two things:
1. Soylent contains Sucralose, an artificial sweetener. So, if you’re concerned about artificial additives, that’s worth considering. It’s why I gave up drinking Soylent.
2. Although OWYN has a Meal-Replacement drink, you didn’t use it in this article, instead choosing to compare their protein drink to the other companies’ meal-replacements. Seems to me a bit like comparing apples and oranges.
I use OWYN’s meal replacement shakes and I enjoy them quite a bit. I usually pair one with an RX Bar for nice weight loss lunch.
(I don’t work for the people who produce OWYN, nor have I been given any compensation for praising the product; I just like it.)