Meal Replacement Powder Vegetarian
3 Meal Replacement Shakes
89 Hours of Research
77 Reviews Examined
3 Experts Interviewed
Published by David Williams
As an engineer, David loves technical product comparison and analyzing the data to assess top products.
Table of Contents
Finding healthy foods that don’t take too much time to prepare can be challenging, especially if you’re trying to stick with a vegan diet. Fortunately, meal replacement powders can make getting all the essential nutrition more accessible. And they’re not just limited to animal-based ingredients.
Vegan meal replacement powders are plant-based shakes that help you stay healthy and energized without animal products. They provide all the essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins in a convenient shake while tasting great.
With the increasing popularity, meal replacement powder vegetarian options have become more widely available, with many brands on the shelves. Deciding which one is the best without wasting too much money on trial and error is challenging. Here, we’ll review a few best vegan meal replacement powder brands worth trying.
PhenQ Meal Shake
Ingredient Quality
Taste
Price
Overall Score
Instant Knockout
Ingredient Quality
Taste
Price
Overall Score
Rootana
Ingredient Quality
Taste
Price
Overall Score
PhenQ Meal Shake- Editor's Choice
PhenQ is one of the best meal-replacement shakes making waves right now. It’s a rapid and targeted weight-loss powder that’s like nothing else you’ve tried before.
Here is why. PhenQ contains organic ingredients that pack a punch of essential nutrients to keep you full and nourished throughout the day. Unlike other meal replacement drinks, this won’t leave you feeling sluggish and heavy. It completely replaces an entire meal and still provides enough energy.
The best part is it can support your weight loss journey. It has fewer calories but still curbs your sweet tooth. Plus, PlenQ comes with delicious flavors so that you won’t get bored. They include:
- Vanilla flavor
- Chocolate Brownie
- Strawberries & Cream
Brand Overview:
PlenQ meal replacement powder is a product of WOLFSON BRANDS LIMITED. This brand is a leading health and fitness nutrition company based in the UK. It has been supplying top-notch products for more than a decade.
One of these top-quality and trusted products is the PlenQ meal replacement powder. And it’s not a claim or marketing gimmick. The shake is a product of extensive scientific research formulated to provide all nutritional needs.
But what does it contain that makes it so effective? Here’s what you’ll get in every scoop:
Highlighted Features: (Chocolate Flavor)
- 180 calories
- 3.5 grams total fat, with 1.5g being saturated fat
- 21 grams total carbohydrates
- 4 grams of dietary fiber
- 2 grams of sugars
- 16 grams of protein
- 100 mcg sodium
- 240 mcg RAE Vitamin A
- 24 mg Vitamin C
- 3.6 mg Vitamin E
- 1.5 mcg Vitamin D
- 22.5 mcg Vitamin K
- 0.75 mcg Vitamin B 12
- 0.42 mg Vitamin B6
- 0.33 mg Thiamin
- 0.42 mg Riboflavin
- 60 mcg DFE Folic Acid
- 4.8 mg NE Niacin
- 15 mcg Biotin
- 1.8 mg Pantothenic Acid
Pros
- Boosts energy
- Increase muscle mass and strength
- Helps with weight loss
- Offers a balanced daily value of proteins, fats, and micronutrients
- 100% plant-based meal replacement shake
- Replaces an entire meal
- Non-GMO
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian-friendly
Cons
- Only flavored options are available
- A bit pricey for some people
PlenQ Review:
You will need an alternative energy source if you’re going on a calorie deficit. As you can guess, PlenQ meal replacement powders offer just that. It contains 13 grams of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) coconut oil. They enhance your energy levels and suppress your appetite.
Coconut oil is rich in essential fatty acids that can promote body fat loss, especially on the waist and belly. This vegetable oil does more than just fat burning. One, it enhances metabolic functions, and two, it controls cravings for junk foods, preventing obesity.
Another great ingredient in the PlenQ is 300mg of KSM-66 Ashwagandha. This patented extract helps reduce stress, improve muscle strength, and support weight loss. It is the perfect fuel for your body during intense workouts.
Additionally, PhenQ offers digestive enzymes and probiotics. These two promote gut health throughout your digestive system.
To top it off, this meal replacement powder provides all nine essential amino acids, vitamins & minerals, and digestive enzymes. Essentially, it’s a complete meal replacement drink that can address your nutritional needs.
PlenQ Price:
A single bag of PhenQ containing seven servings costs $20.95 on a one-time purchase plan. If you opt for the subscription model, you save up to 10%.
Customer Review:
Unfortunately, the brand offers very little feedback from customers. However, we scrolled the web and some comments on third-party websites like Reddit and TrustPilot.
Most customer reviews were positive. For example, one user wrote, “I find this product has improved my digestion and overall energy levels. After using PlenQ in the mornings instead of breakfast, I feel full and energized. It doesn’t require much effort to prepare and tastes great.”
Another user on TrustPilot wrote, “This meal replacement made me lose weight without feeling too hungry. I have lost about 30 lbs in 3 months.”
The few negative comments we came across were mostly about timely communication. However, the company reached out and offered to resolve their issues immediately.
Instant Knockout Complete
Another plant-based meal replacement shake that will support your vegan lifestyle is Instant KO. It’s a quick meal shake with high protein and fiber content for accelerated weight loss. While it was initially designed for MMA fighters, it can suit anyone looking to get leaner.
Instant Knockout Complete packs the highest-quality ingredients that simultaneously reduce body fat and build muscles. And like a true plant-based diet powder, it is gluten-free, non-GMO, and soy free.
However, it has one downside. It does not offer different flavors, only available in vanilla flavor.
Brand Overview:
Instant Knockout Complete is a product of Roar Ambition. This UK-based brand has become increasingly popular for the last several years. All thanks to its well-researched, quality products that allow weight loss while providing maximum nutrition.
The company developed Instant Knockout Complete for over five years. It contains essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, providing maximum health benefits. In addition to that, it’s an excellent source of fiber and protein.
Highlighted Features:
- 14 servings per container
- 400 calories
- 0 cholesterol
- 35 grams of total carbohydrates
- 13g being dietary Fiber
- 3 grams total sugars with 0 added
- 13 grams of total fat
- 10 grams being saturated fat
- 35 grams of protein
- 690 mg sodium
Pros
- Vegan and vegetarian-friendly
- Provides high protein content that preserves muscle fiber
- Offers 26 essential vitamins and minerals
- Allows stable recovery with micronutrients
- Promotes thermogenesis
- Curbs cravings with its slow-release carbs
- Great flavor
- Elevates mood
Cons
- Does not offer different flavors
Instant Knockout Complete Review:
Instant Knockout Complete is specifically designed to provide your body with all its nutritional needs, even as you try cutting down on calories.
First, it provides 35 grams of plant-based protein from the highest quality ingredients, such as pea and soy. While these two are the primary source of protein, you also get small amounts from organic brown rice concentrate, flaxseed, and oat flour.
Soy and pea protein blends are popular in vegan protein powders. That’s because they have a comprehensive amino acid profile. Instant KO has 26 amino acids, making it a complete protein source. With this, you can expect to maintain lean muscle mass and achieve the desired body shape.
The protein shake also packs generous amounts of dietary fiber and high-quality carbs to keep you fuller for longer. The nutrients come from oat flour, which has a low glycemic index (GI), i.e., it won’t spike your blood sugar levels. These slow-release carbs also prevent cravings and stabilize energy levels, making Instant KO Complete a great meal replacement shake. (1)
Chia seeds add to the goodness of this vegan diet powder. They provide essential fatty acids, such as omega-3, crucial for optimal health. Additionally, it has calcium and manganese, which are responsible for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles.
Lastly, the different vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B, Iron, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Biotin, etc., provide immense health benefits. They boost your immunity and a wide range of metabolic activities. (2)
Instant Knockout Complete Price:
One month’s supply (2 pouches or 28 meals) costs $118.00. Two weeks’ worth of supply (1 pouch or 14 meals) cost $59.00
Customer Reviews:
Unfortunately, the brand does not have any customer reviews on its website. But there is an array of positive reviews online, which gives us a good idea of what to expect.
A few comments on Reddit and Facebook praise the product for its great taste and satisfying texture. Additionally, they like the effectiveness of Instant KO Complete in reducing cravings and suppressing appetite.
Rootana
Rootana is a new vegan meal replacement powder brand launched in 2022. Surprisingly, it’s better than most shakes on the shelves.
First, it has no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or colorings. Second, its high protein and fiber content comes from exceptionally high-quality organic ingredients. Third, the brand values transparency letting you know what you’re getting.
Additionally, Rootana has all the necessary nutrients you would expect from a plant-based meal replacement shake. For instance, it’s rich in proteins, essential vitamins & minerals, and other micronutrients. Plus, it has 20 essential amino acids, which makes it a complete nutrition source.
Most importantly, Rootana is suitable for people on a vegetarian or vegan diet who are serious about their nutrient intake. And to make it easy on your taste buds, there are two delicious flavors to choose from:
- Vanilla flavor
- Chocolate flavor
- Unsweetened
Brand Overview:
Rootana is a new brand based in the UK and founded by Robert, a health-conscious individual. It seeks to fill a gap in the vegan meal replacement powders market, offering a non-GMO and chemical-free product.
Rootana offers what most brands don’t: Ingredients transparency and quality. You know what you’re getting right from the very moment you click on their website.
Highlighted Features:
- 14 servings per pouch
- 20-21 grams of protein, depending on the flavor
- 400 calories per serving
- 13-16 grams of healthy fat
- 24 vitamins & minerals (20% RDA)
- 43-46 grams of carbohydrates
- 7.1-9.4 grams of fiber
- 280 mg calcium
- 1070 mg potassium
- 10.5 mg Iron
- No preservatives
- No artificial colors
- Non-GMO
- No artificial sweeteners
Pros
- Vegan and vegetarian friendly
- Helps balance your blood pressure
- Developed based on advanced and extensive research
- Help you lose weight
- Teste like real food
Cons
- Only available on the brand's website
- Limited flavors
Rootana Feature Review:
Rootana gets most of its 20-21 grams of plant-based protein from pea protein isolate. It’s one of the best plant proteins, making it a perfect choice for vegans and vegetarians.
Pea protein comes with a host of health benefits. For instance, it improves metabolism, helping you reduce fat, maintain a healthy weight, and experience quality sleep. It can also enhance muscle recovery after an intense workout.
The amount of carbohydrates in Rootana ranges from 43g to 46g depending on the flavor. While it may seem like a lot, they are mainly complex carbohydrates derived from top-quality oat flour. The fiber content is also high, at 7.1-9.4 grams per serving.
Additionally, most people on a vegan lifestyle often struggle to get enough healthy fats. Fortunately, Rootana delivers 13-16 grams of essential fatty acids from coconut oil and flaxseed powder.
Last but not least, the brand offers 24 essential vitamins and minerals, including Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C, and B12. It’s a complete meal replacement shake packed with all the necessary nutrition.
Rootana Price:
Rootana offers a 14-meal pouch for $49.99. The brand provides free standard delivery for all orders above $70.00.
Customer Reviews:
Unfortunately, there are no customer reviews available yet. It could be because the brand only launched recently.
Conclusion
Plant-based meal replacement shakes can be a great way to fulfill all your nutritional needs without relapsing into unhealthy eating habits. They are convenient, cost-effective, and ideal for busy people or those on a restricted diet.
However, like any other meal replacement powder, they do not replace whole, healthy diets. So, ensure you have a balanced diet and an active lifestyle. Plus, talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement.
Click to return to best meal replacement shakes.
David Williams
A diet and fitness enthusiast, David is an ex-Army Airborne Ranger and Infantry soldier with decades of fitness and wellness experience. A West Point graduate with a degree in engineering, he focuses on technical research related to fitness, nutrition, and wellness. He loves the beach, and spending time with his wife and daughters.
References
- Admin. (2021, February 8). Oat Flour: Glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL) and calories per 100g. Glycemic Index Guide.
https://glycemic-index.net/oat-flour/ - Cherney, K. (2018, August 29). Niacinamide: 10 benefits for skin, topical or supplement, side effects. Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/niacinamide
