The Best Options for Meal Replacement for Women

Eating a healthy diet is not about strict limitations or depriving yourself of the foods you love. The best way to lose weight is to eat balanced meals made with delicious whole foods. However, there are some options for the occasional meal replacement that may be worth trying.

Think about these four questions before you write off meal replacements for women:

• Do you struggle to get the right amount of protein in your diet?
• Is it hard to keep yourself fueled with clean foods throughout the day?
• Are you constantly on-the-go without healthy options for snacks or meals?
• Do your healthy eating goals clash with picky eaters in your home?

As you can see, there are many legitimate reasons to try a meal replacement for women.

Learn the ways that meal replacement for women can help you reach your fitness goals and how to integrate the perfect one into your lifestyle.

How a Meal Replacement for Women Works

Meal replacements used to be a way for fitness fiends who needed to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients in their diets. But now, meal replacements have become a convenient and usually cost-effective way to ensure anyone gets the nutrients of a meal in one item.

Most people love meal replacements for their convenience and the ability to stay true to their diet while on the go.

Typically we see women using a meal replacement in substitute for breakfast or lunch.

These are busy times when we're usually getting kids at the door, heading to work, or at work which makes a meal replacement so attractive.

Another perk of meal replacements is that they feel like an addition to your diet, not a restriction.

Two of the worst parts of dieting are feeling constantly hungry and feeling like you can't eat any of your favorite foods.

Meal replacements ensure that you get the protein and essential nutrients that most women need to stay fueled throughout the day.

While they don't absolve you of eating poorly in your other meals, they do make sure that at least one of your main meals a day is perfectly healthy.

While meal replacements sound like the answer to all dieting needs, it's important to pay attention to labels and the ingredients within them.

Some commercial meal replacements are full of bad ingredients like preservatives and unnecessary sugar.

Luckily, we have several tried-and-true meal replacements ideas to spark your imagination!

Ideas for Delicious Meal Replacements

Meal replacements should be a delicious addition to your diet, not a gross protein sludge!

It's just as important to find your favorite type of meal replacement as it is to find exercises you enjoy and commit to in the gym.

Anatomy of a Meal Replacement

Before you can conquer your kitchen, you need to know the essential building blocks of a perfect meal replacement.

• Fruits and vegetables: Most of our plates should be comprised of fruits and veggies – it's no different in your meal replacements! Depending on the recipe, frozen fruits and vegetables can be extremely cost-efficient and just as nutritious.
• Protein: We recommend about 20 – 30 grams of protein per meal replacement. It keeps you full throughout the day and limits blood sugar highs and lows. Protein is also essential for building muscles.
• Healthy fats: Fat is another aspect of meal replacements that keeps you full. It also ensures that you absorb the other nutrients effectively.

Smoothies

Smoothies are one of our favorite meal replacements because they're simple to make and just delicious.

Try this banana meal replacement smoothie fueled with spinach, protein powder, berries, avocado, hemp, chia and flax seeds the needs time you need a boost.

Protein Shakes

Protein shakes are one of the most obvious and popular meal replacements. There are typically just two ingredients and no blending needed!

There are many different protein powders that you can try – we've ranked our favorites in our blog on protein powder for women.

To summarize, we recommend whey protein powders because it is a source of complete protein and seen as the most effective protein supplement.

Salads

A lot of us think of salads as just another meal (or as rabbit food), but they can be a great form of a meal replacement too.

The perfect meal replacement salad has a full serving of vegetables, fruit added in, healthy fats like avocado, and a source of protein like chicken or egg.

Think about it, your average Greek salad is not so average when you can make it with greens, tomato, chicken, shaved nuts or seeds, and avocado.

As long as you ensure there's a significant amount of protein and healthy fats, your salads can keep you full until your next meal.

Protein Bars

Do-it-yourself protein bars are easy and fun to make (a great task for kids to help with!)

Most recipes simply require mixing ingredients and refrigeration. Others require a food processor or blender to achieve the perfect crunch.

DIY protein bars allow you to monitor exactly what goes into your body.

Like protein shakes, many of the commercial protein bars have countless unknown (and potentially harmful) ingredients.

Try these blueberry bliss bars that are teeming with good fats from nuts, natural sweetness from honey and protein from almond butter.

Beyond Meal Replacements

Meal replacements are a great way to keep your diet on track while you're on the go!

With so many recipes and different forms, anyone can find a meal replacement that works for them. It's just about commitment!

If you're looking to kick your fitness into higher gear altogether, try our Fit Mom 3-Day Weight Loss Jumpstart!

Thousands of moms have dropped pounds after integrating our simple principles for weight loss into their lives.

Today is the day to try it!

*Please know that weight loss results & health changes/improvements vary from individual to individual; you may not achieve similar results. Always consult with your doctor before making health decisions. This is not medical advice – simply very well-researched info on meal replacement for women.