The Best Vegan Meal Replacement Shakes of 2024

If you care for someone who’s on a liquid diet, it’s important they receive enough calories, vitamins, and nutrients to maintain a healthy weight and thrive. Often, that’s easier said than done, especially if your loved one is a picky eater and doesn’t like certain foods. Enter vegan meal replacement shakes.

About 1.62 million Americans are currently vegan, but that number is rapidly growing. One survey even found a 300% increase in vegans between 2004 and 2019. As a result of this plant-based trend, more and more food and beverage manufacturers are developing vegan and vegetarian products.

Before we look at the various plant-based meal replacement options, it’s important to know a little bit about their benefits and why so many people are switching to a vegan lifestyle.

This article includes the following information:

• Best meal replacement shakes

• Benefits of a vegan diet

• Why people eat vegan

• Takeaway comparison table

What are some of the best vegan meal replacement shakes available?

Here at Carewell, we’re proud to carry meal replacement drinks from the amazing team at Kate Farms. Kate Farms was founded by Richard Laver. He came up with the idea when his daughter, Kate, was unable to tolerate traditional tube feeding formulas. Richard and his wife developed a high-quality, vegan meal replacement drink that features organic, plant-based ingredients.

Our online store has meal replacement options for adults and children. Let’s take a closer look at 8 of our top selling Kate Farms Nutritional Shakes:

1) Kate Farms, Nutrition Shake, Vanilla 11 oz.

This vanilla, dairy-free nutrition shake is perfect for a meal or a snack. Each serving contains 330 calories and is packed with plant-based phytonutrients. With 16 grams of protein and 38 grams of carbs, this non-dairy drink offers a nice boost of energy and nutrients.

2) Kate Farms, Nutrition Shake, Chocolate 11 oz.

Not a fan of vanilla? No problem. This chocolate shake has only 16 grams of added sugar and is made entirely of plants, but it’s so delicious, you won’t realize it. Plus, it’s available in a case of 12 to make sure you always have one on hand ($4/carton).

3) Kate Farms Standard 1.4 Sole-Source Nutrition Formula, 11 oz.

This product is specially formulated for people who use feeding tubes. It contains MCT oil (at a ratio of 40:60) to facilitate fat absorption and formula tolerance. It has 455 calories, 20 grams of protein, 51 grams of carbohydrates, and 19 grams of fat to be used as a supplement or as the sole source of nutrition. The organic pea protein powder offers a complete amino acid profile.

4) Kate Farms Peptide 1.5 Sole-Source Nutrition Formula, Vanilla, 11 oz.

This nutritional formula was developed for people with poor or limited volume tolerance who need a shortened feeding schedule. It’s filled with phytonutrients, organic MCT oil, and calorically dense hydrolyzed pea protein powder. The low glycemic index promotes healthy blood sugar and it is an excellent source of vitamin D3.

5) Kate Farms Pediatric Peptide 1.5 Sole-Source Nutrition Formula, Plain

This meal replacement shake is formulated for children ages 1-13. The plant-based peptide formula contains ingredients that promote healthy digestion. In addition, the product helps prevent weight loss and encourages healthy development.

6) Kate Farms Pediatric Peptide 1.5 Sole-Source Nutrition Formula, Vanilla

Some kids are picky about how their meals and snacks taste. If your child is one of them, consider this vanilla-flavored sole-source nutrition formula. Designed for easy digestion, this formula flows smoothly for tube feeding.

7) Kate Farms Standard 1.0 Sole-Source Nutrition Formula, Chocolate, 11 oz.

This high protein and ready-to-use shake can be consumed orally or through a feeding tube. Each carton provides 325 calories, 24 vitamins and minerals, and 29 antioxidant-rich superfoods.

8) Kate Farms Nutrition Shake, Coffee, 11 oz.

Get a little caffeine kick in the morning! This coffee-flavored nutrition shake is the perfect way to start the day. Each carton contains 330 calories, 50mg of caffeine, 16 grams of protein, and 5 grams of dietary fiber.

What are the benefits of a vegan or plant-based diet?

Vegan and plant-based diets offer a variety of health benefits, including:

• Low blood pressure

• A healthy heart

• Reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes

• Easier weight management

• Increased lifespan

• Low cholesterol

• Improved brain function

For children or adults who require tube feeding, vegan meal replacement shakes also allow for greater nutrient uptake and a reduced risk of losing weight. That’s because they don’t contain any synthetic ingredients or allergens found in traditional meal replacement drinks.

Why do some people decide to eat a vegetarian or vegan diet?

There are various reasons that people choose to eat a plant-based diet, including:

Improved health. Eating a diet that consists entirely of fruits, vegetables, and legumes is an easy way to keep your body and mind healthy. This type of diet also reduces the risk of potentially serious issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Environmental concerns. There’s some evidence that factory farming contributes to the production of greenhouse gases. When you consider other factors, like water and land usage, or the fossil fuels it takes to transport livestock and power production facilities, eating more plants makes a lot of sense.

Love of animals. Some people choose to eat a vegan diet because they’re concerned about animal welfare. Over the course of the last decade, conditions at many factory farms have improved, but there’s still work to be done.

Religion. There are some religions that follow veganism or vegetarianism. These religions teach nonviolence, which in turn relates to not causing harm to living creatures or consuming their by-products.

Allergies and underlying health problems. Some people are allergic to or intolerant of red meat and other animal products. Even if your loved one isn’t allergic, certain conditions like dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or missing teeth can make chewing and eating meat difficult.

What if I still have questions about vegan meal replacement shakes?

Choosing the right meal replacement shake for your loved one isn’t always easy. If you have questions about any of the products mentioned above, reach out to our friendly Caregiving Specialists. You can contact them via phone at (855) 855-1666 or by sending an email to support@carewell.com

Vegan Meal Replacement Shakes – FAQ

1) Why do meal replacement shakes taste bad?

Some meal replacement shakes taste bad because they’re made with poor-quality ingredients. Kate Farms 100% plant-based meal replacement shakes are tasty and their consistency makes them easy to swallow. Even better? They come in various flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, and coffee.

2) What meal replacement shake tastes best?

The meal replacement shake that tastes best depends on your personal flavor preference. Kate Farms Nutritional Shakes offers several options, including traditional formula, vanilla, coffee, and chocolate.

3) What protein shake can replace a meal?

Yes. Kate Farms’ all-natural, plant-based protein shakes fit most meal replacement needs. These shakes are especially beneficial for children on a tube-fed or liquid diet.

4) What’s the difference between Nutrition Shakes, Peptides, and Standard Sole-Source formulas?

Typically, nutrition shakes are designed for oral use (drinking), and formulas are designed for enteral feeding support. Enteral feeding formulas are suitable for oral consumption (they may just have a more mild flavor or no flavor).