Written by Chad Birt on Wed Jan 01 2025.
Family caregivers often use meal replacement shakes to supplement their loved one’s nutrition. But with so many options, it can be tough to know which drink is best for their needs.
We’ve created this round-up of the best meal replacement shakes to help you make an informed choice.
Meal replacement shakes are pre-packaged drinks with a thick, milkshake-like consistency. They are high in protein and packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
These shakes are often recommended for individuals experiencing weight loss or other chronic health problems. They provide balanced nutrition and help maintain and build muscle mass.
The drinks featured in this round-up are a selection of our “highest-rated” and “best-selling.”
This high-calorie meal replacement shake from Boost is formulated for those who need extra calories to gain weight or combat malnutrition. The vanilla flavor is a customer favorite, even for picky eaters.
Key Benefits & Features:
Highest calorie-count of Boost formulas, with 530 calories per 8 ounces
22 grams of protein per bottle to help maintain muscle mass
Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including iron and selenium
Contains no artificial sweeteners, iis gluten-free, and is safe for those with lactose intolerance
Caregiver tip: Caregivers tell us that this meal replacement shake is rather dense. Try adding a little bit of water if you’re having difficulty drinking it through a straw.
Price: $11.76 - $44.03
Carnation is a tried and true, well-loved brand when it comes to meal replacement shakes and easy-to-mix powder packets. This Breakfast Essentials shake contains 10g of high-quality protein and 240 calories per bottle, along with a wide variety of vitamins and minerals to complement your daily nutrition goals.
Key Benefits & Features:
Contains 21 essential vitamins and minerals
Each serving has 3x as much Vitamin D as a glass of milk
2x as much calcium as a serving of greek yogurt
Delicious and rich chocolate flavor
Free from artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors
Customer Review of Carnation Breakfast Essentials Complete Nutritional Drink, Milk Chocolate: "On the go breakfast drink for son. Better than energy drinks!" - Sharon T.
The Ensure Plus line is specifically formulated for individuals looking to effectively gain weight. To support muscle growth and maintenance, it contains 350 calories per serving and 75% more protein than Ensure Original. Many in our caregiving community use Ensure Plus to help counteract weight loss from medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Key Benefits & Features:
Formulated for strength and energy
Great way to help gain weight
A great tasting way to get essential vitamins and antioxidants
Gluten-free and safe for people with lactose intolerance
Not everyone likes the texture of a creamy milkshake. Consider Ensure Clear if you want to add some variety to your loved one’s liquid diet. Each ten-ounce bottle has eight grams of protein and 180 calories. The blueberry pomegranate flavor is crisp and refreshing.
Key Benefits & Features:
Suitable for people with lactose intolerance
A tasty alternative to traditional meal replacement shakes
Ideal for people on pre or post-surgical liquid diets
Customer Review of Ensure Clear Nutritional Drink: “I love this as a dietary supplement. I prefer it to regular Ensure since it’s not as heavy. The taste is great, not too sweet, but just right.” - Patricia C.
Calories Per Serving: 150
Protein Per Serving: 30g
Price: $16.07 - $60.98
The Ensure Max line of nutrition shakes has even more protein than Ensure Plus. This is an excellent meal replacement option if your loved one needs to gain weight quickly, has a poor appetite, or is recovering from an illness.
Key Benefits & Features:
Each bottle contains 30 grams of protein
Contains 100 mg of caffeine (as much as a cup of coffee)
Gluten-free with only 1 gram of sugar
Four different flavors - coffee, mixed berry, cafe mocha, and chocolate
Caregiver Tip: Make liquid meals more interesting by thinking “outside the carton.” Try adding greens, berries, or bananas for a scrumptious breakfast smoothie. Note: Adding ingredients changes the shake’s nutrient profile.
Boost High Protein Balanced Nutrition Drink is a great-tasting Oral Nutritional Supplement from Nestle for those who need to change their regular diet. Boost High Protein Nutritional Drinks are designed with complete nutrition in mind, especially when it can be hard to acquire the nutrients needed from a regular diet. As a supplemental part of a diet, this nutritional drinks are a cost-effect alternative meal choice when compared to grabbing fast food on the go (your health and your wallet will thank you!).
Key Benefits & Features:
Each 8 fl oz carton provides 20 g protein and 27 essential vitamins and minerals for everyday health and balanced nutrition.
Features Prebio1 Fiber Blend - a proprietary blend of prebiotic fibers to help promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria to support digestive health.
Boost high protein nutritional drinks offer advanced nutrition for those with increasing energy needs, malnutrition, or following a fluid restrictive diet.
Can be heated for a warm, tasty treat, or frozen for a delicious creamy dessert.
Customer Review of Boost High Protein Oral Supplement: “My Mom has been a fan of Boost for years. She drinks one every morning and sometimes even during the day if she gets hungry. Very much part of her daily routine. She especially enjoys the vanilla and strawberry flavors.” - Julie K.
Boost Breeze is similar to Ensure Clear in that it’s more like fruit juice instead of a thick, creamy shake. The wild berry flavor is sweet, refreshing, and a hit with discerning palates. It provides similar nutritional value to the other shakes featured on this list. The only real difference is its appearance and consistency.
Key Benefits & Features:
A delicious alternative to thicker meal replacement drinks
250 calories and 9 grams of protein per serving
Fat-free, cholesterol-free, and low sodium
Meal replacement shakes are ideal for people who need help maintaining or gaining weight. The shakes we carry at Carewell are formulated to build and maintain muscle mass. They come in high or low-calorie options, are packed with nutrients, and save you the hassle of cooking.
Meal replacement shakes can help supplement your loved one’s diet but aren’t a complete meal or a substitute for whole foods. We recommend partnering with a registered dietitian or nutritionist if you have questions. These professionals can help you develop a personalized meal plan that meets your loved one’s nutritional needs.
Before buying meal replacement shakes, it’s important to consider your loved one’s needs. Start by reading the product label and consider the following factors:
The number of calories and protein per serving
Whether there are potential allergens (e.g., gluten or lactose)
The amount of added sugars (this is especially important if your loved one is diabetic)
Whether it contains essential vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants
As we mentioned before, meal replacement shakes are not a complete meal and work best alongside whole foods. However, breakfast is an ideal meal to drink a shake with. Shakes are a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients like high-quality protein and carbs, so drinking one alongside your morning meal can kickstart your day by promoting energy.
Meal replacement shakes can support your loved one’s health and nutritional needs. But with so many options, making the right decision might seem daunting. After speaking with your loved one’s doctor to understand their nutritional needs, you can look for replacement shakes that meet those needs and experiment with flavors to find the one your loved one enjoys most.
Our knowledgeable Caregiving Specialists speak English and Spanish and are familiar with the meal replacement shakes we carry. They can answer your questions and help guide you in the right direction. Call (800) 696-CARE today or send an email to support@carewell.com.
Boost is a leading provider of nutritional drinks that meets the needs of any consumer. Their mission is to help people live happier, healthier lives by making it easy to get the extra protein, calories, and nutrition needed for everyday living.
See how they rank. >
Thick-It Instant Food and Beverage Thickener is a cornstarch-based powder that changes the consistency of foods and drinks. It’s a must-have if you care for someone with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). If you’re new to Thick-It Powder, you’ve probably wondered about the best ways to use it. We put together 5 creative recipes that you can try at home to create thickened liquids or foods.
Read More >Chad Birt is a freelance medical writer who resides in Astoria, Oregon. When he isn't behind a keyboard, you can find him hiking, camping, or birdwatching with his wife Ella and their two dogs, Diane and Thoreau.
