Have you been following the news lately? If so, you may have heard about the huge recall of Slim-Fast ready-to-drink products. All Slim-Fast shakes are being recalled due to a potential contamination with Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that may cause diarrhea and possibly nausea and/or vomiting. According to a Unilever news release, the possibility of severe adverse health effects is remote. Unilever says it issued the recall "out of an abundance of caution".
This news got me thinking about products like Slim-Fast and how meal supplements like these fit into a healthy diet. Have you used these products before? I’ve been known to use them to tide me over when I know I’ll be too rushed to sit down to a meal or when I find myself eating more calories than normal at other meals (I’m talking to you, Thanksgiving!).
Meal replacements, like Slim-Fast, supply some nutrients while still staying within my caloric budget. So is there anything wrong with using these shakes? What about the meal replacement bars? Are those ok for me?
Although it’s best to sit down and enjoy a healthy, balanced meal, it’s not always possible for people to fit it into their schedules. In situations when you cannot step away from your work or running the kids around interferes with your lunch, these meal replacements can fill up your belly while delivering more vitamins and minerals than the average drive-thru meal.
However, not all shakes and bars are created equal. Some replacements have more sugar, fat and calories than a king size candy bar! So what should you look for when you are faced with dozens of choices at the grocery store? According to Kathleen Zelman, RD, your replacement shake or bar should contain:
• 220-230 calories per serving
• 3-5 grams of fiber per serving
• 10-15 grams of protein per serving
• Less than 5 grams of fat per serving
Zelman also recommends sticking to using these meal replacements only once a day and trying to eat a variety of foods at your other meals. Because the shakes I like contain a little less than 200 calories per serving I usually also grab a piece of fruit or some easy to eat veggies (I love baby carrots!) to munch on.
Have you tried any of these shakes or bars? What do you grab to eat when you can’t sit down for a full meal?
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