Protein Shake replacing a meal?

[Mr VW]

Can drinking a protein shake count as a meal? I am just curious cuz when I drink them with my meals they really fill me up like a lot. I almost cant finish em. So it made me curious. Thanks in advance.

[Jackal]

Sure they can. Most people around here use them as post/pre workout meals.

[Kano5]

I find that if I take protein with skimmed milk then that really fills me up but if I drink it with water its not too bad and I dont feel that bloated/full up.

[Fitness4U]

Originally Posted by Mr VW

Can drinking a protein shake count as a meal? I am just curious cuz when I drink them with my meals they really fill me up like a lot. I almost cant finish em. So it made me curious. Thanks in advance.

Not just protein! A MRP (Meal Replacement Protein), usually consist of 40g of Protein and 24 of Carbs, This you can replace a meal with, but not just protein powder.

[Herrmann22]

Keep in mind, protein powders are supplements and there is good reason for this. Real foods which are high in protein are best but in a pinch you can use a protein powder to supplement your protein intake. For instance, I might gulp down a protein smoothy later in the evening to prevent me from eating that junk food I crave. But be careful and use common sense when it comes to protein powders and even protein bars for they are supplements to your diet, not a way of life for every meal.

I don't know if I would label them a meal replacement though. Nothing can replace and live up to the quality of true protein which comes from real food.

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[Fitness4U]

You got that right! Best thing is to get your protein from real food and for convenience and for extra protein use the supplements.

[Lemieux]

I just make my own meal replacement shake. Like 2 scoops of whey, a 1/2 cup of oats and maybe some peanut butter. I find that the peanut butter and just the whey makes a filling replacement.

[cursor]

Actually ... whey IS "real food". Just as much as virtually any other protein source that you might buy in the store is "real food". Comparing directly against other dairy sources, how is quality whey any any less a "real food" when compared agains buttemilk, cottage cheese, cheese, etc? All of them take a raw material and process it into a convenient and tasty format.

There's no doubt that there are plenty of marketed supplements that are of lesser quality levels. However, by doing informed shopping, you can incorporate very high quality food components into your meals that do more than simply add convenient to your meal plan. Certainly the whey protein powder that I personally use is up to snuff with any protein source as far as amino acid profile is concerned. Additionally there are no nonsense additives in my whey as are frequently found in other protein powders.

Next time you are considering structuring a meal with a "real food" protein source, do yourself a favor and list everthing that your body is getting from that food. In an adjacent column, list the comparative values offered by a quality whey product. You might find yourself surprised when reviewing the differences in gram for gram of protein. Next do a cost analysis. :