Best Keto Meal Replacement Shake Buying Guide in 2021

There’s no denying that keto diet is one of the most effective diets when it comes to losing weight.

We can tell you that is a fact.

However, that’s just one side of the story.

While the keto diet has plenty of health benefits, most people may find it difficult to follow this restrictive diet.

Think about this.

This diet will require you to follow a very specific macro-nutrient ratio. Then what if you don’t know how to calculate your macros?

Not only that, how can you stick to the keto diet if you don’t have the time to prep and cook your meals? Or if you’re always on the go?

You can always order take-out, right? The thing is only a few restaurants really offer keto-friendly dishes.

Now, give us a few minutes. 

We may have the perfect solution to your dilemma — low-carb keto meal replacement shakes!

These products come in the form of either powders or ready-to-drink formulation, so they’re perfect to carry around.

But wait, there’s more. There are also already formulated to suit your keto macronutrient ratios, so calculating macros will no longer be a problem for you!

To know more about these products, continue reading!

Best Keto Meal Replacement Shake Summary

2021’s Review of the Best Keto Meal Replacement

Ample K Meal Replacement Shake (Editor’s Choice)

Ample K Meal comes in either a bottle or a pouch that contains the powder shake. To consume it, you just need to add water, shake the contents, and drink!

Features

It’s easy, convenient, and eco-friendly since both packaging options are recyclable and good for the environment.

The bottle option is perfect for traveling since it functions both as packaging and tumbler at the same time, while the bulk pouch packaging is an excellent option if you want to minimize your carbon footprint at home.

Nutrition content

We believe that this shake is a great option no matter what your caloric needs are. You see, this ketogenic shake comes in two variants — 400-calories and 600-calories.

Regardless of which calorie option you will choose, you can get the right keto macronutrient ratio because the 400-calorie variant contains 3 grams of net carbs, 13 grams of protein, and 34 grams of fats. On the other hand, the 600-calorie variant includes 4 grams of fats, 21 grams of protein, and 51 grams of fats.

What We Liked

• 4 flavors available—vanilla, chocolate, berry, and vanilla cinnamon
• 30-a day moneyback guarantee
• eco-friendly and BPA-free packaging
• Free of soy, gluten, and sugar alcohols
• No bitter aftertaste

What We Didn’t Like

• Expensive
• Contains nuts and eggs

Our thoughts:

We love this shake because it contains high-quality ingredients like grass-fed whey, macadamia nut oil, and coconut oil, which gives it its high-fat content.

It also has acacia fiber and root fiber responsible for its carbs content, while the pea and egg whites deliver the protein that you need.

On top of that, it contains a few greens for your fiber intake, 40 billion probiotics from 6 strains for better digestion.

Lastly, it has vitamins and minerals– 20% Calcium, 20% vitamin D, 8% Iron, and 20% Magnesium.

Zone Perfect Keto Shakes

Features

The Zone Perfect keto Shakes are ready-to-drink meal replacement shakes, so they are convenient to consume and are perfect for people on the go. But more than their convenience, the main reason why we included this is in our list is its close-to-ideal keto macronutrient ratio.

Features

The Zone Perfect keto Shakes are ready-to-drink meal replacement shakes, so they are convenient to consume and are perfect for people on the go. But more than their convenience, the main reason why we included this is in our list is its close-to-ideal keto macronutrient ratio.

Nutrition content

One serving of this shake will give you 3 grams of net carbs, 10 grams of protein, and 18 grams of fats which is equivalent to almost a 5-25-75 percent ratio of calories from each macronutrient. As a result, you’ll no longer have to spend too much time calculating your macros.

What We Liked

• No soy, gluten, or added sugars
• Small portable tetra pack packaging
• Tasty flavors
• Smooth and creamy texture

What We Didn’t Like

• Chalky Text
• Low-quality protein source

Our thoughts

This is also one of the few replacement shakes that use organic Stevia as a sweetener.

Aside from the fact that this won’t spike up your blood sugar levels, it also won’t cause any GI distress, unlike other alternative sweeteners (i.e. sugar alcohols).

Ketologie Collagen Keto Shake

Features

One of the most widely available keto shakes in the market is the Ketologie Collagen Keto Shake.

It’s also one of the most loved because it’s one of the best-tasting keto shakes in the market today. It also comes in three classic flavors that all people love—chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.

Nutrition content

In addition to its delicious flavors, it has an excellent macronutrient ratio since it has 75% protein, 20% protein, and just 2% net carbs.

What We Liked

• Affordable
• Easy to mix and drink
• Rich in flavors
• Can be mixed with water, milk, or any beverage of your choice
• Sea salt for rehydration

What We Didn’t Like

• Contains 7 grams of carbohydrates
• Has milk-derived ingredients, xanthan gum, and corn fiber

• Uses sugar alcohol (erythritol) as a flavoring

Our thoughts

The reason we pick this product is because of the high-quality ingredients like coconut oil which is a great source of healthy fats.

Moreover, the shake gets its protein from grass-fed bovine collagen, which is also beneficial for your gut, skin, and joint health.

Garden of Life Keto Meal Balanced Shake

Features

Formulated by doctors, the Garden of Life Keto Meal Balanced Shake has the right macronutrient ratio that you would need in a keto shake.

Nutrition content

According to its nutrition facts label, this shake contains 22 grams of fats, 16 grams of protein, and only 1 gram of net carbs. This accounts to 70% fat, 23% protein, and 7% carbs which is already good enough for a ketogenic diet.

What We Liked

• Certified Truly Grass-Fed, NSF certified Gluten Free, Non-GMO Project Verified
• Antibiotic- rBST-, and rBGH- free Whey protein
• No added sugars
• Contains 1.5 Billion CFU probiotics for better digestion
• Sweetened with Stevia

What We Didn’t Like

• Chalky texture
• Overpowering Stevia taste

Our thoughts

Aside from the number of macronutrients, the quality of ingredients of this shake is also quite impressive. Its fat content came from certified organic grass-fed butter, which also contains MCT oils (for instant energy source) and CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid), associated with weight loss benefits.

Ketologic Keto Meal Replacement Shake

Features

The formulation of Ketologic Keto Shake is focused on delivering the right balance of macro-nutrients that you need.

Nutrition content

It contains 9 grams of fats which makes up 70% of your macros. On the other hand, it has 7 grams of net carbs and 10 grams of protein, making up the 30% portion.

What We Liked

• 4 flavors available—vanilla, salted caramel, strawberry, and chocolate
• Free of sugar and gluten
• No artificial flavors
• Blends smoothly with all types of beverage
• 30-day moneyback guarantee

What We Didn’t Like

• Low-calorie content
• Contains corn fiber

Our thoughts

The fat source is no other than coconut oil and MCTs for an added energy source. On the other hand, the protein content comes from grass-fed when protein. With these macronutrients combined, you’ll undoubtedly feel full for longer.

But wait, there’s more.

Along with the necessary macronutrients, this shake also comes with few micronutrients that can help you maintain overall health. These include Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, along with electrolytes like Potassium, Magnesium, Chloride, and many more.

American Metabolix Keto Meal

Features

What makes the American Metabolix Keto Meal a great keto replacement option is its calorie content. The keto shake contains 225 calories, equivalent to the amount of calories you’ll get from a light snack.

Nutrition content

Moreover, this meal replacement contains the right ratio of macronutrients contains 75% calories coming from fats, 20% calories from protein, and only 5% of its calories from proteins.

What We Liked

• Affordable price
• No artificial sweeteners or flavors
• Perfect keto macronutrient ratio
• Unique flavors—choco malt, blueberry cheesecake, peanut butter cookie, apple pie and vanilla cake
• Mixes easily with water

What We Didn’t Like

• Not suitable for people allergic to eggs
• High cholesterol content

Our thoughts

This drink is one of our favourites because it has some unique flavors for the veterans in case they wanna change up their taste, and it contains a large amounts of vitamin C and E, which are two essential vitamins that our body needs.

KetoLogic Keto Meal Replacement Shake with MCT Oil

Features

Two things that would best describe the KetoLogic Keto Meal Replacement, affordable and convenient. 

The reason is that the shake blends the smoothest with any type of drinks—water or milk. Not only that, but it’s also one of the cheapest!

Nutrition content

This keto shake contains 10 grams of protein, 19 grams of fats, and only 3.5 grams of carbohydrates.

It has a caloric value of up to 250 calories. But if you think that its calories are not enough to sustain your energy, the addition of MCT oil in their formulation will surely make you second guess.

What We Liked

• Affordable price
• Smooth texture and easy-to-blend formulation
• No artificial flavors or sweeteners
• Comes in different flavors—chocolate, strawberry, salted caramel, and vanilla
• Contains MCT’s

What We Didn’t Like

• Contains milk and coconut allergens
• Uses sugar alcohols

Our thoughts

MCTs or medium-chain triglycerides will provide an instant source of energy that keto dieters can access during their workout or exercise session.

That’s not all.

The shake also contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals like Vitamins A, C, E, Vitamin B complex, Iodine, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, and many more.

Keto Science Ketogenic Meal

Features

When choosing keto meal replacement shakes, it’s crucial to ensure that you’ll get the right macronutrients for the ketogenic diet.

What makes it stand out from other keto replacement shakes is its ingredients. The meal shake uses wholesome and real foods to give your body the nutrient it needs.

Our thoughts

Yes, its fats content is quite significant, but more than that, we’re impressed by the quality of its fat sources.

The meal shake gets its fat content from avocado oil, grass-fed butter, and coconut MCTs of high quality and delivers nothing but healthy fats.

This meal shake is also loaded with vitamins and minerals that can help you maintain your overall health and aid in the different bodily functions.

What We Liked

• Packed with healthy fats
• Creamy texture and flavor
• 2 classic flavors — vanilla and chocolate
• Contains MCT for boosting energy levels
• Essential fats for promoting weight loss

What We Didn’t Like

• Insufficient calorie content
• Bad aftertaste

Our thoughts

Yes, its fats content is quite significant, but more than that, we’re impressed by the quality of its fat sources.

The meal shake gets its fat content from avocado oil, grass-fed butter, and coconut MCTs of high quality and delivers nothing but healthy fats.

This meal shake is also loaded with vitamins and minerals that can help you maintain your overall health and aid in the different bodily functions.

Left Coast Performance Keto Meal Replacement Shakes

Features

The Left Coast Mela Shake is one of the keto meal replacements that contain the lowest amount of net carbs—only 1 gram!

That’s not the only thing we liked about this low-carb ketogenic meal. This is not your usual ketogenic diet shake, as it contains enough amounts of collagen to be considered a collagen powder.

Additionally, it has high protein content so that it can function as a protein powder.

Nutrition content

It also packs a significant amount of protein (14 grams) from grass-fed collagen and 20 grams of fat from MCTs and Coconut Oil.

What We Liked

• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Contains a good amount of fiber (6 grams)
• 5 grams of MCTs for maintaining energy levels
• Mixes well with water, coffee, or milk
• Great taste

What We Didn’t Like

• Limited flavor options
• Not suitable for vegans

Our thoughts

Since this drink contains a fair amount of protein, this is a decent option if you’re looking for a post-workout meal replacement drink. 

Another great news is that it uses a patented blend of Monk Fruit, Stevia, and erythritol, which the company claim won’t spike up your blood sugar levels the way other sugar alternatives do!

Keto Shake Cheesecake Keto Replacement Shake

Features

When it comes to replacement shakes, the most popular flavors are vanilla and chocolate. The Keto Shake Cheesecake Meal Replacement takes the flavor to a whole new level with its rich and decadent cheesecake flavor.

The best news is the company uses only real cream cheese, so all the flavor you’ll get is all-natural—no artificial flavors used!

Nutrition content

The macronutrient profile of this meal replacement is perfect for the keto diet as it has only 2 grams of net carbs, 23 grams of fats and 9 grams of protein. While it only has 260 calories, 80% of it came from fats, so it can give you the energy you need.

There is more.

The shake contains only whole foods and functional ingredients that you need to thrive in the keto diet. 

What We Liked

• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Gluten-free Formular
• Sweet taste for satisfying sweet tooth cravings
• Can also be used in baking or frozen for ice cream

What We Didn’t Like

• Contains sucralose
• Bland flavor

Our thoughts

Aside from real cream cheese powder, it also has extra ingredients such as coconut oil powder for healthy fats, hydrogen collagen peptide for high-quality protein, MCT oil powder for an added energy boost, and Lipase Digestive Enzyme to help manage potential GI distress.

Overall, this shake is a healthy addition to your keto diet, and obviously no one can say no to cheese, are we right?

Ketond Ketogenic Meal Replacement Powder

Features

A single serving of Ketond Ketogenic Powder contains up to 7.5 grams of goMCT.

This is a unique MCT oils used in other meal replacements, as this patented form can optimize the body’s ketone production. This is because it’s made up of C8 and C10 MCTs, which are the most effective when converting into ketones.

Nutrition content

Same with most keto diet meal replacements, the Ketond Ketogenic Meal Shake contains 75% fat (16 grams), 20% protein (11 grams), and 5% net carbs (2 grams). However, the thing that makes it stand above the rest is its unique ingredient— the goMCT.

What We Liked

• Premium flavors available—Chocolate Fudge Brownie, French Vanilla Crème, and Strawberry Crème
• No artificial flavors, sweeteners or added sugar
• Contains Acacia Fiber which aids in gut health
• Contains MCTs

What We Didn’t Like

• Contains egg-derived products, milk, and nuts
• Requires separate shaker
• Overpowering coconut flavor

Our thoughts

The powder also contains supercharged ingredients like coconut milk powder, Macadamia Nut Oil, Whey protein isolate, and Prebiotic Acacia fiber.

These ingredients will give you the fats you need to boost your energy, the protein to recover your body muscle, and prebiotics for maintaining gut health.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Keto Replacement Shake

Choosing a keto replacement shake is not as easy as you think it will be.

There is plenty of high-quality keto shakes in the market, fortunately, we already compiled all the elements that you need to keep in mind below:

Ingredients 

As much as possible, choose a keto meal replacement drink that contains all-natural ingredients and has no sugar content.

Since you’ll be replacing your meals with these shakes, you have to make sure they can be able to fill you up or keep you feeling full for longer.

This is why most manufacturers incorporate appetite-suppressing ingredients like MCT oil and beta-hydroxybutyrates or BHB, as much as possible, opt for one with keto-friendly and high-fiber ingredients. 

Lastly, you also have to consider the flavor source or the sweetener used for the shake. Yes, you need sugar-free shakes. But in addition to that, the type of sweetener used matters too.

Your best option is to go for natural sweeteners like Stevia and avoid those that are flavored with sugar alcohols.

Caloric Value

As mentioned, your goal is to look for the shakes that can replace an entire meal’s caloric value. To satisfy your caloric needs, make sure to go with shakes that have enough calories to fill you up—around 400 to 600 calories per serving.

Of course, you have to consider your physical activity to determine how much calories you need to consume per meal.

Net Carbs

Carbohydrate is the macro-nutrient that you should monitor when on the keto diet.

The ironic thing is the carbohydrate content of most keto replacement shakes are quite high. This is because most of these shakes contain high amounts of fiber to keep you full and satiated.

The key here is to look not at the amount of carbohydrate listed but on the net carbs indicated, so you can properly evaluate how much carbs you can get from your keto shake.

Fat Content

Keep in mind that the ketogenic diet is a high-fat and low-carb diet, so you need to make sure that your keto shake contains the amount of fat you need in your diet—around 75% fat (by calories) of the shake.

In addition to the amount, you also have to think of the type of fat the shake contains. Choose only shakes that are high in good unsaturated fats.

Protein Content

You will also need a keto shake that contains a good amount of proteins. This is especially true if you’re working out. However, make sure that the protein content of your shake is limited to only around 20% of the macronutrient content of the shake because of too much protein from reaching ketosis. (1)

Macronutrient Ratio

As mentioned, you should make sure that your keto shake follows the required macronutrient ratio in the keto diet—75% fat by calories, 20% protein, and less than 5% carbs.

Taste and Texture

Aside from keeping you full, the shake must satisfy your taste buds too. If you don’t enjoy the shake’s taste and texture, it will be difficult for you to consume it.  

Frequently Asked Question

What are the keto shake ingredients to avoid?

Choosing the wrong replacement shake for keto will put you at risk of getting kicked out of ketosis.

That’s why it’s crucial that you not just look for the must-have ingredients. You must also be aware of what ingredients to avoid as well.

Here are some of them:

• Artificial ingredients
• Artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, saccharine, and many more.
• Guar Gum or Xanthan Gum as these may cause stomach upset
• Corn Fiber because it will negatively impact your gut microbiota
• Vegetable oils these will increase your risk of inflammation

What’s the potential drawback of drinking keto shakes?

One important thing you should understand about keto shakes is that they would never match the nutrient density of whole food or real meals. It won’t also compare to the feeling and taste you can get from consuming a real meal.

This is why your diet shouldn’t be made up of only keto replacement shakes.

It’s okay to drink these replacement meal shakes a few times a week, but make sure that you’ll have real whole foods most of the time.

How to determine if a shake is keto-friendly?

As mentioned, check if the shake contains must-have ingredients and doesn’t have any irritating or unhealthy ingredients for your diet.

Additionally, check to see if the fat, protein, and carbohydrate contents fit your macro-nutrient requirement.

Final Words

The main takeaway here is to consider the nutrition and calorie content when it comes to picking your keto meal shake.

Of course, there are many more factors to consider, but you have to make sure that the keto shake you buy will keep you satiated for longer and provide you with substantial energy for your daily activity.

With that in mind, after considering the convenience and benefits of all the shakes, our best choice is no other than the Ample K Replacement Drink, though it’s a bit pricey.

This is mostly because it has decent high-calorie content options (400 and 600) out of all drinks above, which is the average calorie intake for most people, active or non-active keto users.

If you want to make the most out of your keto diet, you may want to check out our best keto supplement buying guide.