Meal replacement shakes are great supplements for busy people, as they help you get all the nutrients from whole foods without having to sit down and consume authentic meals. This is ideal whether you want to support muscle growth, recovery, weight loss, or stay healthy.
The only problem is making them taste nice; many meal replacement shakes will contain a variety of artificial sweeteners and artificial flavors. While this may not be an issue for many, others try to avoid artificial sweeteners or additives, often linked to several health issues.
You don’t have to avoid meal-replacement shakes, though, as several without artificial sweeteners are on the market; you need to know where to look to find them.
With that in mind, we have created a guide to the best meal replacement shakes without artificial sweeteners today. This will ensure everyone knows their options and which meal replacement shakes are the best to help them hit their goals.
The 6 Best Meal Replacement Shakes Without Artificial Sweeteners
- Rootana Complete
- Instant Knockout Complete
- Ka’Chava
- Naked Mass
- Orgain Organic Nutrition Nutritional Shake
- Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan
Rootana Complete
Rootana Complete is a vegan meal replacement shake that is made from a wide range of plant-based whole foods to deliver a potent dose of 27 different vitamins and minerals, as well as various antioxidants in every serving, while not including any artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, or preservatives.
Its macronutrient profile consists of 400 calories, 44 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein, 16 grams of fat, and 7 grams of fiber. This makes it equally ideal whether you want to replace whole meals, have it as a snack, use it to lose weight or build muscle, or stay healthy and maintain your current weight.
The primary source of its plant-based protein is pea protein isolate, widely considered the most effective vegan alternative to whey protein, as it boasts a complete amino acid profile.
It then features additional protein that is obtained from golden milled flaxseeds, oat flour, and sunflower seed oil, which, between them, also deliver high doses of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and healthy fats in the form of omega three and omega six fatty acids.
The Rootana formula also contains coconut sugar and sunflower lecithin, allowing it to have a sweet taste without artificial sweeteners. The two ingredients will also help stabilize its texture and consistency without causing spikes in blood sugar levels.
Its incredibly diverse range of ingredients means Rootana will boost your overall health while providing various additional health benefits, such as promoting a healthy metabolism and energy levels, improving your fitness, and stimulating muscle growth and recovery.
It can also prevent bloating, keep you feeling full, firm, supple, and healthy, help fight off illnesses, diseases, and other health issues, speed up recovery, reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease, slow the signs of aging, regulate your blood sugar levels, and improve cognitive functions.
Sold in a choice of original, cacao, and vanilla flavors that taste fantastic, are easy to mix, and have a delightful texture, Rootana is one of the most enjoyable meal replacement shakes on the market today.
While very few shakes can offer all this, Rootana even manages to do it while boasting an extremely affordable price tag. That is why it is easy to declare Rootana as the best meal replacement shake for people who try to avoid artificial sweeteners.
Pros
- The best meal replacement shake on the market
- Contains high doses of numerous antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals
- Features no artificial sweeteners, preservatives, flavors, or colors
- Delivers an outstanding balance of calories and macronutrients in each serving
- Provides a great variety of mental and physical health benefits
- It is swift and easy to mix and has excellent value
- It comes in three great-tasting flavors
Cons
- Only available for purchase directly from the official Rootana website
Instant Knockout Complete
Instant Knockout Complete is a meal replacement shake designed to help combat athletes like boxers and MMA fighters lose weight and burn fat before a fight while ensuring they remain healthy and can build and preserve as much lean muscle mass as possible.
Each serving boasts 35 grams of protein, comparable to or better than many traditional protein shakes. It is derived from a blend of high-quality protein sources, including pea protein powder, organic brown rice protein, and protein from chia seeds, and it features all of the essential amino acids.
Beyond its plant-based protein content, the Instant Knockout Complete meal replacement contains oat flour and golden flax seeds. Between them, these will deliver 35 grams of carbs and large doses of healthy fats, like MCTs (medium chain triglycerides), fiber, and vitamins and minerals in every serving.
This will give your body and muscles plenty of energy so you can complete long, challenging workouts and recover again quickly afterward while supporting the health and functions of your heart, brain, and body simultaneously.
Everything Instant Knockout Complete combines ingredients to deliver 400 calories in each serving. This means it can fill you up and fulfill all of the requirements of a meal replacement shake, whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or stay the same weight you already are.
Admittedly, it is not the cheapest meal replacement powder on the market. Still, its high vegan protein content combines the benefits of a protein shake and a meal replacement shake in a single supplement, which means it can still offer excellent value.
Throw in a wonderfully sweet natural vanilla flavor. Instant Knockout Complete is a meal replacement powder that is the best meal replacement shake on the market today for people looking to achieve muscle growth or weight loss without artificial sweeteners.
Pros
- Delivers 400 calories and 35 grams of protein in every serving
- Its plant-based protein powder contains all the essential amino acids
- It can help you build muscle and accelerate weight loss at the same time
- Supports you during both workouts and recovery
- Contains all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals you need to replace whole meals
- Great tasting and naturally flavored and sweetened
Cons
- It only comes in one flavor and from the official Instant Knockout website
- One of the pricier meal replacement shakes currently on the market
Ka’Chava
Ka’Chava is a gluten-free, vegan meal replacement shake that adds the effects of greens, powders, and protein shakes to traditional meal replacements. It uses only natural, plant-based ingredients, including more than 85 superfoods, all of which have been clinically proven to help improve your health.
The protein shake comes from pea protein, amaranth, brown rice, sacha inchi, and quinoa. You then have green tea and various greens, vegetables, fruits, berries, spices, antioxidants, digestive enzymes, fibers, adaptogens, and essential vitamins and minerals.
This diverse blend of ingredients means Ka’Chava can benefit your health in many ways. In addition to being one of the top gluten-free, plant-based meal replacements, it is dairy-free, soy-free, GMO-free, and free from artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Between these ingredients, the Ka’Chava formula delivers 25 grams of plant-based protein, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 7 grams of fat, 6 grams of fiber, and 250 calories in every serving. This results in a perfectly balanced nutritional content, replicating the effects of a healthy meal.
Ka’Chava meal replacement shakes are also available in many great-tasting flavors, including double milk chocolate, chai, coconut acai, matcha green tea, and vanilla. This means there will be an option to suit people of virtually any taste to help everyone supplement a healthy diet.
There are, however, a few issues with Ka’Chava that we do need to mention. These meal replacement shakes come with a reasonably high price tag and a low number of calories in every serving, so they will not fill most people up. It is unaffordable for others, neither of which are appealing qualities.
However, suppose you only seek an artificial sweetener, gluten, and soy-free snack to provide some health benefits and remove your hunger pangs before your next meal without notably boosting your calorie intake. In that case, Ka’Chava is still one of the best meal replacement shakes for you to try.
Pros
- It is a vegan meal replacement shake, greens drink, and plant-based protein powder.
- High in amino acids, antioxidants, adaptogens, digestive enzymes, fibers, vitamins, and minerals
- It can be a healthy snack, aid weight loss, or boost your mental and physical health.
- It comes in a choice of 5 different flavors, which all taste pleasant
- Artificial sweeteners and additives, gluten, soy, and dairy-free
Cons
- One of the pricier meal replacement or protein shake options on the market
- It does not contain enough calories to suppress your appetite or replace a balanced meal entirely
- Only available directly from the official Ka’Chava website
Naked Mass
Naked Mass continues a theme we have seen with other shakes on our list, as it can be used as either a protein shake or a meal replacement shake. However, this product also works as a third kind of supplement, as it can operate as a type of shake known as a mass gainer.
Mass gainers are like protein powders but focus, above all else, on helping you bulk up and build muscle by rapidly raising your calorie intake. Naked Mass achieves this by containing an incredible 1,250 calories per serving, 50 grams of protein, and 252 grams of carbs in every shake.
It also has high doses of 18 different amino acids that total 11.5 grams, further increasing its ability to support muscle growth. Admittedly, though, it is a bit low in fat and essential vitamins and minerals compared to most meal replacements and high in sugar at 54 grams, of which 35 grams are added.
Despite what it offers, the Naked Mass formula is straightforward and only uses three ingredients: organic tapioca maltodextrin, whey protein concentrate, and micellar casein protein powder.
A vegan version swaps out the whey and casein for a vegan protein blend of yellow pea protein and organic brown rice protein. It adds organic coconut sugar and organic cacao. Both versions are free from additives, GMOs, soy, gluten, artificial sweeteners, and flavors.
Naked Mass certainly will not be for everyone, as its calorie and carbohydrate content is very high. It may still be the best meal replacement shake for those who want to increase their daily calorie intake and pack on size quickly. Both versions come in chocolate, vanilla, and unflavoured choices too.
Pros
- It is an ideal meal replacement shake for boosting calorie and protein intake.
- It boasts more protein than most shakes and is packed with large doses of 18 different amino acids.
- Available in either standard or vegan versions, both of which come in two flavors and are free from additives, GMOs, soy, gluten, artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavors
Cons
- Lacking essential nutrients like fats or added vitamins and minerals
- The calorie content per serving will be far too high for most people.
- Very high in both added and naturally occurring sugar
- Very expensive
Orgain Organic Nutrition Nutritional Shake
Orgain Organic Nutrition Nutritional Shake is a fabulous, ready-to-drink organic supplement that combines protein shakes and meal replacements, making it a very convenient, quick, easy meal replacement option for people on the go or just extremely busy.
Its sweetness comes from monk fruit extract. Monk fruit is one of the most popular natural sweeteners, as it is an anti-inflammatory that contains no calories, regulates blood sugar levels, heals sore throats, promotes weight loss, and helps to prevent oxidative damage and stress, as well as specific diseases.
The monk fruit is then aided by an Organic Protein Blend centered on whey protein powder from grass-fed cows, an Organic Fruits & Vegetables Blend, and the Orgain Vitamins & Minerals Blend. Between them, these nutrients can produce countless beneficial effects for your health.
The Orgain Organic Nutrition Nutritional Shake is sold in a choice of 4 different flavors, which ensures an option to suit people of all tastes, while its low price tag makes it attainable for all.
The flavors this meal replacement is available in are creamy chocolate fudge, iced cafe mocha, strawberries & cream, and sweet vanilla bean.
Unfortunately, at only 250 calories and 16 grams of protein per serving, it will be far too low for many who want to build muscle or replace whole meals. However, it can still be helpful as a snack to get some essential nutrients and satiate you a little between meals or workouts.
So, while it will not be for everyone, the Orgain Organic Nutrition Nutritional Shake can still be an excellent choice to take the edge off of hunger and help meet the nutritional needs of people who are on the go and only want to use organic meal replacement shakes that are free from artificial sweeteners.
Pros
- Available in a range of 4 great tasting flavors
- It contains nothing but 100 percent organic ingredients
- Full of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
- Affordable, convenient, quick, and easy to use on the go
Cons
- The calories and protein powder in each serving will be far too low for many people.
- Some people have complained about the texture of ready-to-drink meal replacement shakes.
Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan
Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan is an entirely plant-based protein powder and meal replacement shake designed for people following a ketogenic diet. The sweetness comes from monk fruit extract, which, as we have seen before, can offer multiple health benefits.
It is then surrounded by plant-based ingredients such as organic pea protein, healthy fats, coconut milk powder, cacao, and quinoa, as well as various digestive enzymes and probiotics. Its 19 grams of healthy fats is more than most meal replacement shakes offer, making it ideal for those in ketosis.
Twelve grams of protein is also very beneficial while on a keto diet, and even having fewer calories than usual at 270 per serving is okay, as the high-fat content will ensure you still feel full and lose weight.
Its net carbs are high for a keto shake at 12 grams, even if five come from fiber. This means you will need to be extremely careful when planning the rest of your diet if you want to avoid getting knocked out of ketosis and making all your hard work mean nothing.
At least being sold in a choice of nice-tasting chocolate and vanilla flavors will make planning a healthy diet that keeps you in ketosis more tolerable and interesting.
The real issue with Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan is the price, which is far higher than many meal replacement shakes. This means that unless you need a meal replacement shake that is specifically organic, vegan, and keto-friendly, it may not suit you.
However, suppose you require all those things from meal replacement shakes without artificial sweeteners. In that case, Proganics Organic Keto Meal Replacement Vegan is not just one of the best meal replacement shakes you can try but also one of the only ones you can use.
Pros
- Being higher in fat and lower in carbs than many meal replacement shakes is ideal for a keto diet.
- All of its ingredients are organic and plant-based
Cons
- Very expensive
- It only comes in a choice of two flavors
- It will not have a significant effect on your calorie intake
- Its net carbs are a little higher than is ideal in a keto meal replacement shake
Final Thoughts on The Best Meal Replacement Shakes Without Artificial Sweeteners
Meal replacement shakes are a convenient and effective way to get all the nutrients you need from whole food ingredients without stopping and eating. There are many good meal replacement shakes without artificial sweeteners and other additives, but the best for most is Rootana.
When you add fiber-rich ingredients, vitamins, and minerals to high-quality protein powder and healthy fats and use natural sweeteners to flavor them, Rootana becomes a healthy alternative to healthy meals and shakes, ensuring you stay fit and hit your goals.
If Rootana is not your preference to replace healthy meals, then one of the other options on our list will undoubtedly be. For everyone else, though, we highly recommend that you try Rootana and see just how it can provide satiety, meet your nutritional needs, and replace a healthy meal for yourself.