On days when there isn’t time for a full lunch, you don’t have to turn to chalky smoothies or candy bars masquerading as health food. In addition to offering balanced nutrients and cleaner-than-usual ingredients, these next-wave meal-replacement shakes aim to actually taste good, too. A few are even successful.
Kate Farms Komplete
This is free of pretty much every-thing—gluten, soy, corn, and dairy—but has a sky-high sugar content. While delicious, the coffee flavor has 18 grams of the sweet stuff—double what’s found in similar options. $4 per serving
Soylent
Love it or hate it, beloved by Silicon Valley coders provides 20 percent of most daily recommended vitamins and minerals, all from plant-based powders. The nutritional facts may be enviable, but the artificial taste and gritty texture are not. $39 for 12 bottles
Ample
contains 27 grams of protein and 24 grams of healthy fat, plus a hefty dose of gut-friendly fiber and probiotics. Real-food ingredients like honey, sweet potatoes, and macadamias combine for a peanut-butter-cookie taste. $5.50 per serving
Ambronite
Ambronite calls itself and backs that up with a convincing ingredients list. Each blend provides five servings of fruits and vegetables, as well as 40 different nutrients from whole foods. It comes in four flavors, including banana and ginger apple. $2 per serving
Nu Pod
Launching late this year, uses a low-glycemic carbohydrate formula that’s designed to stabilize blood sugar and reduce hunger swings. The chocolate flavor is pleasantly reminiscent of a milkshake. $3.15 per serving