Rather than a whole food smoothie, Meal Replacement Shakes are often a powdered concoction you mix with water or milk. The macronutrient combination can vary from brand to brand, but most focus on the protein content and very few have enough fibre. Given they are very low in calories, hunger can certainly be a problem. When you consume predominantly liquids, the process of chewing and savoring the meal is lost. It takes the body around 20 minutes to register fullness and if you are ‘drinking’ your meal, than that sensation of fullness may not occur.
When a body consumes a proper meal, made up of real, whole foods, the process of chewing, tasting and digesting is slower and more satisfying. For people who consume up to three shakes a day, ‘taste fatigue’ can be a huge problem.
