No, meal replacement shakes are not bad for you. When used for no more than one meal per day, meal replacement bars are acceptable substitutes for real meals. “Meal replacement bars – when used in moderation – can be a valuable part of a well-balanced diet. They are convenient, can be fortified with various nutrients and help with weight management as the amount of calories in a bar is always well documented on the food label – whereas it can sometimes be difficult to determine how many calories are in a traditional meal.
Other than a meal replacement, a better option would be a ‘snack bar’ (such as Special K breakfast bars, Fiber One bars, Nature Valley Bars.