How to Find Meal Replacement Shakes Without Artificial Sweeteners or Stevia

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find meal replacement shakes without artificial sweeteners or stevia.

Discover how to supplement your protein intake without fake sugar.

Last Updated
Feb 5, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Kayla Kamen, MS, RD

Kayla Kamen is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Fossett, PA-C

Jennifer Fossett is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Meal Replacement Shakes Without Artificial Sweeteners or Stevia

Why Are Artificial Sweeteners or Stevia in So Many Meal Replacements?

Artificial sweeteners and stevia are in so many meal replacements for three main reasons:

1. Low or Zero Calories: Artificial sweeteners and stevia help keep the sugar and calorie count low without sacrificing sweetness.
2. Cost-Effective: Sweeteners like sucralose and stevia are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, so only a tiny amount is needed, making them cheaper than real sugar.
3. Shelf Stable: Artificial sweeteners and stevia do not spoil like some natural sweeteners, which can extend the shelf life of a meal replacement.

But here is a trade-off: Despite their benefits, artificial sweeteners are not good for you, and stevia has an unpleasant aftertaste.

What Are Artificial Sweeteners?

Artificial sweeteners are synthetic (made in a lab) chemicals added to foods, beverages, and supplements to make them sweet.

They are a popular ingredient in meal replacements because only a pinch provides the same amount of sweetness as several tablespoons of sugar.

This allows the manufacturer to reduce both calorie and sugar content.

The most common artificial sweeteners are sucralose and acesulfame potassium.

In case you were wondering, xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, and mannitol are sugar alcohols, not artificial sweeteners.

This does not necessarily mean that they are better for you, however.

Read my article on sugar alcohols to learn more.

What Is Stevia?

If a meal replacement doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners, it probably contains stevia.

Stevia is a zero-calorie sweetener that is over 100 times sweeter than sugar.

It is considered by many to be a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners, but it might not be as natural as you think.

Stevia is extracted from the stevia rebaudiana plant using chemicals like ethanol and methyl alcohol.

This, some argue, makes it no more natural than the artificial sweeteners that it seeks to replace.

In fact, a recent class action lawsuit reached a $6.1 million settlement because it was ruled that the company in question falsely labeled and advertised its stevia sweeteners as “natural.”

Why Should I Avoid Artificial Sweeteners and Stevia?

First of all, several studies have shown that they can increase cravings toward sugary and sweet foods, leading to binging and feelings of withdrawal (Yale J Biol Med, 2010).

It follows that if you are trying to lose weight, you might be better off just eating sugar.

Research has also linked artificial sweeteners to a higher risk of glucose intolerance (Nature, 2014), which is a precursor for pre-diabetes and diabetes.

Finally, artificial sweeteners are terrible for your gut microbiome (Nature, 2014).

They both reduce microbial diversity and promote the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Stevia, on the other hand, is not associated with adverse side effects, but does have an unpleasant aftertaste.

Unlike sugar, stevia activates both sweet and bitter taste receptors, which some people cannot stand (J Neurosci, 2004).

Why Should I Consider Monk Fruit?

Instead of using stevia, artificial sweeteners, or sugar alcohols like erythritol, we sweeten our Meal Replacements with monk fruit.

Monk fruit, also known as luo han guo, is a melon-like fruit native to Southeast Asia.

Its intense sweetness comes from non-caloric (sugar-free) compounds called mogrosides.

We like monk fruit because it is the most natural sugar substitute on the market.

It is made by removing the seeds and skin, crushing the fruit, and collecting the juice, which is then dried into a powder.

Moreover, unlike most other sugar substitutes, monk fruit is sweet like sugar.

It is worth noting that monk fruit has been safely used in Asian cuisine for centuries and has no known side effects, even when consumed in large quantities.

Small randomized trials have also shown that monk fruit does not negatively impact blood sugar or insulin levels (Eur J Clin Nutr, 2017).

Order Samples to taste and feel the difference.

Sources

1. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine (Yale J Biol Med). Gain weight by “going diet?” Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings: Neuroscience 2010. 2010.
2. Nature (Nature). Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota. 2014.
3. Nature (Nature). Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota.. 2014.
4. The Journal of Neuroscience (J Neurosci). Bitter Taste Receptors for Saccharin and Acesulfame K. 2004.
5. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Eur J Clin Nutr). Effects of non-nutritive (artificial vs natural) sweeteners on 24-h glucose profiles.. 2017.

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.