How to Find the Best All Natural Meal Replacement Shakes

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best all natural meal replacement shakes.

Discover how to support your diet with only natural ingredients.

Last Updated
Feb 8, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Jack, Founder

Jack is the Founder of Drink Wholesome.

Medically reviewed by Brittany, MS, RD and Jenn, PA-C

Kayla is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

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

All Natural Meal Replacement Shakes

What Is an All Natural Meal Replacement Shake?

An all-natural meal replacement shake must be made from only naturally-occurring ingredients, or ingredients derived naturally-occurring ingredients.

This means no synthetic flavors, sweeteners, or additives of any kind.

Here are a few of the most common artificial ingredients found in meal replacements:

• Acesulfame potassium (sweetener)
• Ascorbic acid (preservative)
• Polysorbate 80 (emulsifier)
• Silicon dioxide (anti-caking agent)
• Sucralose (sweetener)

Just because an ingredient is natural does not mean that it is good for you, however.

Many of the ingredients in meal replacements, although technically natural, are ultra-processed.

This means that they were mechanically and/or chemically altered on a molecular level to such an extent that they look nothing like anything you can find in nature.

⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in meal replacements:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

As a rule of thumb, if you cannot find it in nature or make it at home, it is probably ultra-processed.

Keep in mind that food additives are not only ultra-processed ingredients in meal replacements.

The main sources of fats, carbs, fiber, and protein are often ultra-processed too.

For example, many meal replacements contain protein concentrates and isolates, which are the epitome of ultra-processed foods.

What Are the Best All Natural Meal Replacement Shakes?

If you want a truly natural meal replacement, then you should not only avoid artificial ingredients, but also ultra-processed ones.

It is important to note that ingredients labeled as “natural,” such as natural flavors, are often ultra-processed.

Plus, whereas food manufacturers are required to disclose their ingredients, flavor manufacturers are not.

They can add synthetic solvents, preservatives, and carriers to a flavor that qualifies as “natural” under current regulations.

It is also worth noting that many natural sweeteners, including stevia, are not as close to nature as you might 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 filed in California reached a $6.1 million settlement because it was ruled that the company in question falsely labeled and advertised its stevia sweeteners as “natural.”

In short, if you cannot find it in nature or make it in your home kitchen, it should not be in your meal replacement.

Stick to a short list of simple ingredients, specifically ones you could find in nature or make in your home kitchen.

They will not only make you feel better, but they will taste better too.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

Editorial Guidelines

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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.