Slim Fast is widely known as a line of diet products endorsed by celebrities. The manufacturer offers various products to promote weight loss and maintain good nutrition so that your body functions optimally despite a caloric restriction. However, because not all nutrients can be included in a shake or bar, the company suggests following a nutritionally balanced meal plan while using the products in order to maintain health while losing weight.
History
You may remember the commercials from the late 1980s of Major League baseball manager Tommy Lasorda, "the guy who loves to eat," getting on this new diet program and slimming down. Slim Fast was born in 1977, but the product really took off in 1988 when the Lasorda marketing campaign was launched. First developed by Thompson Medical, Slim Fast was acquired by Unilever in 2000. In the early days, Slim Fast only offered a powdered mix to be combined with low-fat milk. By 2010, Slim Fast had a line of products ranging from six flavors of the powdered mix to premixed shakes, snack bars and meal bars.
Snack Bars
The Slim Fast plan suggests consuming three snacks each day. They offer five flavors of snack bars, including various chocolate and peanut butter flavors. All snack bars have 100 calories, with fat content ranging from 2.5 to 5 g, which is 4 to 8 percent of the daily recommended value. They contain 14 to 18 g of carbohydrates -- most of which come from sugar -- only 1 g of protein and 55 to 80 mg of sodium. All snack bars are cholesterol free and offer 10 percent daily value of many vitamins and minerals.
Meal Bars
Two each day of either meal bars, premixed shakes or powdered mix shakes are recommended in the plan. You will find 200 calories in each of the five flavors, with 50 to 70 of them coming from fat. Six to 8 g of total fat are in each one, 2.5 g of which are saturated. Carbohydrate count ranges from 23 to 27 g, with nearly half coming from sugar. Eight to 9 g of protein and 20 percent daily value of most vitamins and minerals round out the nutrients in these cholesterol-free bars.
Premixed Shakes
Eight flavors are available for on-the-go shakes. Each contains 180 to 190 calories, with one-quarter to one-half of that from fat. Five to 9 g of fat, mostly unsaturated; 23 to 25 g of carbohydrates, mostly from sugar; and 10 to 15 g of protein are in each shake. However, two low-carb versions are available with only 4 to 6 g of carbs and 20 g of protein. Vitamins and minerals range from 10 to 100 percent of the daily value.
Shake Mixes
At 200 calories per serving, the six flavors of shake mix have a lower fat content than most other Slim Fast meal products. Three-and-a-half to 4 g of fat are in each scoop, with only 0.5 to 1 g of that coming from saturated fats. Carbohydrates are comprised mostly of sugar, with 25 to 30 g per serving. Protein ranges from 10 to 15 g, and many vitamin and minerals are supplied.
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