While liquid diet shakes typically are not harmful, doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that shakes that contain protein can be a useful adjunct to a diet that relies primarily on cutting calories and eating healthy balanced meals. A liquid shake that contains protein and other nutrients can replace an occasional meal and help you to remain full longer than a meal high in fat or carbohydrates.
Step 1
Read the labels on any diet shake you are considering. Include the calories from the powder, milk and any added ingredients, like food or flavoring you intend to use. Add up all the calories from the total shake to fit it into your diet meal plan. Use a diet shake as a meal replacement once a day or as a snack between meals.
Step 2
Invest in a good blender that can easily chop ice in addition to the powders and liquids you'll add to the drink. Look for a blender or food processor that you can keep on your counter so that you don't have any excuses to skip the low-calorie meal replacement. Consider shake blenders that come with the drinking cup attached to make the process even easier.
Step 3
Add liquids first into the blender and then add your protein, whey or soy diet powder mix. Water has no calories and mixes just as well with diet powders as milk. If you put the powder in first, it has a tendency to stick to the sides and blades of the machine. Run the blender to mix the diet powder that contains your vitamins and minerals.
Step 4
Put in some ice cubes to cool and thicken the drink and hit the chop setting for a couple seconds. Add other ingredients as your diet allows. Good shake additions include, bananas, strawberries, blueberries or lemons. Yogurt, cottage cheese and skim milk also can be used to increase the nutritional value of the shake without adding too many additional calories.
Step 5
Pour the shake into a tall glass and drink it while the mixture is still thoroughly mixed. Drink the shake with a straw to avoid letting all the nutritionally packed powder stick to the bottom of the glass.
Tips and Warnings
- Try a variety of diet shakes to find one that leaves you satisfied and feeling a high level of energy. You may need to add additional protein or some fat in the form of soymilk or whole milk to maintain your energy. Just make sure you count every calorie added to the shake.
- There is no evidence that liquid diet shakes can take weight off, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. Instead of following blatant marketing campaigns, count the calories in a diet shake to determine its place in your overall diet regimen.
Things You'll Need
- Blender
- Protein powder
- Ice
- Fruit
- Soy milk
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