Slim-Fast is a weight loss program that replaces regular meals with meal replacement shakes and bars. The original Slim-Fast plan was created by the Unilever company in the late 1970s. When low carbohydrate diets became popular, the company that manufactures Slim-Fast decided to create a lower sugar line of Slim-Fast products called Slim-Fast Optima.
Nutritional Facts
According to EveryDiet.org, a typical Slim-Fast shake contains 180 calories. These calories are provided by 5 g of fat, 24 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of protein. A Slim-Fast optima shake contains the same number of calories, but is lower in carbohydrates, providing only 6 g. Of these 6 g of carbohydrates, only 1 g comes from sugar. Slim-Fast shakes are also fortified with 24 different vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium and iron.
Meal Replacements
When following the Slim-Fast Optima diet, you are required to replace two regular meals with Slim-Fast Optima products. You may choose a ready-to-drink Slim-Fast shake, a powder that you can mix with milk or a meal replacement bar. The diet plan allows you to choose which meals you want to replace. If you choose to replace breakfast and lunch with a Slim-Fast Optima product, then you may eat a cooked meal for dinner.
Regular Meal
The Slim-Fast Optima diet permits you to have one 500 calorie meal per day. This meal should be a balanced meal that contains 50 percent vegetables, 25 percent lean protein and 25 percent starch. The Slim-Fast website recommends choosing chicken or turkey without the skin, fish or lean beef as a protein source and whole grain carbohydrates as your starch. While you may come up with your own balanced meal, the Slim-Fast website also offers recommendations for your balanced meal and recipes to make the meal.
Snacks
In addition to your three meals, you can consume three 100 calorie snacks per day. You may choose Slim-Fast Optima snack bars, which contain 100 calories each, or a variety of healthy snacks. The Slim-Fast website suggests high-fiber snacks, such as berries, bananas, apples, oranges, pears, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots and nuts. If you choose nuts as a snack, it is important to eat only a small handful, since nuts are high in both calories and fat.
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