VERY LOW ENERGY DIET PRODUCTS
There’s an enormous range of meal replacement products on the market and all of those tested have a low GI. With their carbohydrate content averaging 20g or less per serve the GL is also very low. The majority of products in this market are meal replacement beverages, but the category also includes various bars, soups, and desserts. Some examples of each category are shown below.
For people with diabetes
To those of you who count your carbohydrate intake in grams, exchanges or portions, we have included the details for each of these.
15g carbohydrate exchange – a serve containing 12-18g carbohydrate.
10g carbohydrate portion – a serve containing 7.6-12.5g carbohydrate.
Optifast® shake (Nestle Health Science Australia)
Strawberry flavour
GI 27
Serving: 53g powder sachet prepared with 200mL water
| Energy | Available carbohydrate | Exchanges | Portions | Glycemic load |
| 840kJ/ 201Cal | 18 | 1 | 1.5 | 5 |
Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix (Herbalife International of America Inc.)
Vanilla flavour
GI 20
Serving: 28 g (2 scoops) powder prepared with 250mL/8oz skim
| Energy | Available carbohydrate | Exchanges | Portions | Glycemic load |
| 378kJ/90Cal | 13g | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Slimfast® beverage (Glanbia Performance Nutrition Ltd, UK)
Strawberry Supreme ready to drink shake
GI 33
Serving: 325mL bottle
| Energy | Available carbohydrate | Exchanges | Portions | Glycemic load |
| 854kJ/204Cal | 22g | 1.5 | 2 | 7 |
Optifast® bar (Nestle Health Science Australia)
Berry Crunch flavour
GI 25
Serving: 1 bar (65g/2oz)
| Energy | Available carbohydrate | Exchanges | Portions | Glycemic load |
| 950kJ/227Cal | 19g | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Optifast® dessert (Nestle Health Science Australia),
Lemon Creme flavour
GI 27
Serving: 53g sachet made up with water
| Energy | Available carbohydrate | Exchanges | Portions | Glycemic load |
| 840kJ/201Cal | 18g | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Read more:
Kaye Foster-Powell is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who has worked with people with diabetes for 30 years. She was co-author of the original series of international, best-selling books on the glycemic index. She conducts a specialized private practice for people with diabetes in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
Contact: Via her website.
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