~~SLIM FAST SHAKES~~DELICIOUS IF YOU CRAVE THAT METALLIC FLAVORED AFTERTASTE!
Written: Jun 18 '02 (Updated Feb 04 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Convenient for travel; more nutritious than grabbing a few Oreos.
Cons: Expensive in price; obviously artificially flavored; leaves that nasty "metal can" aftertaste.
The Bottom Line: Although they are convenient and easy to consume, Slim Fast Shakes with their unappetizing taste and high price are not my first recommended choice. Choose the powdered version instead.
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| melissasrn's Full Review: Slim Fast Shakes |
Summer is almost officially here, so that means plenty of us are taking vacations or are just super involved with everyday life. For most of us, we are too busy to exercise during this time while healthy eating programs are temporarily thrown out the window. Yet once the vacation is over and reality slaps us in the face once we step on that bathroom scale for the first time afterwards, it is time to take immediate action again before any more damage is done! Trusted for many years for both nutritious weight loss as well as weight maintenance purposes, I have chosen various Slim Fast products to assist me in reaching my goals. While I most often purchase the Slim Fast Powders for occasional use as a balanced snack or meal replacement on the go, I recently obtained a coupon for a free can of the Slim Fast Shakes, so I decided to give these otherwise expensive single serving drinks a try. My choice was the French Vanilla flavor, even though I usually purchase one of the chocolate varieties when picking up a can of the powder. Only it took just one can to convince me that these ready-to-drink dietary supplements were not for me! Read on to find out why.....
~~~The Shakes~~~
Slim Fast Shakes are artificially flavored meal replacement drinks designed to provide balanced nutrition for those seeking to both lose and maintain weight. Lose weight and feel great with this 99% fat free healthy supplement high in calcium packed full of 24 vitamins and minerals, including 100% RDA of Vitamins C and E. Each serving contains 220 calories for energy, as well as 10 grams of protein, 3 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbohydrates (sugar), and 5 grams of dietary fiber. These convenient ready-to-drink shakes can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere to help fuel the body as a healthy snack or meal replacement with no mixing required. Experiment with the variety of creamy flavors available and choose your favorite from the following choices: Banana Cream, Cappuccino Delight, Creamy Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Fudge, French Vanilla, Rich Chocolate Royale and Strawberries and Cream. When given the choice of quickly reaching for junk food such as candy or chips verses grabbing a can of Slim Fast Shakes, this fortified drink is easily the most nutritious yet less appetizing option.
~~~Packaging & Price~~~
Each 11 ounce (325 ml) recyclable steel can of Slim Fast Shakes may be purchased at most major grocery and discount stores for about $1 each. Coupons are usually frequently available in the Sunday paper, so keep an eye out if you wish to give these a try at a lower cost. And of course convenience comes at a higher price, so those on a budget who don't mind mixing their own shakes with skim milk may want to consider choosing the Slim Fast Powders instead. Serve very cold for best taste or pour this drink over ice if desired. Shake each can well before use and consume by the expiration date printed on the bottom of each can. I'd suggest pouring these drinks into a glass or cup first to avoid that "metallic" taste that results from drinking directly from the can. Or use a straw on the go when doing this is not an option. There are three different fruit juice varieties that are also available for those that do not care for or may be allergic to the lactose contained in these milk based supplements. Diabetics may be interested to discover that the dietary exchange for one can of Slim Fast Shakes is 1 fat-free milk and 2 carbohydrates.
~~~The Slim Fast Plan~~~
I'm sure many people have heard of the Slim Fast plan by now, including the use of these Slim Fast Shakes: Have one shake for breakfast, another at lunch, and then a sensible dinner, including 3 healthy snacks (2 fruits and 1 Slim Fast nutritional bar). Those seeking weight loss may find this works well for them on a short term basis if following a liquid diet the majority of the day is not a problem. I personally prefer to eat real food most of the time, so I only drink Slim Fast drinks occasionally as a snack or as a healthy meal replacement during busy times when I'd be more likely to skip a meal altogether if I didn't have a can of the Slim Fast Powders readily available. According to the plan, those seeking weight maintenance are directed to replace just one meal a day (breakfast or lunch) with one of these shakes and eat sensibly (there is that word, again) the rest of the day. Very basic and easy to follow for the most part and less expensive than joining a commercial weight loss program, the Slim Fast Program including these Slim Fast Shakes is the plan of choice by many "dieters" across the country for both weight loss and weight control. Since realistic weight loss is usually best, following the plan long term is usually extremely difficult since the main focus is not learning how to make healthier life long food choices but on replacing meals temporarily with their products instead.
~~~My Experience~~~
So lets go back to my free can of Slim Fast Shakes. I was running late for my 3-11 shift at the hospital recently (which happens quite frequently for me!), so for lunch I grabbed my French Vanilla flavored "meal in a can" to drink in the car on the way. After just one sip (bleck!), I had to turn the can around and take another look just to make sure I wasn't drinking a can of vanilla Ensure because my can of Slim Fast tasted very similar to this other nutritional supplement. That "metal can" taste was very obvious, and while the texture was creamy in texture, this drink was far from being delicious as advertised. But since this was all I had on hand to tide me over until I could have a "real" meal later on, I forced the rest of the can down in just a few large gulps. So even though the ready to drink Slim Fast Shakes with their obvious artificial flavoring are very convenient since they require no mixing and do not contain that "chalky" taste some of the powdered flavors sometimes have, I'd much rather consume the Slim Fast Powders prepared with fresh skim milk any day.
~~~Caution~~~
If you want to lose weight and are under 18, pregnant, nursing, following a diet recommended by a doctor, have health problems or want to lose more than 30 pounds, see a doctor before starting this or any diet. Do not lose more than 2 pounds a week after the first week. Rapid weight loss may cause health problems. Do not use as a sole source of nutrition. Eat at least 1,200 calories a day. (Directly taken from packaging advertising)
~~~Ingredients~~~
Fat-Free Milk, Water, Sugar, Gum Arabic, Calcium Caseinate, Cellulose Gel, Canola Oil, Potassium Phosphate, Soybean Lecithin, Cellulose Gum, Mono and Diglycerides (Emulsifier), Maltodextrin, Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan and Dextrose.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS: Magnesium Phosphate, Calcium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin E Acetate, Zinc Gluconate, Ferric Orthophosphate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Potassium Iodide, Phylloquinone (Vitamin K1), Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3.
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
As a nutritious alternative to unhealthy food choices or skipping meals altogether, these convenient yet expensive Slim Fast Shakes might be a viable option for those seeking to drop a few pounds or remain at their present weight. Otherwise, try the Slim Fast Powders instead as the extra time invested in the mixing process is certainly worth the effort as this product tastes much better when fresh skim milk is used. Drink plenty of water and include some form of daily exercise to receive the greatest benefits as you seek to reach and then maintain your weight loss goals. I most certainly do not follow the Slim Fast Plan as described above and would not recommend doing so for an extended period of time, but I do occasionally prepare a glass of this fortified supplement in the powdered form as a healthy snack (when compared to grabbing a few Oreos!) or balanced meal replacement on the go when I'd otherwise be likely to skip breakfast or lunch altogether. Just don't have great expectations when purchasing these Slim Fast Shakes though. The creamy delicious taste is barely tolerable and the high cost for such a small (I'm still hungry!) single serving of this drink would get quite expensive over time. And don't expect miraculous results from this "weight loss in a can" product as it truly takes lots of time and hard work to achieve permanent changes. Good luck, be realistic, and stay healthy!
**For more information on the Slim Fast Shakes and the Slim Fast Weight Loss Program in general (including their weight maintenance plan), please check out the following website:
www.slimfast.com
Free membership here includes weekly weigh-ins, a personal diary, a buddy program, and weekly newsletters.
Questions or comments?
1-877-375-4632
Or write:
SLIM FAST FOODS COMPANY
PO Box 3625
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
Slim Fast Chewy Granola Bars
Slim Fast Meal-On-the-Go Bars
Ultra Slim Fast Powders
Slim Fast Powders
Slim Fast Snack Bars
Recommended:
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