A new food trend that is going around consists of drinks that you can have instead of a meal, but it is definitely not a juice cleanse. These drinks are filled with the nutrients you need to get from your food and relieve you of the need to cook and buy food for a meal. Soylent is a meal replacement drink that gives you the nutrients you need at a low cost. You can use it to replace snacks, a meal, or an entire day’s worth of food.
How healthy is it?
Photo courtesy of @soylent on Instagram
Soylent is a soy protein-based drink. The meal replacement bottle has 200 calories. Of that 33% of is carbs, lipids/fats are 47%, and protein is 20%. The bottle has 1/5 of all the micronutrients and vitamins you need for the day. This doesn’t just mean vitamins A, B, and C, it also has your daily iron, calcium, and everything else you need. Each bottle has 20g of protein and only 9g of sugars, and it has 300mg of sodium, which is only 13% of your daily intake. Overall, it is a healthy meal or snack option you can go for.
What does it taste like?
Photo courtesy of @soylent on Instagram
When I tried Soylent I was nervous because the smell was kind of off-putting. The best way I can describe the taste is if you let cornflakes sit in soy milk for a day and then drink the milk. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but it wasn’t something I wanted to consume a lot of. Maybe if it was blended with some fruit it would taste better? Overall, it was okay and I could have probably had more if I tried, but it was not the best tasting drink.
What does it look like?
Photo courtesy of @colinxscott on Instagram
Soylent has changed packaging but the drink has stayed the same. The Soylent 2.0 (which I tried) comes in a plastic bottle which is completely recyclable. Other versions come in a packet where you mix the powder with water to make the drink. The drink itself is a tan-ish color, and has a thicker texture, like a smoothie. It isn’t the prettiest drink on the market, but it just looks like a brown protein shake.
Other Things to Know
Photo courtesy of @soylent on Instagram
Soylent is completely vegan and nut-free. There is no dairy in the mix, and if you get the powder, all you need is water to make your drink. Unfortunately, it isn’t Kosher, gluten-free, or organic. You might read this and think Soylent might be one of those very expensive food trends, but Soylent is actually pretty affordable. About one of the Soylent 2.0 bottles is only $3. Also don’t fear if you aren’t in America where Soylent is made. It is available in lots of countries around the world.
You might read this and think Soylent might be one of those very expensive food trends, but Soylent is actually pretty affordable. One of the Soylent 2.0 bottles is only $3. Also, don’t fear if you aren’t in America where Soylent is made. It is available in lots of countries around the world.
Overall, Soylent is something that can be really good for people without the time to cook healthy meals. It is an easy snack or meal to have. You can add it to your diet or use it almost exclusively and know you are making a healthy choice. If you lead a busy life and don’t have time for meals and want to be trendy without spending a lot of money, Soylent is for you.