Product review: Formulite

Formulite is a new brand of meal replacement products designed for low energy (LED) and very low energy (VLED) diets. How does it compare to other brands in the market?

Formulite

Formulite meal replacement products include both shakes and lupin-based soups.

You can use the products within the following programs based on your goals:

• Weight loss
• Rapid weight loss
• Pre-bariatric surgery

If you have ever worked with me, you know I normally don’t recommend LED or VLED diets to patients with overweight or obesity concerns. However, Formulite is different. Their meal replacement products are high in protein, low in carbs and sugar, contain prebiotics and probiotics, do not have any fillers or artificial sweeteners.

As any proper meal replacement products, Formulite contains the essential nutrients to help meet your daily requirements.

For more information check out How is Formulite Different.

Ingredients

Soups

Note that the soups contain extra virgin olive oil (and rice bran oil) instead of vegetable oil, which is a plus in my opinion. They contain lupin, which are responsible for the protein and fibre content of the soups.

• Chicken: Lupin flakes (37%), vegetables (14%), [onion powder, tomato powder, spinach powder, celery, carrot, garlic], hydrolysed beef collagen, guar gum, salt, maize starch, spices, extra virgin olive oil, rice bran oil, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, silicon dioxide, natural chicken flavour.
• Beef: Lupin flakes (37%), vegetables (14%), [onion powder, tomato powder, spinach powder, celery, carrot, garlic], hydrolysed beef collagen, guar gum, salt, maize starch, spices, extra virgin olive oil, rice bran oil, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, silicon dioxide, natural beef flavour.
• Vegetable: Lupin flakes (74%), vegetables [onion powder, tomato powder, spinach powder, celery, carrot, garlic], thickener (guar gum), salt, maize starch, spices, extra virgin olive oil, rice bran oil, flavour enhancers (disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate), anticaking agent (silicon dioxide).

In addition, all soups contain the following micronutrients:

• Minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, molybdenum, chromium, selenium.
• Vitamins: Vitamin C, riboflavin, vitamin E, vitamin B5, niacin, vitamin B6, thiamin, vitamin A, folate, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin B12.

Shakes

The shakes are based on a blend of whey (fast release) and casein (slow release) proteins, They contain a mix of both prebiotics (soluble dietary fibres) and probiotics, beneficial for gut health and therefore overall health. They also contain medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil powder, which can help induce ketosis and are sweetened with stevia, a natural sweetener. In addition, they contain enzymes to aid digestion. If you are sensitive to food additives, please check the ingredients lists carefully.

• Chocolate hazelnut: Protein blend (whey protein concentrate, micellar casein, whey protein isolate), soluble dietary fibre (digestion resistant maltodextrin Fibersol-2®, inulin), cocoa powder, flavours, medium chain triglyceride oil powder, minerals (di-potassium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate, sodium molybdate, magnesium oxide, ferrous glucanate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper gluconate, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, sodium selenite), mineral salt (potassium chloride), vegetable gum (guar gum, Xanthan gum), food acid (sodium citrate), probiotic (Lactospore® – Bacilus coagulans MTCC 5856), vitamins (L-ascorbic acid, Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium D-pantothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, retinyl acetate, folic acid, vitamin K1, D-biotin, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin), digestive enzyme (Digezyme® – α-amylase, cellulase, lipase, lactase, protease), sweetener (stevia)
• Creamy vanilla: Protein blend (whey protein concentrate, micellar casein, whey protein isolate), soluble dietary fibre (digestion resistant maltodextrin Fibersol-2®, inulin), flavours, medium chain triglyceride oil powder, minerals (di-potassium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate, sodium molybdate, magnesium oxide, ferrous glucanate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper gluconate, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, sodium selenite), mineral salt (potassium chloride), vegetable gum (guar gum, Xanthan gum), food acid (sodium citrate), probiotic (Lactospore® – Bacilus coagulans MTCC 5856), vitamins (L-ascorbic acid, Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium D-pantothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, retinyl acetate, folic acid, vitamin K1, D-biotin, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin), digestive enzyme (Digezyme® – α-amylase, cellulase, lipase, lactase, protease), sweetener (stevia)
• Coffee: Protein blend (whey protein concentrate, micellar casein, whey protein isolate), soluble dietary fibre (digestion resistant maltodextrin Fibersol-2®, inulin), flavours, instant coffee powder, medium chain triglyceride oil powder, minerals (di-potassium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate, sodium molybdate, magnesium oxide, ferrous gluconate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper gluconate, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, sodium selenite), mineral salt (potassium chloride), vegetable gum (guar gum, Xanthan gum), food acid (sodium citrate), probiotic (Lactospore® – Bacilus coagulans MTCC 5856), vitamins (L-ascorbic acid, Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium D-pantothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, retinyl acetate, folic acid, vitamin K1, D-biotin, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin), digestive enzyme (Digezyme® – α-amylase, cellulase, lipase, lactase, protease), sweetener (stevia)
• Honeycomb: Protein blend (whey protein concentrate, micellar casein, whey protein isolate), soluble dietary fibre (digestion resistant maltodextrin Fibersol-2®, inulin), flavours, medium chain triglyceride oil powder, minerals (di-potassium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate, sodium molybdate, magnesium oxide, ferrous glucanate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper gluconate, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, sodium selenite), mineral salt (potassium chloride), vegetable gum (guar gum, Xanthan gum), food acid (sodium citrate), probiotic (Lactospore® – Bacilus coagulans MTCC 5856), vitamins (L-ascorbic acid, Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium D-pantothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, retinyl acetate, folic acid, vitamin K1, D-biotin, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin), digestive enzymes (Digezyme® – α-amylase, cellulase, lipase, lactase, protease), sweetener (stevia), colour (102, 110)
• Banana: Protein blend (whey protein concentrate, micellar casein, whey protein isolate), soluble dietary fibre (digestion resistant maltodextrin Fibersol-2®, inulin), flavours, medium chain triglyceride oil powder, minerals (di-potassium phosphate, tri-calcium phosphate, sodium molybdate, magnesium oxide, ferrous glucanate, zinc sulphate, manganese sulphate, copper gluconate, potassium iodide, chromium chloride, sodium selenite), mineral salt (potassium chloride), vegetable gum (guar gum, Xanthan gum), food acid (sodium citrate), probiotic (Lactospore® – Bacilus coagulans MTCC 5856), vitamins (L-ascorbic acid, Dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate, niacinamide, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, calcium D-pantothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, retinyl acetate, folic acid, vitamin K1, D-biotin, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin), digestive enzyme (Digezyme® – α-amylase, cellulase, lipase, lactase, protease), sweetener (stevia), colour (102, 110)

Nutrition information

The tables below show the nutrient content for all soups and shakes.

Soups

Nutrient	Chicken Per serve (38g)	Beef Per serve (175g)	Vegetable Per serve (175g)
Energy (kJ)	433	433	267
Energy (kcal)	105	105	65
Protein (g)	22.0	22.0	12.5
Fat, total (g)	1.0	1.0	1.6
– Saturated (g)	0.1	0.1	0.3
Carbohydrate, total (g)	2.2	2.2	2.5
– Sugars (g)	1.0	1.0	0.7
Dietary fibre	7.0	7.0	10.5
Sodium (mg)	450	450	450
Potassium (mg)	165	165	285

Shakes

Nutrient	Choc Hazelnut Per serve (55g)	Creamy Vanilla Per serve (55g)	Coffee Per serve (55g)	Honeycomb Per serve (55g)	Banana Per serve (55g)
Energy (kJ)	858	869	864	864	864
Energy (kcal)	205	208	209	207	207
Protein (g)	32.6	34.8	34.7	33.9	34.7
Fat, total (g)	4.4	3.6	3.5	3.7	3.5
– Saturated (g)	3.2	2.6	2.5	2.6	2.5
-MCTs	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
Carbohydrate, total (g)	11.4	9.9	9.7	10.2	9.7
– Sugars (g)	3.8	3.8	3.7	3.8	3.7
Sodium (mg)	86	164	165	164	165
Potassium (mg)	736	736	736	736	736
Dietary fibre	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5
Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 (billion CFU)	1.65	1.65	1.65	1.65	1.65

Taste test

I received a complimentary sampler pack of shakes and soups that also came with a free shaker, plus patient and practitioner information.

I decided to loosely follow the suggested weight loss protocol. 1-2 of the 3 main meals should be replaced with snacks and 1 of the 2 mid-meal snacks can be replaced with a lupin soup.

I tried the products over a few days, having a shake + fruit for breakfast, either a shake or soup for dinner and the recommended mid-meal snacks (Greek yoghurt in the morning and fruit + almonds in the afternoon).

I enjoyed the taste of most of the shakes, especially the vanilla flavour. I found them filling when taken for breakfast, perhaps because my breakfasts are usually small, or I skip breakfast altogether.

The soups were ok but I don’t enjoy the flavour of lupin flakes that much. I did enjoy having something savoury rather than just sweet shakes.

Overall, I felt hungrier than usual over the few days I tried the products, however this is to be expected due to the drop in energy intake. If you decide to embark on a LED or VLED diet, you should expect your body to adjust over time.

Summary and recommendations

As a dietitian I normally recommend diets largely based on whole, unprocessed foods. However, I acknowledge the fact that some clients prefer using meal replacement products. Given the ingredients and nutrient composition in Formulite products, I would recommend them over other brands to clients who would like to try a meal replacement-based LED or VLED diet.

More information

For more information about Formulite products and to buy them online, please head to Formulite’s website.

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