Let me start off by saying this isn’t going to be a judgement or condonement as to whether a meal replacement diet, however extreme, is a healthy choice. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, so be sure to read up on the benefits and disadvantages of the ‘Huel diet’ before you start.

We received a wide variety of things from Huel, including the new Berry Granola, two bags of Huel Powder in new and improved Berry and Vanilla flavour, as well as three Flavour Boosts in Mocha, Mint Chocolate and Matcha flavour, two clear shaker bottles, two scoops, two t-shirts, two enamel mugs and reusable cloth tote bag.

So, what is Huel? Well, their mission statement is, “To make a nutritionally complete, convenient, affordable food, with minimal impact on animals and the environment” - please note that nowhere does it say ‘delicious’, but more on that later. The Huel Powder is high in protein and fibre (there are tips on how to ease into the new diet to avoid bloating and flatulence), made from sustainable ingredients including oats, pea, rice, flaxseed, sunflower seed, coconut and a vitamin and mineral blend, it is also 100% vegan with a shelf life of 12 months (6 months once opened), plus there are Gluten free powders available as well.

Huel claims most of their consumers use the Huel Powder to replace one or two meals a day. As well as the high fibre and protein content, it also has essential fats, 26 vitamins and minerals, complex carbohydrates and has less than 1% sugar. With convenience being one of its key benefits, it is unsurprisingly very easy to make. A good place to start is to combine 400ml of cold water, three level scoops of Huel Powder then blend or shake in the shaker bottle for ten seconds, then top up with 175ml cold water, reshake and it is ready. There are lots of ways to experiment with the powder including adding ice, reducing/increasing the water for a different consistency, adding the different Flavour Boosts (3 tsp per 3 scoop), swap the water for milk or use it as a flour replacement in cooking. The Huel Granola is the world’s first nutritionally complete cereal product (finally!) made with rolled oats, crunchy pea protein nuggets, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, chicory roots fibre and more. It looks a little like bird seed, but so do most granolas.

Obviously taste is a subjective matter, but for me I was surprised by how tasty I found both the Berry and Vanilla: it is subtly sweet with an oaty under current. It tastes better with milk (almond milk especially) than water, but this will change the calorie content. The Flavour Boosts work well and Huel provide a variety of flavours choices to play with; our favourite combination was Vanilla powder and Mint Chocolate Flavour Boost. The Granola wasn’t very exciting on its own when served just with milk, but if you add some natural yogurt, fresh fruit and a little bit of honey it is quite pleasant. Personally, I would struggle to have any more than one Huel shake a day, as I would simply miss solid food too much, it is also a pricey investment. Yes, I know in the long run it might prove cheaper, but not everyone can afford the minimum £45 order at the time.

If you are looking at meal replacements and have the money, I think Huel would be a good choice. It’s quick and easy to make (the shakers are easy to clean too), with loads of flavours to choose from and they leave you feeling full, allowing you to closely monitor your calorie and nutritional intake whether you are trying to maintain, gain or lose weight. RRP minimum order spend of £45 (Huel Powder – 28 meals {£1.61 per meal}); £7.50 per flavour (Flavour Boosts); £4.75 per box (Berry Granola); £4.00 (Huel Shaker Bottle)[a1] 

Current Cheapest Price

4.5 out of 5

Pros

Versatile

Nutritionally complete

Less than 1% sugar

Tasty

Quick and convenient

Ethical and sustainable

Gluten free options (at a higher price)

Cons

High one-off payments

 [a1]Consumers will get a free shaker and t-shirt on their first order.