Meal Replacement Powders (MRP’s) are a staple of any fitness lifestyle. Before MRP’s, athletes mixed their own shakes, containing raw eggs, milk, brewer’s yeast, and soy protein. In addition to horrible taste and digestibility, only the “hardcore” lifters and bodybuilders had any desire to make these brews. All that changed in 1991, when Met-Rx, originally designed to help patients of wasting disorders, became available to the public in convenient pouches, providing quality protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in a variety of flavors.
The MRP, unlike other supplement innovations of the early 1990’s, appeals to everyone. After all, who doesn’t want a quick, delicious shake that builds muscle and keeps hunger at bay? Fifteen years later, there are close to a hundred varieties of MRP’s available. Some take the convenience factor one step further, selling “Ready to Drink” (RTD), premixed shakes. Others appeal the wallet, offering inferior ingredients at tempting prices, while many offer quality ingredients at reasonable prices. Some things to note: Depending on how many you consume a day, MRP’s will reduce or eliminate the need for a multi vitamin. If your MRP gives you any G.I. distress, find another one. Finally: buy a funnel, it turns ordinary water bottles into disposable shaker bottles –very convenient.