Welcome to my Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement review. This is just one of many Garden of Life protein reviews that I’ve done. But it’s the first “meal replacement” protein powder that I’ve thoroughly tried and tested.
This is Garden of Life’s flagship meal replacement protein powder, so it’s very popular. But does it taste good? And is the nutritional value worth the price? I’ll address these questions and more below.
Jump to:
Nutrition Review | Flavor Review | Price Review | Bottom Line
Why Try Garden of Life’s Meal Replacement?
If you’re looking for the one-sentence review of Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement – it’s a nutritionally robust, 100% raw, vegan protein powder that’s nutrient-dense, fiber-rich, and flavor-neutral.
But if you’re looking for the complete review of Garden of Life Organic Raw Meal Replacement, then read on, my friend, as we dive deep into the nutritional components and flavor profile of this organic, non-GMO, and raw vegan protein powder.
Nutrition Review: What are Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement’s Ingredients?
This vegan protein meal replacement has the highest amount of fiber compared to similar products on the market.
As an ideal on-the-go protein supplement, this will help you stave off hunger for hours (while helping keep you regular.) Each flavor of Garden of Life Raw Meal has a different nutritional composition. But with most flavors, you can expect them to be sugar-free, high-fiber, low-sodium, keto-friendly, diabetic, and entirely organic raw vegan.
But beyond being high in fiber and satisfying hunger cravings while supporting bowel regularity, this raw meal replacement is nutritionally complex, containing many of Garden of Life’s organic proprietary blends (six of them to be exact.)
What’s nice about the nutritional profile of this raw meal replacement is that it provides “the goods” that extend beyond replacing meals and facilitating weight loss.
For instance, it’s a vegan protein powder with branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs or Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine,) which are key components to muscle recovery and athletic performance. It also contains over 25 different types of fruits and vegetables, all of which are organic and most of which are raw (sprouted).
Raw Meal Replacement contains Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Protein Blend that contains (mostly sprouted): pea protein, brown rice protein, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, chia seed, adzuki bean, flaxseed, garbanzo, lentil, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seed. Boom!
If you’re concerned about not getting enough veggies in your diet, this is one product that has you covered. This unique protein powder also has Garden of Life’s Raw Organic Fruit & Vegetable Blend, which has: spinach leaf, baobab fruit, apple, beetroot, broccoli, carrot, tomato, green bell pepper, brussels sprout leaf, ginger root, garlic bulb, onion bulb, strawberry, cherry, parsley, cauliflower, blackberry, raspberry, kale leaf, cucumber gourd, celery stalk, and asparagus flower and stem.
It’s also infused with the brand’s Raw Probiotic & Enzyme Blend (which is also a one-up for athletic recovery, digestion, and belly health,) as well as a Raw Organic Greens Blend that completes the veggie concoction with ingredients like alfalfa grass juice, spirulina, barley grass juice, oat grass juice, and wheatgrass juice.
Providing extra bonus points for actual vegans reading this review, one serving of Garden of Life Meal Replacement provides 100% recommended daily value of Vitamin B12.
While this product is marketed toward health-conscious individuals who need a nutritious, on-the-go solution to tide over hunger, Garden of Life’s Meal Replacement provides a high-caliber nutritional profile that meets the criterion for elite athleticism.
But if optimal recovery is of primary importance, I suggest checking out my review on Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-based Protein. This alternative has a greater vegan amino acid profile, in addition to other recovery-enhancing features.
Nutritional Review Rating: 4 out of 5
Flavor Review: Does Garden of Life Organic Raw Meal Taste Good?
Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement is not the best-tasting vegan protein powder that I have reviewed. However, it’s also not the worst. That probably doesn’t give you much information, so let me break it down by flavor.
Garden of Life Raw Meal Lightly Sweet Review
Let me start by mentioning that this product is not very sweet. The texture was a bit more earthy compared to other neutrally-flavored protein powders I’ve tried. If you’re looking for a vegan protein powder that has a bit more going on, Garden of Life offers other alternatives (mentioned below) that have more flavors to choose from.
On the plus side, Garden of Life Raw Meal Lightly Sweet is very flavor-neutral. I did like the product’s transparency, enabling me to fully taste the strawberries and blueberries in my smoothie. So if you want something that IS NOT going to dominate the taste of your smoothie, then this a good vegan protein powder option.
Garden of Life Raw Meal Chocolate Review
Although I am more of a vanilla guy, Garden of Life Raw Meal Chocolate was my favorite flavor of all reviews. The robust, dark chocolate overtones help mask the earthiness of the protein blend. And with its satisfying chocolate taste, as a meal replacement, Garden of Life Raw Meal Chocolate is probably the most satiating option in the pack.
Garden of Life Raw Meal Vanilla Review
The flavor of Garden of Life Raw Meal Vanilla was not my favorite. The sweetness was a bit off for me, as it left a lingering aftertaste that wasn’t very delicious. I am assuming it’s from the stevia. So if you’re sensitive to stevia, you may want to avoid this flavor.
Garden of Life Raw Meal Vanilla Chai Review
The vanilla layered with chai spice makes this product more palatable and enjoyable. Others I know who have tried this product rave about this flavor being the best. Garden of Life Raw Meal Vanilla Chai has a sweet flavor that’s softened with welcoming chai spice. While I still prefer the chocolate, this flavor option
With a good spread of options and a couple of decent flavors in the mix, this product edges out a 4 of 5 flavor rating.
Flavor Review Rating 4 out of 5
Price Review: How Much Does Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement Cost?
Because the price of Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement is subject to cost fluctuations, I am unable to mention a specific price tag. However, I can provide a value rating of how much this product costs versus comparable vegan protein powders.
With sizes up to 2lb 6oz tubs, you can get a really good value with Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement. It’s nowhere near as expensive as the premium brands (which can cost over $50 per tub that size,) but it’s not overly cheap either with an average price of around $40 for a 2+ pound (28 servings).
So, given the fact that it’s a quality blend of organic raw vegan protein powder with added fibers, enzymes, and probiotics, I think this product is well-priced, earning it a 5 out of 5 rating.
Price Review Rating: 5 out of 5
Last Word on Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement
To my subtle astonishment, Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement successfully curbed my hunger for hours after working out. I add it to a smoothie with spinach, avocado, berries, and almond milk. This was particularly surprising considering I am usually very hungry after lifting weights on an empty stomach. Overall, it was one of the best protein powder products compared to other Garden of Life protein powder reviews.
Have you had Garden of Life Raw Meal Replacement? Please share your review below!
Related Vegan Protein Powder Reviews
- Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder Review
- Garden of Life Raw Fit Protein Powder Review
- Garden of Life Raw Protein & Greens Review
- Does Protein Powder Expire?
- Vegan Grain-Free Protein Powder Reviewed
About The Author
This review was conducted by Tyler Tafelsky, the lead editor here at VeganProteinPowder.reviews. Tyler is an experienced writer in the health, nutrition, and athletic space, and he offers over a decade of experience blogging on various reputable platforms. Having experimented with a vegan diet throughout his life, Tyler has tried hundreds of plant-based nutritional products and writes about his favorites here on this blog. Learn more about Tyler by viewing his full author bio or by following him on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. You can also view his site TylerTafelsky.com to learn more about what he’s up to.