What's a Slim Fast?

Slim Fast's Disappearing Act

I’ve seen the ads too, a healthy shake for breakfast and lunch and a sensible meal for dinner at night. A healthy shake?

The 4 main ingredients are skim milk, sugar, fructose, and cocoa. In other words, milk, sugar, and sugar. Other ingredients include various vegetable oils, emulsifiers, and a dubious vitamin blend. A 375ml (1.5 cups) shake contains 12 grams of protein -- slightly less than what you'd obtain drinking the same amount of 1% low-fat milk.

This same shake contains 38 grams of carbohydrates -- 20 grams more than if you drank the equivalent amount of 1% low-fat milk (with those additional carbs coming from the added sugar). Considering that milk contains significant amounts of vitamins A and D, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium and Zinc, I'd suggest that you chuck the Slim Fast shakes (vitamin blend and all), and simply drink milk instead.

In fact, get yourself a good blender (Vita-Mix is the ultimate), throw in some low-fat milk or soy milk, add a banana or some other fruit, add an organic carrot if you want some veggies, even add some wheat germ or flax seed, blend and drink down with a good multiple vitamin. Difficult, I think not! It’ll taste better and you’ll know what you’re drinking!

LouAnn Good
Fitness Together Fort Myers