Product Review: Slim Fast Shakes

Slim Fast shakes are a mixed bag, at best. They are grainy and thick, and your first shake will definitely make you think twice about the plan. After trying a few flavors, you may be ready to give up.

Perservere! They're not all bad. Once you get used to the texture and find a flavor that is palatable, Slim Fast shakes are an excellent way to start taking control of your eating habits. I never ate breakfast before using them and now I won't go a day without it. Grabbing a can and slamming it on the way to the shower is fast and easy. It gives you a big energy boost, especially over eating nothing, and jump-starts your metabolism for the day. (Please note that this review only addresses the pre-blended shakes, not the powdered versions.)

The only flavor of shake that I could drink was Cappuccino Delight. As an added bonus, you can chill these shakes (and the chocolate and vanilla flavors) in the freezer and use them to ice some espresso for a fairly tasty coffee drink on hot summer mornings. To me, the other flavors are cloyingly sweet on their own. The "fruity" ones, especially, seem higher in sugar than flavor.

The plan itself is not expensive, when you consider all of the "real" food that you aren't paying for. While the shakes do fill you up, you are definitely ready for a snack when the "Slim Fast Plan" calls for one. A piece or fruit or a container of yogurt and maybe a few fat-free pretzels will tide you over nicely and are inexpensive.

When our family first began using Slim Fast, one of the local big-box stores had the bonus 8-packs for about $5, which works out to less than 65 cents apiece for the shakes. Recently, I've seen the more standard 6-packs in a few places for less than $6. Considering the cost of healthy cereal, Slim Fast is not out of line for a good breakfast. Compared to lunch, even to making your own, it's a downright bargain. And compared to other brands, especially the Atkins shakes, they are a good deal.