Oftentimes, individuals use the words “meal replacement” and “protein shake” interchangeably when in fact, they are two completely different products.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), there are very strict guidelines that a meal replacement must adhere to in order to ensure it meets the body’s requirements. For example, a meal replacement must provide at least 225kcal per serving with specific proportions of total caloric load that can come from protein, carbohydrates and fat. The CFIA also has a lengthy table of minimum and maximum vitamin and mineral contents per meal replacement serving.
Protein shakes are not restricted to the guidelines set out by the CFIA and can include unregulated ingredients. They are often inaccurately used by the public to replace meals.
In the event that a SmartShape surgeon has prescribed a pre-operative dietary regime to best prepare your body for an upcoming bariatric surgery, patients will be asked to integrate a specific regimen based on substantial, CFIA-approved meal replacement intakes.
SmartShape does not encourage lengthy use of meal replacements as we hold great value in the vitamin, mineral and nutrient profiles of real, solid foods from a variety of sources. This is why, once an individual is healed from their bariatric procedure, the Dietitian Team works diligently with patients to educate them on the best strategies to build balanced meal and snacks spread evenly throughout the day, even in our fast-paced and demanding hectic lifestyles!