Huel for Breakfast: Can you have it for only Breakfast?

In this article, I’ll discuss if replacing your conventional breakfast meal with Huel is a good option or not.

So if you have been missing out on the most important meal of the day or are tired of coming back to dirty dishes, you might want to consider Huel for breakfast.

It has got multiple sugar-free, gluten-free, lactose-free, and plant-based instant and wholesome breakfast options.

Just rustle up their shake powder or gulp down its ready-to-drink shake bottle and if you are in a mood for solids, chug in some protein bars or snack bars for a nutritious start to your morning.

Want to know more about the pros and nutritional facts of Huel breakfast?

Keep reading.

Can you have Huel for breakfast?

Of course, you can.

Huel offers a bunch of nutritious and affordable breakfast options that you can relish in the morning to give your busy day a healthy start, irrespective of any weight loss goals.

Moreover, the nutrition profile of Huel ready-to-drink shakes is amazing.

In fact even better than some of your go-to solid breakfasts like blueberry oatmeal, bagel with cream cheese, a medium cup of coffee, or a berry trio parfait.

(However, that doesn’t mean you should ENTIRELY rely on them every day for your nutritional needs, as nothing can replace the goodness of freshly cooked full meals.)

Benefits of Having Huel for Breakfast

Here are some of the benefits of having a Huel breakfast that have stolen the spotlight:

1. Free from allergens

You don’t have to stress over common allergens in the ingredients as Huel shakes and bars are gluten-free, soy-free, lactose, and dairy-free.

However, there are peanut butter-flavored products that may not be suitable for people with peanut allergies. But that’s no big deal because even if you’re allergic to peanuts, there are a whole lot of other options you can choose from.

2. Energy-rich

Huel products are enriched with a balanced ratio of the 4 main energy-yielding macronutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber.

The ready-to-drink shakes, v3.0 bars, and complete protein bars integrate the most efficient, sustainable, and healthy source of body fuel from fats- Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT’s).

MCT’s help your body make ketones – your brain’s food that will prevent you from tiring out at work.

The carbohydrate energy source in Huel products is mainly from tapioca and oats powder which are wise choices to serve the purpose. As tapioca is gluten-free and oats have a low glycemic index.

They make the product suitable for consumption by people with metabolic disorders like diabetes and auto-immune diseases like celiac disease.

3. Amazing Nutrient profile

Huel shakes have a nutrition value comparable to the HHS and FDA dietary guidelines and US daily value (DV).

It is Jampacked with abundant macronutrients, micronutrients, phytonutrients and polyphenols, Probiotics, and prebiotics.

All Huel shakes and bars are abundant in vitamins and minerals from vegan sources.

The Huel protein is a combination of proteins from 6 plants sources, brown rice, pea, hemp, flaxseed, pea, and fava. Thus, it provides a complete essential amino acid profile with better amino acid ratios than whey protein.

Sunflower, coconut, and flaxseed are the sources of fat content in Huel products that provide you with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Huel complete protein, shake, and black powders have the probiotic bacteria Bacillus Coagulans that promote gut health and various polyphenols, which in turn help control blood glucose and promote heart health.

All in all, Huel has an amazing nutrient profile.

4. Diabetic-Friendly

Huel claims that the ready-to-drink shakes, powders, and bars are safe for people with diabetes type 1 and 2.

Its products are primarily based on oats and fiber, and the website has a section for type 2 diabetics, which is flooded with stories and experiences from users that corroborate the ability of Huel breakfast and lunch to lower HBA1c levels.

The complete protein formula has less than 0.5g of sugar per portion, shake powder and protein bars have less than 1% sugar per serving, ready-to-drink shakes have only 4g sugar per 2000 calories meal, and Huel Black 5g sugar per serving.

There are unflavored and unsweetened varieties available as well.

Because of all these reasons and more,

Huel in breakfast can make a good option for diabetics.

Huel’s gluten-free shake powders can be consumed in breakfast by people who have diabetes linked to celiac disease.

And their low glycemic index will make your blood sugar rise slowly.

(The glycemic index of the Huel products varies between 16 and 29, with a GI 16 for powders, GI 25 for ready-to-drink shakes, and GI 29 for bars.)

Then there’s a soluble fiber that helps normalize blood sugar levels, and Huel products incorporate this fiber from one of the best sources, oats, flaxseed, and chicory.

Huel shakes and bars have a high fiber content ranging between 5g to 7g per serving, with the lowest 5g in the v3.0 bar and the highest 7g in shake powder.

To conclude, if you have diabetes and your restricted diet is constantly weighing you down on essential nutrients, Huel can make a favorable option for you as it has got all that your body needs to function optimally and stay healthy while keeping your glucose levels maintained.

5. Variety of flavors

The best part is that Huel offers ten different flavor boosts that you can add to your regular shake powders to offer a change to your taste buds every morning.

These are namely Apple Cinnamon, Banana, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, Mocha, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Spice, Salted Caramel, Strawberry, Gingerbread, and vanilla.

Also, there are eight different flavors available in the ready-to-drink shakes, namely iced coffee caramel, strawberry shortcake, cinnamon roll, vanilla, chocolate, berry, and banana.

Then the protein bars are available in peanut butter, salted caramel, banana pudding, and raspberry flavors.

Similarly, the Huel bars v3.0 are also available in various different flavors too.

Downsides of Having Huel for Breakfast

Every rose has its thorns, and so does the Huel breakfast, but maybe these cons won’t hurt that bad, let’s have a look to find out what they are:

1. Low satiation

An experiment was performed for live television by Dr. Alain Gregoire in which he consumed the Huel diet for over ten days. In his words, Huel’s liquid breakfast (shakes) has low satiation and rapid energy expenditure compared to solid foods.

So, in that regard, the ones that are particularly aiming for some serious weight loss might not be able to reach their goal efficiently.

2. Not sustainable

The Huel breakfast should not be pursued as a constant meal replacement every single day because liquid and powdered supplements can’t take the place of real meals.

However, these shakes and bars can be added to the diet for some extra calories and nutrition or consumed as instant foods for convenience.

Huel side effects

Huel protein is derived from hemp protein which has a high fiber content and may cause abdominal discomfort in some people.

The ready-to-drink shakes have some quantity of sucralose, an artificial sweetener that is not well suited to many and may upset the gut microbiota.

Although the probiotics and the above two ingredients are generally considered safe, when they are combined in Huel products, they may cause flatulence, diarrhea, and bloating.

Huel for breakfast – Reddit stories

Real-life experiences with the products can speak volumes about their practicality.

I’ve skimmed through some Reddit stories, and surprisingly everyone loves Huel for breakfast.

Here are some stories I have culled out for you, so scroll down to the next page and have a look at them.

• u/spray_no writes that the instant, nutritious, and hydrating Huel diet was a lifesaver for her when she fell prey to Covid-19, as it helped her ‘get her energy back’ when she didn’t have the strength to make extensive meals for herself.
• u/RSBTK has appreciated Huel for backing him up with a wholesome and readymade meal to endure his hectic routine in the US army.
• u/Mantasrule got rescued from the adverse effects of unhealthy takeouts and felt a considerable improvement in energy levels after just a week of using Huel.

Everything else to know about Huel for Breakfast

Is Huel better with milk?

Yes, milk imparts a creamy consistency to the Huel powder and turns it thick and smooth. However, you should keep the calories in check if you are consuming Huel for weight loss.

Is Huel good for building muscle?

Yes, Huel protein has 9 essential amino acids, including the 3 branched-chain amino acids (valine, leucine, isoleucine) that play a critical role in building lean muscle mass.

Is Huel black healthy?

Yes, Huel black has more protein and less carbohydrate content and a complete macro and micronutrient profile. It is free from artificial sweeteners and gluten, making it safe and healthy for everyone.

What to add to Huel to make it taste better?

You can add any or many of your favorite toppings to make Huel shakes taste better.

For instance, you can add honey, peanut butter, cocoa powder, chocolate powder, Maple syrup, or even ice cream.

Is Huel really nutritionally complete?

Yes, Huel has an optimum nutritional profile of 27 nutrients, 9 amino acids, phytonutrients, probiotics, prebiotics, and a perfect balance of the 4 main macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fiber),

How long does Huel last in the fridge?

Prepared Huel powder can last 24 hours in the fridge.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, yes, you can have Huel for breakfast to jumpstart the day as its nutrient-rich products can keep you energized for optimal performance at work.

However, despite the fact that Huel has got all that you’re body needs to stay healthy and function properly, I wouldn’t recommend you to switch over to it completely.

Have some Huel days and then regular meal days to ensure you don’t miss out on any healthy component and stay well in shape too.