The siren song of the meal replacement shake is not unknown to me. There’s an allure to the concept, the ease, the promise of satisfaction, and even health; but the tastiness? From those childhood days of watching cartoons with a can of Carnation Instant Breakfast by my side, to the dog days of long hours at the office, tastiness in a meal replacement shake has always been something I’ve wanted to believe in. It’s proven to be a difficult gap to bridge. So when I receive my shipment from Kate Farms, I was my skeptical self, and at first surprised by their diminutive stature.
Komplete is a 100% vegan, organic dairy-, gluten- and soy free ready-to-drink shake with 24 fruits & vegetables, over 17 grams of high-level plant-based proteins and 21 superfoods. I all three dainty cartons, one of each flavor, claiming to each be able to satisfy this beast of afternoon hunger.
Don’t let the size fool you; the ingredients list is impressive, boasting chocolate coexisting with garlic and kale. In fact, unless you are comfortable with your healthy self, you may want to not read the ingredients until you’ve had a taste. You look for the garlic, you anticipate that savory, unmistakable flavor, perhaps the bitterness of dark, rich greens; it’s not there. What’s there is chocolate, or perhaps my favorite of the three, the Jav’a Latte. There’s a rich, chocolate-y tone to this, something in the combination of texture and flavor that actually satisfies. (Like ice cream, but need to stay vegan? Try this ice cream recipe: it’s just for you. )
Komplete is rice protein based. If you’re at all familiar with protein supplements, you know the characteristics that invariably come with each of them. Rice protein has a distinct mouth feel, but not to worry, it works. It’s not grainy or upsetting, but more a substantial backbone and body to the shake. The Jav’a also includes 55 mg of caffeine, which is always welcome in an workday afternoon. As far as satisfying goes, whether or not you believe lunch can be a liquid, it is satisfying and it does hold you over. I chugged along in my work day without the slightest lapse of energy, or the hulk-like change in demeanor we like to call ‘hangry’.
Now if you’re a shake aficionado, you know that you can always judge how good a shake is by it’s vanilla. It’s the flavor that stands the most vulnerable, in its metaphorical skivvies before you, silently pleading for acceptance. This one does not fall flat. It embraces vanilla without becoming overbearing or artificial. The chocolate is a sturdy competitor as well, sporting the most protein of the trio at 19 grams.
Each Komplete shake contains between 310 – 330 calories, and between 17-19 grams of protein. Complete nutritional information can be found here and a complete list of included superfoods can be found here.
All said and done, Komplete is a fantastic alternative for busy days at work, eating healthy during road trips, and those unavoidable days where you just don’t have the time. Protein shakes are not just a quick meal, but a great way boost your energy without empty calories. Sometimes I’ll even have a protein shake before bed to help me feel more energized when I wake up the next day. With a pleasing flavor profile, packed nutritional content, and a convenient package, it’s all you need to keep you going.