Garden of Life Meal Replacement – Organic Raw Plant Based Protein Powder, Chocolate, Vegan, Gluten-Free, 35.9oz (2lb 4oz/1,017g) Powder

Be patient, try the tips here, and it’s GREAT!
The primary reason I chose this particular product, the Garden of Life Raw Meal (Chocolate), is because of its raw nature. I can see from other reviews that there are complaints about consistency, sugar content, flavor, etc. I know of few other such quality vitamin- and mineral-rich drinks, and I know of only 2 other that are raw. The ingredients are mostly sprouted then dehydrated. From my readings on the arguments around raw foods, the proteins, fats, and carbs are all of a high caliber and are highly digestible, meaning the protein and other macro (and micro) nutrients are quickly absorbed into the system yet stabilized and balanced by each other (meaning the glycemic load is pretty low overall – no sugar highs).
I agree that the sugar content is rather high, but, if you are like me, counting grams of macronutrients is not the point: maximum bioavailability of said nutrients IS the point. You are to mix this powder with other ingredients, which can greatly alter the ratio of nutrients. I like to use soy, hemp, or almond milks as part of the fluids for any drink or shake I make with Raw Meal – that increases the protein and slightly increases the fat. Again, calorie-counting, close macronutrient tracking, and general mainstream ideas of healthy eating are not my style; I go by nutrient-density, and I go by what nourishes my body. I have compared this meal replacement with other high-quality brands (like Vega and BeachBody’s super smoothie mix) and this is, by far, the most bioavailable, reasonably-priced, truly raw product. Of course, I have not had time to do a thorough and exhaustive comparison, nor do I have time or money to personally test many brands, so you may have better results with other brands (ones that I’ve probably never heard of!) than I have. Again, the main point is that the sugar content IS balanced with the healthy fats, enzymes, probiotics, fiber, and protein. Read that label!
Also, if you’re like me, you drink this stuff a little before intense exercise, and a little extra naturally-occurring sugar is just fine for most people IF they are about to go for a long walk, workout, bike ride, hike, whatever. The sugars are burned off with exercise or “heavy thinking.” So, this is also my mid-afternoon snack, and, again, that extra hit of naturally-occurring sweetness, balanced as it is against the other nutrients, gives my brain the energy that glucose-monster-consuming organ needs to help me think clearly. The protein and fiber both stabilize my body and mood, too.
The ratio of EFAs to protein to carbs is an excellent one – Garden of Life seems to have done their homework. The EFAs are abundant, as is the unbelievable amount of fiber per serving. By the way, the reason for the odd gelatinous consistency is the ground flax and chia seeds – both of which are impressive superfoods, especially since they are sprouted first (well, I THINK the chia is sprouted first, anyway). Please read Brendan Brazier’s Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life, as he explains all these superfood seeds and grains in a way that better expresses why this meal replacement is so cool. It also talks about how glucose is utilized during exercise (I like this book, can you tell??). Chia seed and flax seed are both mucilage-forming (can’t remember the exact word for this!) in a GOOD way – they promote fullness, soothe digestive and intestinal tracts, etc. That slimy taste CAN be somewhat avoided, though …
The trick I have found to make this powder far more palatable is to use an electric (or manual) hand mixer. Put the powder into a deep vessel (a large, thick glass or whatever) so the hand mixer doesn’t splatter the fluids and powder everywhere. Then put in a little fluid (I use rice milk to start this process). The initial liquid should be twice the amount of powder. We like to make chocolate milk with this, so we add a little pure unsweetened bitter cocoa powder (put in however much you want – it’s a matter of personal taste). We then mix this small amount of fluid, meal replacement, and cocoa powder together like you would when making hot chocolate: blend the dry stuff with the wet stuff THOROUGHLY before adding any more liquid. This keeps the meal replacement from separating too much, getting rid of some of the chalky consistency. Add a little liquid at a time, mixing thoroughly with the hand mixer each time. Keep mixing it a little longer (just a few seconds) after you have all the liquid you want. Separation is just going to happen due to the seeds and such in the powder. The slimy thing starts happening pretty quickly, as the chia and flax seed start doing their thing, so drink quickly and use a straw! The slimy stuff often stays on top. KEEP STIRRING as you drink. If you’ve mixed it enough with the hand mixer, you end up with a somewhat creamy consistency, depending on the amount of liquid you used. It’s up to you; experiment with liquid amounts.
We all (family of four) really love this stuff, and I’m talking about a picky 10-year-old, too. Just mix it well with a hand mixer or blender, and keep stirring if you’re making the chocolate milk-like drink I described above, and it’s really great. You’ll come to love it. A few of the reviewers mentioned blending the powder in smoothies and/or shakes; we’ve had great success with those, too – especially blending in frozen raspberries and a banana or an avocado! Yummy!
Good luck and enjoy!

The taste is gross for my liking!

this is my new favorite go-to breakfast of champions! perfect flavour and the texture isn’t unpleasant