What are the explanations and options for meal replacement foods?

Some time ago, “meal replacement food” in the weight loss community is exceptionally hot. It is said that no hunger, no exercise, just eat every day to eat “meal replacement food”, you can let the weight down relatively easily. So what about “Meal Replacement Food” in the end?
What exactly is “Meal Replacement Food”?
In the International Codex Alimentarius Standard, this type of meal replacement powder for weight loss is called “low-energy foods for weight loss”, is a class of specially processed, can provide the minimum carbohydrate requirements and daily essential nutrients, energy range of 450-800 kcal and as the only source of daily energy food.
The Codex also emphasizes that these foods must be used by moderately or severely obese people under medical supervision. According to China’s relevant regulations, the corresponding product definition is “special medical use formula food” in the “obesity, fat loss surgery, full nutritional formula food”, the same emphasis must be used under the guidance of a doctor or clinical nutritionist. It can be seen that the original audience of “low energy food for weight loss” or “weight loss meal replacement powder” is those who have been fat enough to require medical intervention, and must be used under the guidance of a doctor or professional.
However, the reality is that most of the people who follow the trend of weight loss have not gained so much weight, and many women even insist on consuming meal replacement powders at a relatively normal weight in pursuit of the ultimate “slimness”. At the same time, most people do not receive professional guidance when consuming “weight loss meal replacement powder”, and some even do not even read the instructions for the use of the product, and directly listen to the experience of some “successful people”, and then start to use these meal replacements at will. These incorrect behaviors may lay hidden dangers for health.
Group Standards for Meal Replacement Foods
The Chinese Nutrition Society released the first group standard for meal replacement food for weight control, “Meal Replacement Food” (T/CNSS 002-2019), which makes clear requirements for the raw materials, sensory, nutritional composition, labeling, and name of meal replacement food. The standard has been implemented since January 1, 2020 formally. According to the provisions of T/CNSS 002-2019 Meal Replacement Food:
Meal Replacement Food is divided into meal replacement food and partial meal replacement food. Meal Replacement Food: In order to meet the nutritional needs of adults during the period of weight control of one or two meals, instead of one or two meals, specially processed and formulated as a kind of food to control energy.
Part of the meal replacement food: in order to meet the nutritional needs of one or two meals during adult weight control, replace one or two meals in part of the meal, specially processed and formulated to control the energy of a food. 2.1 Nutritional Requirements

2.2 Labeling requirements

Product labeling in accordance with the provisions of GB 7718, nutrition labeling should be in line with the provisions of GB 28050
Meal replacement food energy, protein, fat, essential ingredients and optional ingredients content labeling should increase the “per serving” content of the logo; labels should be in the main display surface labeling “meal replacement food” and the classification to which the product belongs; prohibit the use of weight loss and other related terms. Labeling should indicate “not suitable for pregnant women, lactating women, infants, children, patients and the elderly”. Part of the meal replacement food, should be marked on the label “to replace part of a meal, should not be eaten alone instead of a meal, should be eaten with milk, fruits and vegetables and other things, a reasonable diet, balanced nutrition”.
Attention to choose the right meal replacement food
3.1 Meal Replacement Juice Part of the production process of meal replacement juice will lose a large amount of dietary fiber, the sugar in it is also easier to be absorbed by the body, thus causing large fluctuations in blood sugar, so it does not bring a lasting sense of satiety, not conducive to weight loss.
In addition, only rely on the nutrition in the fruit is far from enough, with fruit juice meal replacement will cause insufficient protein intake, it is easy to make muscle loss, resulting in a decline in basal metabolism, not only is not conducive to weight loss, but also very easy to rebound.
3.2 Meal replacement cookies Many meal replacement cookies are more than ordinary cookies to increase the composition of bran, or with other coarse grain flour, increasing the content of its dietary fiber, after eating can really give you a good sense of satiety. But they also suffer from nutritional imbalance, such as the lack of protein, vitamins, iron, zinc, etc. So eating only meal replacement cookies is equivalent to eating only the staple food, and other nutrients are ignored, which is certainly not beneficial to your health.
Furthermore, food with high dietary fiber is actually hard to swallow. So when some businessmen make meal replacement cookies, in order to make the cookies more delicious, they often add a lot of fats (palm oil, coconut oil) to them, and the fat content is higher than any ordinary cookies may be.
When choosing meal replacement foods, pay attention to the labeling information and choose regular products that are nutritious and low in calories.
Suggestions for consumption of meal replacement foods
To ensure safety, it is recommended that you take meal replacement for weight loss under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian.
It is recommended to consume meal replacement at most to replace 1-2 meals of the daily diet and ensure water intake. The other meals should be supplemented with daily food to replenish the lack of nutrients. Such as eating some low-fat high-protein fish and shrimp and other aquatic products, skinless poultry, lean livestock and so on to replenish the necessary amino acids, eat nuts in moderation, eat more dark-colored vegetables.
If the daily intake of nutrients is still insufficient, you can take appropriate oral dietary supplements to supplement. References: 1. Chinese Nutrition Society. Meal Replacement Food (T/CNSS 002-2019) Group Standard 2.Chen Ran, Can meal replacement powder really help you lose weight? 3.Wang Duan, Want to eat meal replacement food, quickly look over 4.Herbalife Microblog, The truth about meal replacement for weight loss! The key is that you choose the right one?

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)