Huel - The 'nutritionally complete food' has anyone tried it?

I was chatting to a friend recently and he was raving about Huel https://huel.com/ I've heard of it before and am a sucker for things like this so fancied trying it, perhaps swapping post gym lunch for a scoop of this + some protein powder.

Has anyone else tried it? I'm aware of the taste being...not that great, but I'm used to protein shakes anyway so I'm not too bothered. I think it was Ars Technica who had a guy on Soylent (spoiler: it's not people) and "horse killer farts" was a phrase that was bounded about quite a lot!

I've read a bit through their forums but thought some good old HEXUS opinions wouldn't go amiss!

Cheers,

Rob

Sounds better than soylent, but name is too similar to hurl for my liking ;)

A mate has mostly been on Soylent for at least the last year IIRC - seems to be OK.

If humans were meant to live off brick dust milkshakes, real food would not taste so AMAZING... heck, we'd probably not even have taste buds.

I'm also not convinced that it would be very filling, let alone actually satisfying. That in itself would lead most people to snack or just eat more.

Anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise, most comments I've read are that yes, people miss 'food' but aren't actually hungry. Of course that's for people going 100% Huel so for me it'd only be a replacement for lunch and coupled.with additional protein might actually stop the 3pm "I need chocolate" craving.

Hmm, steak and chips with a red wine sauce or a powdered protein drink?

Tough call but each to their own! :)

That's an amazing lunch you have every day then ;)

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

That's an amazing lunch you have every day then ;)

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Touche!

(Todays lunch menu will be a smoked mackerel salad!)

If it were that good, the Forces would be using it already... Instead they stick with ration packs.
Would you like to know more?

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

If it were that good, the Forces would be using it already... Instead they stick with ration packs.
Would you like to know more?

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Is that about as much as food being good for morale as nutrition?

Yup Rob, I have and still use it.

I've tried both - the Unflavoured & unsweetened one leaves an odd taste to it, didn't really find it enjoyable and quite sickly.
The vanilla one is much better, it hides the sweetness and the vanilla flavouring isn't overpowering.

Huel also now do flavour pouches also which really help - example of the flavours - https://huel.com/collections/other-h...-boost-samples

I tend to have around 100G of the powder with about 500 - 550ML of water, I find this gives is a nice consistency and makes it more like a drink and less like a smoothie or milkshake. I did experiment with different amounts of water and found this suited me and I have one day a week where I have it with milk which makes it nice and creamy and when it tastes best.

I replace my breakfast with it as I struggle to eat first thing in the morning. I also find that Huel helps stop any cravings I have for rubbish food.

The only warning I can give is, for the first few days of drinking it, my bowls were a bit...loose. Might not be your experience but I certainly noticed more frequent loo visits.

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

If humans were meant to live off brick dust milkshakes, real food would not taste so AMAZING... heck, we'd probably not even have taste buds.

I'm also not convinced that it would be very filling, let alone actually satisfying. That in itself would lead most people to snack or just eat more.

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How filling it is, depends on how thick you have it though. I find it filling the way I have it.

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Originally Posted by Disturbedguy

Yup Rob, I have and still use it.

I've tried both - the Unflavoured & unsweetened one leaves an odd taste to it, didn't really find it enjoyable and quite sickly.
The vanilla one is much better, it hides the sweetness and the vanilla flavouring isn't overpowering.

Huel also now do flavour pouches also which really help - example of the flavours - https://huel.com/collections/other-h...-boost-samples

I tend to have around 100G of the powder with about 500 - 550ML of water, I find this gives is a nice consistency and makes it more like a drink and less like a smoothie or milkshake. I did experiment with different amounts of water and found this suited me and I have one day a week where I have it with milk which makes it nice and creamy and when it tastes best.

I replace my breakfast with it as I struggle to eat first thing in the morning. I also find that Huel helps stop any cravings I have for rubbish food.

The only warning I can give is, for the first few days of drinking it, my bowls were a bit...loose. Might not be your experience but I certainly noticed more frequent loo visits.

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Those flavour packets have Stevia in them, I'm one of those people that can't stand the taste of that. I'd planned to use my flavour drops I have for protein powder to flavour the unsweetened version but is perhaps best to order 1 bag of each?
Is there a reason you don't drink it with milk all the time?
Drop me a PM with your link in it, both get £5 off?

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Those flavour packets have Stevia in them, I'm one of those people that can't stand the taste of that.

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- I have no idea of what Stevia is so wouldn't recognise the taste of it

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

I'd planned to use my flavour drops I have for protein powder to flavour the unsweetened version but is perhaps best to order 1 bag of each?

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Personally, already having tried Huel, I would say get the Vanilla

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Is there a reason you don't drink it with milk all the time?

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To be honest, no, not really. I think just because I started drinking it with water.

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Drop me a PM with your link in it, both get £5 off?

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- Will do

As a note, I started with Huel in August 2016 and since then have lost nearly 2 stone. Not all entirely due to Huel as I gym and eat better these days but it certainly helped.

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Originally Posted by Moby-Dick

Is that about as much as food being good for morale as nutrition?

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Depends who you ask.
Some people hate RatPack food, but it supplies 4,000 calories for a hard working soldier in the field.
I love them, myself and could eat the lot in one go if hungry enough... which is my argument over filling vs nutritious vs calorific content. You can have a biscuit or something packed with loads of calories, that may or may not be perfectly nutritious, but is utterly foul and/or still leaves you ravenously hungry. US WW2 D-Rations were a bit like that, except again I could eat loads and not feel full.

People often get fat because they are hungry and eat until they are satisfied. Nothing to do with a body demand for calories. They'd pig out on celery if that was all they had. It's just that the stupidly high calorie foods taste so much better!

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Originally Posted by Disturbedguy

How filling it is, depends on how thick you have it though. I find it filling the way I have it.

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It sounds (and looks) very much like the Cambridge Diet type shakes, especially with that added flavour profile. Those most certainly were not filling!!

Well I've ordered some and look forward to the Huel guffs

I've been using Joylent (70/30) for a few months. Now called Plenny. It's basically just an oaty sweetened shake with vitamins and a few tweaks. Tastes decent to me. Water + powder + swirl + shake, consume, clean - 700 calories sorted at a cost of 1.67eur.

I was put off Huel due to various negative online comments.

Seems very similar.but has added why protein and banana?!

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Well I've ordered some and look forward to the Huel guffs

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Why flavor / type did you order?

28 days, 1 bag unflavoured, 1 bag vanilla.
I've got Toffee/Raspberry/Vanilla flavouring drops that I use for protein so I figure I can try the plain with those. I also got the sample pack of flavouring (it was £1.50, so why not)

Tried my first vanilla this morning, tastes better than protein powder to be fair. Bit too sweet though so I'll definitely drop the ratio to 2:1 vanilla to unflavoured.

Had it for breakfast and definitely feell full so will see how it goes.

Pro tip: don't get the 'small' free T-shirt, it's very tight!

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Tried my first vanilla this morning, tastes better than protein powder to be fair. Bit too sweet though so I'll definitely drop the ratio to 2:1 vanilla to unflavoured.

Had it for breakfast and definitely feell full so will see how it goes.

Pro tip: don't get the 'small' free T-shirt, it's very tight!

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I found the same with regards to protein powders.

What mixture did you use for your first one then?

Straight up 3 scoops of vanilla with the recommended 570ml of water total, i might have added more water overall though as I was getting small lumps. Lumps aren't unpleasant though as it's just oaty.

I can see with less vanilla and maybe 600+ ml of water it'd be easier to use as a drink like you mentioned.

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

If it were that good, the Forces would be using it already... Instead they stick with ration packs.
Would you like to know more?

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About ration packs? Erm, let me think about that ..... NO. (*)



(*) Unless it was designed and prepared by the RAF team that just won the Creme de la Creme patisserie Bake Off show. THAT almost made me regret not joining the forces. Then I woke up.

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Originally Posted by peterb

Touche!

(Todays lunch menu will be a smoked mackerel salad!)

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Nah. Salmon and cream cheese salad. The salad bit (a lettuce leaf and some grated carrot) is there so I can kid myself it's a healthy choice. :D


To the OP - can't help. The name made me think gruel rather than hurl, but the result was the same. Salmon comments aside, I am a smoothie fan provided it's home made when I get to choose the ingredients, and proportions.

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Straight up 3 scoops of vanilla with the recommended 570ml of water total, i might have added more water overall though as I was getting small lumps. Lumps aren't unpleasant though as it's just oaty.

I can see with less vanilla and maybe 600+ ml of water it'd be easier to use as a drink like you mentioned.

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I found the lumps a bit of an issue too at first, just learn to shake it more and i found i sometimes got better results without the plastic...guard thing...

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Pro tip: don't get the 'small' free T-shirt, it's very tight!

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Is that not the point?
Nice and tight, to show off how ripped and swole and jacked and yoked you have become, just from eating (drinking?) nothing but Huel™??!!

"sun's out..."!

2:1 vanilla to unflavoured is definitely the way to go. I tried the rhubarb and custard flavouring, blah!

Interestingly I've been having it for breakfast and I'm not getting hungry at lunch, I'm just wanting the taste /texture of food instead.

how's the Huel Craze going?

eveyone still......ok?

All good for me,having it as lunch most work days, no gastric problems at all. Flavour packets are rank (IMO) so I'm sticking with a 2:1 vanilla to unflavoured mix.

Lost a couple of kilos (not that i needed to) and I do feel full afterwards, i just miss the texture and flavours of a 'real' lunch.

I'll definitely be buying a second lot :)

Has anyone tried the Huel bars?
Does it have that bird food/flapjack type taste?

Tastes like cack, leaves you craving actual food like nature intended for you to eat... and you're buying more???!!!
If you want your soul destroyed, surely just watch the X Factor and save money? :p

I was looking into this a while back but I didn't know anyone who had tried it.

Thinking of ditching breakie and lunch for this and just have a regular evening meal.

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

Tastes like cack, leaves you craving actual food like nature intended for you to eat... and you're buying more???!!!
If you want your soul destroyed, surely just watch the X Factor and save money? :p

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It's actually not a bad taste, oaty (unsurprisingly)
You do still crave food but for comforts sake it seems.

Swapping it for lunch works well for me, no lunch time snacking on crap, exercise was never a problem but my diet didnt help, this definitely helps trim.

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Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster

Tastes like cack

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So your saying, you may "huel" after eating it?

Gets coat.......

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Originally Posted by Spreadie

Thinking of ditching breakie and lunch for this and just have a regular evening meal.

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Why? What are you trying to achieve?

The general thought is that you should stoke up at breakfast have a lighter lunch and little in the evening (clue for break fast is in the name). I think the basis is that you stoke up at the start of the day hen you are going to be more active, and eat lightly in the evening before the inactivity of sleep.

But Im afraid I don't follow that advice - my main meal is still in the evening!

I tend to agree, skipping lunch will encourage you to overeat at night, which may be part psychological as part of a 'reward', and part physical as you are more hungry. Eating a large meal late can cause an excessive glycaemic load when it is not needed, making it more likely to get stored as fat. It can also lead to reflux and discomfort in the supine position, worsening quality of sleep. Being hungry during the day may also lead to lower mood, concentration and performance.

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Originally Posted by peterb

The general thought is that you should stoke up at breakfast have a lighter lunch and little in the evening (clue for break fast is in the name). I think the basis is that you stoke up at the start of the day hen you are going to be more active, and eat lightly in the evening before the inactivity of sleep.

But Im afraid I don't follow that advice - my main meal is still in the evening!

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Few do or can follow it these days. I think this is referred to as Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper but dont quote me on that.

I'm rarely hungry before 11am, no matter the size of breakfast I just cant get it down me, I've always skipped it since as long as I can remember. When I previously tried to go down the shake route when I got up I'd feel bloated and ill for hours so I've just decided to listen to my body on this one. 11 is too early for lunch so a healthyish bar at that time would be ideal, I dont have to prepare anything complicated and time consuming like a shake.
I've found these as a cheaper alternative. http://www.eatstoats.com/our-tasty-products/bars.html

Man, I don't even get hungry until about 4pm...

Those stoats bars arent great for sugar (12g ish) but do work better than a chocolate bar!

Ttask - how do you manage that? I'm usually constantly hungry, do you gym or anything?

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Originally Posted by Rob_B

Ttask - how do you manage that? I'm usually constantly hungry, do you gym or anything?

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I eat dinner. That's about it. I don't snack or anything and I no longer smoke.
I drink a few cups of coffee, maybe that's it?

I have put on quite a bit of belly in the last year or so, though.
No gym or anything like that, any more. Used to do a bit once or twice a week.