The term meal replacement has become a very common (and overused) one; and with more products and advertisements coming out everyday, it's pretty obvious why.  It has also left people a little more confused about the purpose of them.  In reality, maybe they shouldn't really be called "replacements" at all.  The word "replacement" gives a sense that it is just as good as real food, very misleading.  There are no substitutions for real food.  Weather your goal is to lose weight or gain weight, things like meal replacements, bars and protein shakes are supplemetal and work best between meals and worst case senario if you absolutely have to miss a meal.

   PREPARATION IS EVERYTHING

Fitness Focus Health & Athletic Centre Saskatoon