When you read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a child, how desperate were you for the three course meal in one piece of chewing gum to be a reality? I wanted it so badly. As I read it I swear I could feel the hot tomato soup at the back of my throat, followed by the rich, roast beef.
(I stopped imagining before I turned into a blueberry obviously. No one wants that.)
I’ve always been kind of fascinated by the idea of meal replacements. In old school science fiction people of the future were forever knocking back tiny pills as substitutes for entire meals and the principle really appeals to me – I’d never have to worry about ‘accidentally’ eating 14 Oreos ever again. Everything would be so simple. I’d be so slim…
Of course despite what the stories would have us believe, a meal in a pill could never be a thing. You just can’t get the calories you need into such a small thing. Back to the Oreos for me then.
Or is it?
For the last couple of weeks I’ve been trialling a meal replacement system called Solo. Solo is a vegan, allergen free, dairy and gluten free meal replacement powder that you mix up with water to make a shake. It contains all 26 essential vitamins and minerals, 100% of your recommended fibre intake, and can in theory entirely replace regular food.
I say ‘regular food’, but Solo IS food. That’s key here. It’s not some kind of artificially produced powder, it’s made with natural whole foods – wholegrain gluten free oats, pea protein, flaxseed, coconut – real food. There are 42g of protein in each serving, so it fills you up too. I’m genuinely not hungry for several hours after a Solo shake, and I can eat pretty much anything, any time. (See above about the Oreos.)
If totally switching to shakes sounds a little drastic for you, then think of it more as an adhoc time saver – you’re busy in the morning, the Oreos are whispering, but you resist. Instead you make up a Solo shake and tada! You’re got yourself a quick, easy and nutritionally balanced breakfast. Even better, the fact that it’s a liquid makes it easier for you to digest – another health benefit.
Solo comes in either a 28 meal jar or a 4 meal jar, and you can choose from six flavours. I’ve tried the caffe latte and the wild strawberry flavours and I’ve enjoyed them both. Yes, there is a bit of a grainy texture to get used to, but this isn’t McDonalds right? If you do want a smoother finish you can pop it in a blender but honestly, I didn’t find it offensive at all. If anything, it somehow made it more satisfying having that little bit of texture.
I’m trying to lose a little bit of weight at the moment, just because I know I’ve put on a few extra pounds over the last year or so, and knowing that I can make up an easy, nutritious meal with just a few scoops of powder and a quick shake is really useful. There’s no temptation at all to give yourself that extra slice of cheese, or extra dollop of mayo with your sandwich – it’s just there, no messing.
I’ve always said that I thought I would find it much easier to lose weight if it was something you could just give up completely, like smoking, and in a way Solo feels a bit like this. It takes the stress out of healthy eating because you simply don’t have to think about it.
Win a 28 meal supply of Solo
If you fancy giving Solo a go then I’ve got a big 28 meal jar waiting here for you to try. To enter, visit the Solo store and leave a comment on this post telling me which flavour you’d like to try.
Register your comment on the widget below and in doing so you’ll open up a selection of bonus entries. The more of these you do, the higher your chances of winning. The competition will close at 11.59pm on November 18th and is open to UK residents only. Full T&Cs apply.
Good luck!
Solo meal replacement giveaway
I was sent two sample jars of Solo to try for the purposes of this review. All opinions my own.
I would love to try this, die having my daughter nearly 8 months ago I can’t seem to shift this extra weight, it makes me really conscious I still look pregnant, I cut out meals but then snack on crisps and chocolate which isnt helping xXx
Since having my daughter its meant to say xXx
I’d like to try the natural vanilla
I would love to try the chocolate salted caramel
Caffe Latte sounds nice I would love to try that flavour xx
sounds lovely x
fantastic prize thankyou very much
i would love to try this product. im having a really hard time trying to lose wieght. feeling bloated and fat with no confidence at all
fingers crossed, lovely prize x
looks lovely!
I’d love to win please – I need to lose some weight ready for my wedding next year xx
Hmm, the raw chocolate looks good!
I’d choose the raw chocolate – yum!
Great competition, would love to try! Fingers crossed!
Need something to try and help me loose some excess weight. I have lost 2 stone since having my son last year but I’ve lost motivation :-(
Definitely wild strawberry for me, I’m I. A wheelchair as I cannot walk so need to stop the pounds piling on
Choc Salted Caramel sounds nice
Fab giveaway , count me in please
Im normally a chocoholic, but actually I think Id like to try the wild strawberry flavour…
Sounds great and perfect for my kick start after pregnancy xx
Oooh this would do me the world of good! the Wild Strawberry sounds nice
its got to be choc salted caramel!!!!
Raw choc would be fab! My kids are 2 & 3 & I sooooo need to shift the weight, it’s making me really sad
I’d like to try the Caffe Latte :)
Perfect -all the flavours sound great especially vanilla
I’d like to try the chocolate salted caramel.
would love to try the Vanilla please.
great prize,x great blog.x great ideas.x
I think I’d most enjoy the wild strawberry
Choc Salted Caramel sounds delicious!
Wild Strawberry sounds lovely – finding it harder to lose weight as I get older x
Choc Salted Caramel sounds like it would be lovely
I think Raw Chocolate would be first choice, although the Vanilla could be good too?
Love the sound of this…too often I’m too busy for lunch then devour a packet of biscuits
would love to win this good luck all X :)
I would love to try this , and also share on my social media platforms – looks like and amazing product – would love to be part of it.
I’d love to try the Wild Strawberry flavour :) They’ve been really clever with their range haven’t they – not many flavours, but a wonderfully diverse range so there will be something for almost everyone.
I would love to try the Caffe Latte flavour.
Would love to try Wild Strawberry flavour
Raw chocolate probably as I have cravings for chocolate all the time, so hopefully this would help curb them.
sounds like just what I need
Choc salted caramel
Wild strawberry
the Vanilla please.
I’d like to try with myself the natural vanilla
They all sound absolutely delicious but I think Wild Strawberry flavour would be my favourite!
Wild strawberry sounds nice
I like the sound of natural vanilla :D xxx
Wild strawberry for me – I’d go with vanilla but that seems to be the flavour almost everyone gets wrong and I don’t want to risk it!!
Cafe latte sounds lovely x
I love the sound of natural vanilla
Wild Strawberry because I love Strawberries
oh has to be the Wild Strawberry x
I’d love to try the wild strawberry
I would like to try the wild strawberry
Looks fab x
vanilla please
I love that this is vegan and would like to try the raw chocolate flavour :)
I’d like to try this in the morning for when I don’t feel like eating breakfast but I think I should have something.
Loving the fact that these are vegan, all sound delish but I would go for the natural vanilla first I think
Wild Strawberry sounds delicious
has to be Choc Salted Caramel
Id like to try this, i think it would be useful for me as a way of ensuring i eat a regular amount of calories/nutrients without having to think too much about it
forgot to say the vanilla would be my first try
I would love to try this
I skip far too many meals and just end up eating rubbish. Would love to try this.
sounds great x
They all sound good
This sounds wonderful ! :)
The raw chocolate sounds delicious.. could do with loosing a few pounds
Would love to win this all, would make me feel a lot healthier than I do atm!
They all sound really good
Ooo cafe latte sounds fab ! Would love to try this
The choc salted caramel, they all sound delicious
I’d love to try this. Having something on hand that I can use to make a quick healthy meal will help stop me snacking.
Chocolate sounds great
This all sounds great. Would love to try it x
I’d love to try the vanilla :)
I could really do with these
sounds great I,m trying to sort my self out mentally and physically just to kow everything is in one shake I could concentrate on other aspects while getting the nutrients I need without worrying fingers crossed
These sound delicious, I would love to give them a try
Cafe latte yum
Since moving home and having a 3 hour commute to work, I’ve piled on the weight eating junk. This would be great to cut them out.
Wild Starwberry sounds indulgent! As a 24/7 999-er we rarely get time to eat so this would be really good to ensure a more healthy lifestyle :)
The chocolate salted caramel flavour sounds amazing
The Cafe Latte
Wild strawberry sounds amazing. Would love this to help me use some weight.
so would love to try these x
I like all things Strawberry so a wild one would be my choice
I would love to try choc salted caramel. I really do need to lose a bit weight and get healthier
these sound amazing would love to try them especially the cafe latte
Sounds lovely.
Interesting. All the flavours sound nice, particularly the caffe latte.
I really need to do something to kick start some weight loss progress.
chocolate salted caramel
Chocolate Salted Caramel sounds right up my street id love to try it out
Wild strawberry for me please. Although they all sound nice
The caffe latte one would hopefully also fulfill that coffee urge.
The chocolate salted caramel sounds so so delicious! I would love to try!
Choc salted caramel
Sounds brilliant and healthier than Slimfast
I would love to try the wild strawberry
All of these sounds amazing good luck everyone
I would like to try the Choc Salted Caramel
raw chocolate
I’d really like to try this. I’ve been trying to loose weight eat less meat so this would fit right in x
These would give me a FAB Pre-Christmas Boost :)
Either Vanilla or Wild Strawberry for me x
Chocolate salted carmel
Fab prize would love to try.
Caffe Latte would be my flavour of choice, but they all sound great.
Could do with shifting some of my middle aged spread
Chocolate Salted Caramel would be good to try
I’d love to try these out great giveaway
Could be a good way to kick start my weight loss
Raw chocolate looks yummy
Wild strawberry
has to be wild strawberry
The cafe latte sounds amazing
This sounds pretty good. I love that it’s vegan too.
I’ve never tried these type of things before but would love to try them
Raw chocolate sounds incredible
The salted caramel flavour sounds amazing. I’m always looking for new healthy meals and snacks.
vegan here and would love to try these!
Caffe Latte sounds lovely
Either the CHOC SALTED CARAMEL or the WILD STRAWBERRY sounds delicious. What a great idea.
Looks fab
Wild Strawberry
I am interested to try as they sound so amazing. Thanks for the chance.
The cafe latte sounds like a lovely flavour x
Great prize! Strawberry would be my fave!
amazing giveaway :-)
Would love to try these and love that they are vegan and natural
fab, thx for the chance :)
sounds good – fancy the wild strawberry :)
These sound great! I think I would choose the Natural Vanilla one :)
Wow this would be amazinggg! Fingers crossed
Wild Strawberry flavour sounds lovely
Sounds fab….anything for ease and substance
Perfect giveaway to get in shape before or after christmas, thanks for the chance to win x
mmm sounds great, im trying to put on weight so this would be good in between meals :)
Amazing prize and great review
I’d love to try the choc salted caramel so I could feel like I’ve had a great.
Great prize, fingers crossed!
I love the sound of the wild strawberry flavour.
Lovely x x x