Back in the day, if you wanted to lose weight, some people would suggest the SlimFast diet. This was before people knew the truth about sugar and how terrible it is for you.
The idea behind the SlimFast diet was that you would lose weight by replacing one premade canned shake for breakfast and one at lunch. Then you would eat a healthy meal for dinner.
The problem with old SlimFast products was that they were full of sugar and other harmful ingredients. You could lose weight simply by reducing your calories alone, but the SlimFast diet was never a good way to sustain weight loss.
Fortunately, even SlimFast has jumped on the keto bandwagon and altered some of their formulas. So, is it safe to use them on the ketogenic diet today?
This article talks about the SlimFast diet and whether or not you can use their products on the ketogenic diet.
What is SlimFast?
SlimFast is a company that sells weight loss and nutrition products. It was first launched in 1977 but didn’t become popular in the United States until the 1990s.
Nowadays, people can find their products at major retail stores, such as Walmart, Amazon, Jet, Target, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, and H-E-B.
When the company first came out, they only sold weight loss shakes. These shakes came in a can, and their signature red and white label could be spotted from a mile away. It wasn’t until 2009 that the company started selling low-carb products.
As mentioned above, the SlimFast diet had you drinking a shake for breakfast and lunch, and then eating a low-calorie meal for dinner. Many people lost weight on the SlimFast diet simply because they reduced their calories, but then gained it all back (and then some) when they started eating real food again.
The ironic thing about the SlimFast diet was that its popularity spread like wildfire. Everyone was carrying a SlimFast shake around with them!
The problem with the original SlimFast shakes is that they were full of sugar and canola oil, which is the opposite of what we now know to be healthy.
Here is the nutritional information for a can of the Original French Vanilla SlimFast shake:
- 180 calories
- 6 grams of fat
- 24 grams of carbs
- 5 grams of fiber
- 18 grams of sugar
- 10 grams of protein
Ingredients: fat free milk, water, sugar, canola oil, maltodextrin, milk protein concentrate, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, natural and artificial flavors, mono and diglycerides, potassium phosphate, soy lecithin, calcium phosphate, carrageen, sucralose, acesulfame potassium.
The use of sugar, skim milk, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, canola oil and maltodextrin makes this a very low-quality and highly processed product. People eventually caught on to the fact that these shakes aren’t good for you, and SlimFast shake sales suffered as a result.
Today, the company has branched out from its signature sugar-laden shakes with newer formulas that might just put the company back on top of its weight loss game.
Here is a list of product lines that SlimFast now sells:
- Original (shakes and shake mixes)
- Advanced nutrition (shakes and smoothie mixes)
- Advanced energy (shakes and smoothie mixes)
- Keto (meals, shake mixes, snacks and basics)
- Diabetic weight loss (shake mixes)
- Bake shop (cookies and bars)
- SlimCafe (coffee drinks)
- Snacks (chips, crisps, and snack bites)
- Boosters (gummy supplements)
What “Keto” Products Do They Offer?
SlimFast still sells their original shake that made the company popular way back when, but they also sell keto products now for the carb conscious.
In addition to being low in carbs and high in healthy fats, many of the SlimFast keto products feature a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.
SlimFast also offers a line of so-called diabetic weight loss products, including meal bars, shake mixes, and snacks. These products are lower in net carbs than other SlimFast products, but they are not as low as the keto line.
Here is a list of keto products offered by SlimFast:
#1. Fudge Brownie Batter Shake Mix
The fudge brownie batter shake mix is ideal for chocolate lovers who can’t get enough. It features some keto-friendly ingredients, such as grass-fed butter, MCT, and collagen protein along with other processed ingredients.
Two scoops of the fudge brownie batter shake mix contains the following:
- 190 calories
- 15 grams of fat
- 9 grams of carbohydrates (4 grams of net carbs)
- 2 grams of fiber
- 3 grams of erythritol
- 8 grams of protein
Ingredients: MCT oil blend (palm, coconut, and grass-fed butter), protein blend (whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, grass-fed collagen peptides), cocoa, erythritol, natural flavors, soy lecithin, salt, xanthan gum, silica, carrageenan, dextrose, stevia leaf extract, monk fruit extract, guar gum
Directions: add 8 ounces of water to two scoops of brownie mix and shake well.
#2. Vanilla Cake Batter Shake Mix
For those who don’t like chocolate, Slim-Fast has a vanilla cake batter shake mix that contains low carb ingredients and lots of vitamins and minerals.
Two scoops of the vanilla cake batter shake mix contains the following:
- 190 calories
- 15 grams of fat
- 8 grams of carbohydrates (5 grams of net carbs)
- 0 grams of fiber
- 3 grams of erythritol
- 8 grams of protein
Ingredients: MCT oil blend (palm, coconut, and grass-fed butter), protein blend (whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, grass-fed collagen peptides), erythritol, natural flavors, soy lecithin, salt, xanthan gum, silica, carrageenan, dextrose, stevia leaf extract, monk fruit extract, guar gum.
Directions: add 8 ounces of water to two scoops of brownie mix and shake well.
#3. Peanut Butter Cup Fat Bombs
Peanut butter cup fat bombs are everything you ever wanted in a dessert but without the sugar. They contain 9 grams of fat and one gram of net carbs per cup.
One peanut butter cup contains the following:
- 90 calories
- 9 grams of fat
- 6 grams of carbs (1 gram net carbs)
- 3 grams of fiber
- 2 grams of erythritol
- 1 gram of protein
Ingredients: Milk chocolate coating [chocolate, erythritol, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, inulin (natural vegetable fiber), nonfat dry milk, soy lecithin, natural vanilla extract, salt, stevia leaf extract], MCT oil blend (palm, coconut), peanut butter (peanuts), erythritol, milk protein isolate, peanut flour, peanut oil, stevia leaf extract, salt
If you prefer making your own, I suggest you try this keto peanut butter cups recipe.
#4. Whipped Peanut Butter Chocolate Meal Bar
SlimFast claims that this peanut butter chocolate bar is fluffy, filling and perfectly full of peanuts. It contains 9 grams of fiber and 14 grams of fat per bar.
One bar contains the following:
- 190 calories
- 14 grams of fat
- 15 grams of carbs (4 grams of net carbs)
- 9 grams of fiber
- 3 grams of sugar
- 2 grams of erythritol
- 7 grams of protein
Ingredients: MCT and butter blend [MCT oil blend (palm, coconut), peanut butter, cocoa butter], soluble fiber (isomalto-oligosaccharide from tapioca), protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), unsweetened chocolate, tapioca syrup, cacao NIBS, inulin, erythritol, peanut flour, natural flavor, glycerin, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, stevia extract, natural vanilla extract, cultured dextrose, mixed tocopherols.
#5. Whipped Triple Chocolate Meal Bar
This keto meal bar contains whey protein and MCTs from coconut oil. It’s free from gluten, artificial colors, and artificial sweeteners.
One bar contains the following:
- 190 calories
- 14 grams of fat
- 15 grams of carbs (4 grams of net carbs)
- 9 grams of fiber
- 3 grams of sugar
- 2 grams of erythritol
- 7 grams of protein
Ingredients: MCT & butter blend [MCT oil blend (palm, coconut), peanut butter, cocoa butter], soluble fiber (isomalto-oligosaccharide from tapioca), protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), unsweetened chocolate, tapioca syrup, cacao nibs, inulin, erythritol, peanut flour, natural flavor, glycerin, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, stevia extract, natural vanilla extract, cultured dextrose, mixed tocopherols.
#6. Unsweetened Coffee Creamer
Keto unsweetened coffee creamer is usually used in place of milk and other artificial sweeteners to jazz up your coffee.
Two heaping teaspoons contain the following:
- 80 calories
- 8 grams of fat
- 3 grams of carbs
- 0 grams of fiber
- 2 grams of sugar
- <1 gram of protein
Ingredients: ketogenic creamer blend (coconut oil, MCT oil, grass-fed butter), maltodextrin, silica, himalayan sea salt
Directions: add two teaspoons of creamer into your coffee and blend with a mini blender or incorporate well.
Related: Top Keto-friendly Coffee Creamer Brands You Can Try!
#7. MCT Oil
SlimFast’s MCT oil contains non-GMO MCT oil from 100% pure coconut oil with C8 Caprylic acid. It does not contain lactose, gluten or artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors.
One tablespoon of MCT oil contains the following:
- 130 calories
- 14 grams fat containing 14 grams of MCT from coconut oil
- 7,000 mg C8 Caprylic acid
Ingredients: pure MCT oil from non-GMO coconut oil
Directions: you can add MCT oil to your favorite fat bomb recipes, coffee, and baked goods. You can also use it in place of regular cooking oil.
#8. Ketone Test Strips
SlimFast offers urine ketone test strips so that you can monitor your ketone output.
You can read more about how to use keto urine test strips here.
#9. SlimFast Keto Shakes Ready Made To Go
The ready-made SlimFast keto shakes don’t require a mix. All you have to do is grab them and go. They come in three flavors: creamy milk chocolate, vanilla cream, and creamy mocha latte.
One bottle of the creamy milk chocolate ready-made shake contains the following:
- 180 calories
- 14 grams of fat
- 7 grams of carbs (2 grams net carbs)
- 5 grams of fiber
- 8 grams of protein
Ingredients: water, MCT oil (C8 caprylic acid triglycerides), milk protein concentrate, cocoa (processed with alkali), cellulose gel, maltodextrin, different forms of potassium, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavors, salt, and sucrose.
#10. SlimFast Ultra Hydration+
The SlimFast Ultra Hydration+ is an electrolyte powder that is designed to help you stay hydrated while in ketosis. It comes in a tropical orange mango flavor and features an adaptogen and B vitamin complex blend.
The drink mix is sweetened with stevia. You can use it as a replacement for a sports drink or when you want to help combat the ketosis flu.
One scoop contains the following:
- 5 calories
- 1 gram of carbs
- 45 mg calcium (3% RDV)
- 80 mg sodium (3% RDV)
- 150 mg magnesium citrate (36% RDV)
- 183 mg potassium citrate and chloride (4% RDV)
- 300 mcg vitamin A (35% RDV)
- 120 mg vitamin C (130% RDV)
- 150 mcg thamin (15% RDV)
- 170 mcg riboflavin (15% RDV)
- 2 mg niacin (15% RDV)
- 2 mg vitamin B6 (120% RDV)
- 600 mcg pantothenic acid (10% RDV)
- 4.8 mcg chromium (10% RDV)
- 575 mg adaptogen blend (l-theanine, glutamine, Schisandra Chinensis, Rhodiola, Eleutherococcus senticosus, and ashwagandha root)
Ingredients: citric acid, natural flavor, natural color, stevia leaf extract, silicon dioxide.
How to use: add one scoop to 8 ounces of water and mix well.
#11. Fat Bomb Shots
SlimFast makes a fat bomb shot in a tangy orange creme flavor. It comes in an on-the-go travel package and can be used in place of a shake or bar when you need a low-carb snack.
One packet contains the following:
- 100 calories
- 10 grams of fat
- 3 grams of carbs (1 gram net carbs)
- 2 grams of erythritol
- 0 grams of protein
Ingredients: purified water, MCT oil, erythritol, acacia gum, natural flavors, xanthan gum, cellulose, sea salt, oligosaccharides, potassium sorbate, citric acid, and stevia leaf extract.
Directions: use a keto fat bomb shot in between meals as a snack to increase dietary fats and ketone production.
Are These SlimFast Products Strictly Keto-Approved?
Although SlimFast has made definite improvements in their products over the years, we don’t recommend using some of their keto products if you’re a strict die-hard ketogenic dieter.
We give SlimFast props for dropping most of the sugar content in their keto products. Reducing your sugar intake is something you can benefit from regardless of your dietary preferences.
We like the fact that Slimfast MCT Oil is made purely from MCTs in coconut oil. This is their best and most keto-compliant product, in our opinion.
However, other SlimFast keto products aren’t the best for strict keto dieters. Perhaps they might improve their products in the future, but right now, it’s not yet optimal.
First, they use some questionable ingredients in their products that aren’t 100% keto-friendly. Their products also contain more net carbs than most keto dieters would like to see.
Generally, the fewer ingredients a product has, the better it is for you. The more ingredients with words you can’t pronounce, the less natural it is.
For example, when it comes to protein bars, we like the ingredients in other keto bars such as the ones from Perfect Keto, which includes collagen protein, coconut oil, stevia and not much else.
These protein bars tend to contain 3 grams or fewer of net carbs per bar. They also tend to be higher in good fats to help keep you full.
On the other hand, SlimFast snacks and shakes have a MCT blend that includes palm in many of their products, and their net carbs tend to linger around 4 carbs or more.
Secondly, we also noticed that some of their products include ingredients that aren’t keto-friendly such as tapioca syrup, soy, carrageenan, milk, and dextrose/maltodextrin (derived from corn). Typically, these ingredients are avoided by most strict-keto dieters.
They also contain a great deal of preservatives. Some online reviewers (you can watch on YouTube) even state that their blood sugar levels jump after consuming SlimFast products.
Overall, SlimFast keto products are a good option for general low-carb dieters and general population who just want to eat fewer carbs, but not ideal for hardcore ketogenic dieters who appreciate the product ingredients instead of just the carb count.
How Much Weight Can You Lose In A Week With Slim Fast?
The Slimfast plan claims that you can safely lose up to two pounds per week. However, if you want to lose weight on a ketogenic diet, there are many things you need to know. Check our complete keto weight loss guide for more details.
Conclusion
SlimFast is an iconic diet program that became popular in the United States back in the 1990s. The diet consisted of premade shakes only. The program asked you to replace your breakfast and lunch for a shake while eating a healthy, low-calorie meal for dinner.
Many people lost weight on the SlimFast diet simply because they reduced their calories, only to find that the weight came back when they started to eat real food again. Their shakes were full of sugar, canola oil, and cheap ingredients that spiked blood sugar levels and left you as hungry as a lion.
Luckily, SlimFast heard about the keto diet and decided to launch its own line of products. They now offer bars, shakes, and even fat bombs with fewer carbs than their original products.
Despite this great attempt, SlimFast keto products aren’t recommended for diehard ketogenic dieters because they contain many ingredients that are not keto-friendly. They also contain more net carbs than similar products from other keto companies.
We recommend sticking with a high-quality keto company or snacking on keto-approved snacks instead of investing in the SlimFast keto line. However, if your a just low-carb eater and you don’t necessarily care about staying in ketosis, then SlimFast could work for you.
Bottom line: To succeed with keto, you just have to stick to your macros, eat real foods, stay active and keep your electrolytes in check. You should avoid processed foods whenever possible for best results.
Up Next: What Are the Best Tasting Low-Carb and Ketogenic Protein Powders and Shakes?
