Hello! I know there are lots of posts like this already, but there's nothing wrong with another data point, right? :-) And for the record, I bought all of the products here myself...So I've been drinking Queal and Huel as replacements for dinner (and occasionally breakfast) for the last three weeks. Here are my thoughts:Packaging and shakerQueal's bags contains three meals (700kcal per meal), whereas Huel's are much bigger with 14 meals (500kcal per meal). I've seen complaints about the Huel bag sizes, especially from those who just want to try a sample, but as a now-regular consumer, I like the larger bags for convenience and less packaging waste. According to Queal's forum, larger sizes are not "on the radar" at the moment...Both bags are a bit fiddly in terms of resealing at the start, when powder gets into the ziplock. But tapping for a while (or running a knife through) to remove the powder works.Shaker comparison: https://ift.tt/2yO59pv – Huel's is slightly taller and bulkier, but I prefer the resealable spout. Queal's shaker has a slightly awkward cap that needs to be screwed on at the exact right angle to work. But it's a minor thing – both do the job. The mesh "ice guards" do a good job of mixing the powder, after a rigorous shake.Taste and textureFor Huel, I bought two bags: the "New and improved" vanilla version, and the "Original" vanilla. For me, the "new" version had an overbearing, artificial sweetener flavour. It left an unpleasant aftertaste that remained for hours, even after eating/drinking other things. Looking at the Huel forum, I've seen other people complaining about the same thing (although some people love it, so I guess it really is a matter of taste).Huel's "original" vanilla was much more pleasant. The vanilla is more subtle, there's more of an oaty and earthy taste, and it's quite nice overall. Even though "original" also uses sucralose as the sweetener, it's much less pronounced.For Queal, I tried a few flavours: Apple Pie, Forest Fruit and Strawberry. They all tasted great, especially Forest Fruit – there were just hints of the flavour, with a generally creamy and oaty taste coming through. So I found Queal a bit more enjoyable to drink than Huel, but admittedly I haven't tried the Huel flavour packs yet...Texture-wise, Huel is considerably grittier/bittier than Queal. I actually like having some texture in the drinks, having something to "grind the teeth" on. Queal is smoother but still has some texture, and is slightly more drinkable for me.Serving size and satietyNow, this is the biggest point for me. One Queal meal is 350ml of water + five scoops of Queal for 700kcal. This leaves the shaker around 2/3rds full. In contrast, one Huel meal is 400ml of water + three scoops + extra 200ml to top up, for just 500kcal. This fills the shaker almost to the top.So with Queal, I get more calories in less liquid, and as I drink the shakes fairly slowly, this makes a big difference. (Maybe over time I'll become accustomed to drinking more quickly, but after three weeks I still like to take it easy...) I know it's possible to change amounts of powder and liquid, and I tried making a more calorie-rich version of Huel with less water, but it was just too thick. So Queal wins here for me. (As a note, here's a discussion on the Huel forum about why Huel requires more water.)In terms of feeling satisfied, Huel actually does a slightly better job, despite the smaller portion sizes I just mentioned. Both keep me going for a few hours, but Huel tends to make my stomach feel "fuller" for longer, whereas after a Queal (even the full 700kcal) I have a snack craving after a couple of hours. I'm not even really hungry (it goes away after a biscuit!) but it feels like my stomach needs something extra...ConclusionSo I'm satisfied with both products, but Queal has become my go-to drink now as I find the taste and texture slightly better, and I much prefer the calories to serving size ratio. Over the years, my lunchtimes have been a mixture of decent food, junk food and sometimes not much at all, and I feel a lot better after drinking Queal and Huel. I'll probably keep a bag of Huel around for variety, but Queal is my favourite.(I know, I didn't talk about nutrition in this comparison, but it's not something I'm especially knowledgeable about. I have seen, however, that Queal 5.0 has halved the amount of maltodextrin in the recipe, which apparently some people have requested.)Anyway, I hope that was useful for people interested in trying meal-replacement drinks. Any questions? Ask in the comments and I'll (try to) answer :-)Bonus mini-review: GO bar vs Twenny BarThe Queal guys added a free GO bar to my order, and separately I bought some vanilla Twenny Bars from Jimmy Joy, so here's a quick comparison. The GO bar had a much more interesting crunchy texture, with a soft vanilla-like layer on top, whereas the Twenny is like a thick, doughy flapjack.In terms of flavour, the GO bar was intensely chocolatey, like a rich chocolate cake – so much, in fact, that I couldn't finish it. It wasn't bad, but as someone who doesn't eat much chocolate, it was simply way too intense. I wish the taste were more subtle – a "hint" of chocolate – like in the powders. Meanwhile, the Twenny Bar had a gentle and pleasant vanilla taste.Ultimately, however, the Twenny Bars didn't play well with my digestive system :-( (And no, I didn't consume them all at once!) But let's just say, they didn't stay long in me... I read that this is due to the high glycerol content, which can work as a laxative. Maybe over time I could get used to it, but after three bars with the same results, I didn't want to carry on. (Fortunately the Jimmy Joy people refunded the second, unopened box.) So I'm still on the hunt for a perfect bar... via /r/soylent https://ift.tt/2Kur61B
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