Is Huel or Whole Supp better?

Meal replacement shakes continue to be a popular solution for those looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle on the go. No matter how much time you have available, a nutrient-filled meal is always possible.

Huel was one of the first brands to popularise this product, and they have been successful in bringing it to the masses. 

However, Huel may not be the perfect solution for everyone, several Whole Supp customers have indicated they switched because of stomach pains or that they didn't like the taste. 

Whole Supp, a brand founded in Ireland by an ex-professional athlete and doctor with 20 years of experience in nutrition for performance.

It has gained a reputation among athletes and people with active lifestyles. It is even trusted by many high-performing athletes like Sam​ Warburton - British and Irish Lions Caption, Jacob Peters - GB Olympic Swimmer and Kate Jayden - GB Tri Athlete.

Here's why Whole Supp meal shakes might be a better fit for you.

1. Better ingredients for more energy and faster recovery

When you take a look at the small print on the back of Huel, you might be surprised to find several ingredients you can’t pronounce and very few superfoods. 

Here we've compared Whole Supp with Huel's Gluten-Free Powder, as Whole Supp is also Gluten Free, which makes for a fair comparison in terms of ingredients.

The Huel Powder Gluten-Free Vanilla consists of:

Gluten-free Oat Flour, Pea Protein, Ground Flaxseed, Tapioca Starch, Brown Rice Protein, Natural Flavourings, Sunflower Oil Powder, Micronutrient Blend, Corn Starch, Vitamin Mix, Lutein, Medium-Chain Triglyceride Powder (from Coconut), Stablisiers: Guar Gym, Xanthan Gum, Fava Bean Protein, Sweetener: Sucralose.

In contrast, here’s what you’ll find in Whole Supp, all 13 ingredients are superfoods with whole ingredients like vanilla bean or cacao for flavouring. There is a very tiny bit of sucralose, but each portion has less than 1.8g of sugar:

Sustainably Sourced Red Sea Algae, Organic Cherries, Broccoli, Beetroot Juice, Spinach, Pea Protein, Rice Protein, Gluten-Free Ground Oats, Sunflower, Flaxseed, Coconut, MTC Oils, 100% Vanilla Bean or Cacao Powder, Sucralose.

Although there are a great mix of protein powder sources in Huel, it lacks the powerful superfoods we’ve included like red sea algae, broccoli, beetroot, and spinach.

You are getting a portion of your daily serving of vegetables and fruit in your shake without the taste of them.

Not only are these foods packed with the natural nutrients your body needs, they are also filled with antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress, which helps with recovery as a result. All of Whole Supp's ingredients are science-backed.

There are also quite a few stabilisers in Huel which have been proven to lead to irritated stomachs. You won’t find those in Whole Supp powder.

2. Better taste and texture

Customers often reach out to tell us how much they love the taste and texture of Whole Supp when they couldn't stomach other meal shakes. Here is what some Whole Supp users have said in the reviews:

"Having tried other protein supplements like Huel and Herbalife, I can highly recommend Whole Supp over them all. Whole Supp taste better, has a much better nutritional content and it’s far better value." - David Casey, Ireland, Verified Customer

"Great product! I’ve tried different brand meal shakes before (Huel and Jimmy Joy), and they both caused stomach pains. I’ve been using Whole Supp for about a year now, and no stomach issues at all! I’m not a big eater in the morning, and sometimes can’t even stand the smell of food in the morning, so Whole Supp is an easy way to make sure I still get in a breakfast meal. It takes less than a minute to prepare and actually tastes really good (especially the vanilla flavour!)." - Martin, United Kingdom, Verified Customer

“I have been taking meal replacement powders for 3 years for 1 meal a day. Mostly Huel but have tried others.

Pros
Mixes well - I blend rather than shake, 500ml ice and water or ice and milk.
I use 1.5 scoops rather than 2, even with blending 2 scoops still leave some residue at the bottom once it settles.
A quick stir and it’s fine though, also 1.5 scoops gives extra meals per pack and therefore VfM.
Good taste/flavour (chocolate). Not tried Vanilla.
Price comparison with others (Huel, etc.) - good
No after affects - don’t feel gassy or bloated.
Don’t feel hungry for several hours after using.

Cons - Limited flavour choices - strawberry, berry, banana etc. would be nice in future" - Richard Loomes, Ireland, Verified Customer 

Why does Whole Supp have a better taste and texture? 

• No tapioca starch, which is quite grainy in texture
• High-quality natural vanilla bean and 100% cacao powder are used to flavour it, ensuring that it doesn’t have an artificial flavour
• Minimum sugar levels in Whole Supp leading to a more natural and less sweet taste; one serving of Whole Supp contains only 1.8g sugars (Huel Black, the high-protein powder variant has 4.4g - 4.6g for its flavoured products)

And whilst we know that you don’t buy a meal replacement shake solely for the taste, but it’s vital in creating a habit.

We want your shake to be something you look forward to, a treat to be enjoyed.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with another product you don’t use, and you’ll simply opt for that easy meal deal when you’re in a rush. 

3. Easier on your gut and digestion

You want to be able to have your meal shake before or after your workout without your stomach reacting poorly.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case with other meal shakes. Customers have informed us that Whole Supp is the first meal shake they can take that makes their stomach feel better, not worse.

All Whole Supp products are gluten-free, which isn’t always the case with Huel and other meal replacement shakes.

Additionally, the ingredients include superfoods like broccoli and red sea algae, both of which support good gut health. The powerful antioxidants and prebiotics in Whole Supp make it easy to digest.  

The full comparison

Whole Supp is an excellent meal shake alternative to Huel for athletes and people with active lifestyles looking for more energy, faster recovery, and a better-tasting product that is easy on the gut.

Why should you choose Whole Supp over other meal replacement shakes?

Check out this direct comparison of Whole Supp and Huel Powder Gluten-Free  and Huel Blackso you can make the right choice for your needs.

Try Whole Supp today

Curious to try our superfood meal shake? When you subscribe to a bags (1 bag = 15 meals or 30 snacks) you get a free welcome gift with a free shaker, two free travel sachets as well as free shipping!

Article Updated August 2024

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