Best meal replacement options?

Hi there!
Since my schedule is pretty packed and I wear braces, I usually have to stick to eating at home so I can clean up afterward. Because of that, I often go from breakfast until dinner without eating anything. Does anyone have recommendations for meal replacements, maybe in a drink or tablet form? Sometimes I just grab a Red Bull. I used to take fructose tablets, but is that actually a good idea? Is there something more effective out there?

I know plenty of people who rocked braces and ate basically whatever they wanted without much drama. Honestly, I find it hard to believe you can't find five minutes to hit the restroom and brush your teeth.

I've been wearing braces for three years now, and I haven't eaten out in the city once. It's just hard to find a place where I can properly clean my teeth, and honestly, if I tried to go somewhere to brush, I feel like people would just judge me.

Look, it's your call, but let's be real:
a) you could just brush them some other way
b) or duck into a bathroom stall and give them a proper scrub
It’s not like that's impossible. I’ve definitely heard of people doing both, and nobody ended up starving or living exclusively on Red Bull because of it.

The issue isn't about apartments; it's about meal replacements. So, either offer some suggestions or step aside.

🤣
Telling someone to just live off some protein powder all day simply because they’re feeling lazy? That’s stupid and irresponsible, so I’m definitely not going to do that.

Whatever.👋

I'm not being lazy or anything, and you aren't the only person I've asked. Does anyone actually have the answer?

Just stick to fruit yogurts. You can grab those protein powder shakes too, or honestly, if you want to be real about it, just blend some fresh fruit and veggies at home and toss it in a Yeti...

But honestly, even after you grab some fruit juice, a milkshake, a protein shake, or even a Red Bull—they all mess with your mouth's pH levels or leave behind residue. You really should at least rinse your teeth with water afterward.

I mean, if someone is actually worried enough about their teeth to wear braces and obsess over cavities, why on earth would they ignore the rest of their body? A diet like that is just... it's not doing anyone any favors.

And I don't get this "too busy" excuse either. School, college, work... whatever. If you actually specified what the real issue is, it'd be way easier to give a helpful answer.

Well, they can just drink some water after that. 🤷 What they’re doing right now is actually way worse—not eating all day or just slamming a Red Bull. They're going to wreck their teeth, and honestly, they'll destroy their entire health at this rate.

I mean, it’s definitely not your standard move, but if you're in a spot where keeping up with basic hygiene is becoming a struggle, grabbing something like Ensure might be a decent way to make sure you're actually getting the nutrients you need for a meal replacement.
Just a heads-up though, since I don't think you have a specific medical reason for it (as far as I know), that kind of stuff can get pretty pricey really fast.🤔

velvetmoose9 said:Well, it isn't standard practice, but if you can't maintain proper hygiene, using a meal replacement like Ensure might cover your nutritional bases...
Just keep in mind that since you don't have a medical prescription for it (as far as I know), it won't be exactly cheap... 🤔

Exactly. Ensure from Abbott.
A 12$4.25oz carton serves as a full meal replacement, and since it comes with a straw, it might help minimize oral buildup. Hopefully... 😁
It’s pricey, sure, but then again, even a Red Bull isn't cheap. At least this actually provides the nutrients you need...

Honestly, when you look at it compared to stuff like Red Bull (which is basically just 11-$4.00 grams of sugar) and all that fructose, Ensure is definitely the premium choice, both when it comes to the price tag and the actual nutritional value 😁

I don't think you can get your hands on that one without a prescription or some kind of doctor's note from the clinic.🙂

Thanks for the tip on those yogurts. I actually had no idea. Just rinse your mouth with water afterward and you're good to go. I've got about two more months in braces before I switch over to a retainer.

I honestly don't get how they haven't invented a pill that replaces a whole meal yet. I'm pretty sure astronauts have some kind of meal replacement pouches in their bags.