My Honest Review: Ka’chava’s Meal Replacement 2023 – Are They Worth it?
I was initially skeptical about hopping on to the meal replacement bandwagon because I believed that nothing could replace fresh food.
Certainly not something that comes out of a packet. That’s what every natural-food advocate wants you to believe, right?
With this binary thought process, I actually started to eat takeaway meals which were crammed with trans fats, sodium and tons of preservatives, while discounting the fact that a quality meal replacement could actually be more nutritious.
Thankfully, my fitness trainer pointed this out and introduced me to Ka’Chava. I said what the heck and started doing my own research into seeing if this meal replacement really was the ultimate bang for buck tasty nutritious meal shake around.
I came across an excellent personal review that Fitlifefanatics did on their website and after reading how well it not only served him but also reading through many of the reviews that customers have left online I decided to pull the trigger and placed an order on their website.
That was a year ago.
I definitely did not take this pic 8 or 9 times before finally i got my smile how i wanted it and the drink in the picture too.... lol
In a span of 350 odd days, my life, my fitness, my appearance, everything has undergone a dramatic transformation for the better. Would I attribute this all as results from kachava?
No, i would not, but they have 100% definitely helped me improve and get my booty back on track.
I figured that this might be a great time to put my thoughts about Ka’chava into words and let the world know what a game changer it has been for me.
You can check out the exact flavor I personally get on their website for a discount by clicking here
What Is Ka'chava?
Why Have They Become so Popular?
There’s nothing novel about meal replacements. They’ve been around for years and they seemed ideal for athletes looking to build bigger muscles or for celebs who were too busy or too lazy to cook up a decent meal.
But as I started to work, I realized that it was downright impossible to have a well-rounded meal with decent proportions of the macros that we need to function at our best.
If you analyze the macronutrient ratio of any convenient meal, you’ll find that it’s way off from what is even considered acceptable. Now think about consuming meals like this multiple times every day for years.
Why are we surprised that we end up with metabolic diseases by the time we hit our 40s?
Kachava Made Me Healthier, But Mainly Only Because I'm too Lazy & Broke to Cook...
Kachava was created as an alternative to these convenience meals. But convenience is something that every existing meal replacement powder harps on. The founders wanted it to be better than that.
So, they crammed it with as many superfoods, fruits, green veggies, antioxidants, adaptogens, vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein, as they could in a condensed form.
Moreover, they kept it totally plant-based.
With every shake of Kachava, you are not replacing a meal. You are consuming a complete, plant-based, nutritious meal with a precise amount of calories. It’s not a meal replacement powder in that sense.
It is a meal in a ready-to-drink form.
And well, not just another meal type drink on the shelves...
One of the reasons why they became so popular is that none of the existing meal replacement powders like Soylent, Huel or Herbalife could match up to the ingredient list and the sheer nutrient value to that you get with each meal.
Now, this is not to mean that I’m picking on all the other meal replacement drinks out there. I am just laying bare the facts that everybody else seems to leave out of the picture.
Do I sip down on Kachava and only Kachava? Of course not, I have tried a dozen different options since I found out about these shakes. You know, sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes just to try out a budding brand that jumps into the market.
As you will find out later in this review, I have also become fond of Lyfe Fuel Essentials too, just not as much as I like Kachava.
Why Lyfe Fuel? I will let you in on that in a moment!
Back to Kachava, there are obvious reason why I have stuck with this shake, and probably the same reasons you will get hooked on it right from the first gulp! It just stands shoulders high above the competition.
Even now, four years after their launch, that’s Kachava’s USP. It’s what separates it from run-of-the-mill powders.
Does Kachava Have a Mission?
Yes, they do. Kachava’s founder Simone Malone was the quintessential American living a fast-paced lifestyle, overly dependent on takeaways.
Before long, he realized that the meals that were supposed to help him feel and function better, improve his productivity, were actually doing the opposite.
They were making him sluggish and were possibly adding to the stress that he was already reeling under.
So, he set out on a journey to rediscover himself which took him to some of the most pristine forests of South America. For almost a month, he ate just plant based foods used by the tribals and that served as the inspiration for Kachava.
While that sounds more like a PR gimmick, it is something that I could relate with. I too, was leading a stressful life like Simone was, and I completely buy where he’s coming from.
That’s relatable.
Don’t we all decide to eat healthy every day and realize that life has other plans? Priorities, work, relationships, everything takes precedence over our health.
Here's the point
Kachava’s mission is to empower its users to live healthier lives, without compromising on convenience, taste or nutrition.
You can make a Kachava shake in less than two minutes. It tastes just like my favorite hot chocolate. Only, I know that instead of a sugary calorie-dense beverage, I am getting a plant-based meal with superfoods and a very precise amount of calories and macros.
That segues into the next question, and it’s a big one.
What's in Kachava That Makes Their Meal Replacement So Good Compared to Others?
Kachava contains more than 70 ingredients that include veggies, fruits, superfoods and adaptogens.
Typically, we struggle to even consume the daily RDI of veggies and fruits in a week.
Kachava's Nutrition Facts
Kachava just takes the guesswork out of it, by giving you everything that your body needs in a tiny sachet.
It’s a no-brainer way to consume the nutrients you need without fussing over the details.
Kachava's Ingredients - This is What Makes them a Superfood Above All Others
If there is one thing that sets Kachava a notch above the competition, it has to be the meticulously-selected ingredient that goes into each of those packets.
This is not just important for keeping Kachava on top of their game, it is just as good for your tummy too...talk of an absolute win-win!
The Plant-based Protein Blend
Let’s talk protein! I don’t really need to delve into the importance of consuming enough protein on a daily basis, do I? It keeps us fuller for much longer. It helps in a multitude of biological functions. It’s the building block for muscle tissue.
But, what a lot of people do not know is that not all varieties of ready-to-consume protein are equally effective.
A lot of single-ingredient, plant-based protein have an incomplete amino acid profile, which means that they lack some of the vital amino acids that are needed for the body. For example, leucine, lysine, arginine and glutamic acid.
That’s why plant based protein blends like the one in Kachava are considered a lot more effective. Each serving of Kachava gives you 24 grams of protein with a decent rate of digestion, that’s neither too fast, nor too slow.
You feel full for hours after.
There are five primary ingredients that serve as the protein blend in Kachava.
- Yellow Pea
- Organic whole grain brown rice
- Organic Amaranth
- Organic Quinoa
- Organic Sacha Inchi
Yellow pea, when blended with Brown rice provides all 9 essential amino acids that rivals Whey protein in nutritional value. Unlike Soy, which is used in a lot of cheap meal replacement powders, it does not have the potential to cause hormonal fluctuations. Also, both these ingredients are least likely to be GMO.
The rest of the ingredients, like Sacha Inchi and Amaranth also have an impressive blend of essential and non-essential amino acids.
The Veggies and Super Greens
If any of you all are like me, then you probably hate eating leafy greens. I have always hated it, right since the time I was a kid.
That’s part of the appeal of Kachava for me.
It gives me four of my most hated leafy greens, along with 13 other veggies in a single serving. That’s a lot of veggies folks. Even if you consume just one Kachava shake a day, it’s way more veggies than what you’d normally eat in two traditional meals.
Here are the veggies in Kachava.
- Cauliflower
- Beetroot
- Chlorella
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Parsley
- Celery
- Spinach
- Brussels Sprouts
- Asparagus
- Green Pepper
- Garlic
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Cabbage
- Green Onion
- Tomato
All veggies are certified organic
The Antioxidants and Super Fruits
Kachava also features a concentrated blend of super fruits that are crammed to the brim with antioxidants. And that are free of processed sugar, I try my best to lower my intake of processed sugar or cut it out completely from my diet.
Some of these berries, I do consume every now and then. But a few are rare and extremely difficult to source locally.
Like Camu Camu berry, which is one of the most potent sources of Vitamin C in the world. Just 5 grams of Camu Camu contains 760% of your RDI of vitamin C.
Or Maqui berry, the purple berry from Chile that helps protect your heart and regulates blood sugar levels.
There are 9 super fruits in Kachava including Acai, Camu Camu, Blueberry, Tart Cherry, Blackberry, Strawyberry, Maqui berry and raspberry.
The Adaptogen Blend
Given the extremely stressful lives that we lead, it is imperative that we find ways in which we can mitigate the negative effects of stress on our bodies and mind.
I love the fact that Kachava aims to address this through nutrition.
Adaptogens help us cope with stress by reducing our sensitivity to stressors. Sadly, very little is known about the importance of adaptogens in mainstream nutritional science.
Kachava has one of the most powerful adaptogen blends that I could find. I actually spent about eight to nine hours researching about it and turns out that no other meal replacement has an adaptogen blend that’s so powerful.
There’s maca root, shiitake mushroom, maitake mushroom, reishi mushroom, ginger and cordyceps mushroom.
Some of these may sound like fancy ingredients. But each one of these are proven to help us cope better with the stressors we are exposed to every day.
In addition to this, Kachava also contains a whole blend of Vitamins, including 50% of your RDI of B-Vitamins, Minerals, Fiber and Probiotics for gut health.
Who Is Ka'chava Best For?
Kachava’s nutritional profile is so well-rounded that it can be used by just about anybody who’s looking to eat healthier.
Be it a student who’s too busy to cook a meal, a ninja mom trying to juggle a billion things, a corporate executive who’s shuttling between meetings and grabbing whatever they can, or an athlete who’s looking for a precise amount of macro nutrients in each meal.
There’s no one demographic that it caters to.
It works flawlessly for everybody.
What Are Customer Reviews Saying About Kachava?
Honest customer reviews of ka'chava are overwhelmingly positive; people simply love it. And I must say so do I.
People praise Kachava for many things, how it helped them lose weight and get in shape, how it tastes so good, how it provides them with all the nutrition they need, and many other things.
What Flavors Does Kachava Offer? Which Is Best?
I am sorry if I sound like a broken record. But here’s another thing that I really like about Kachava.
It’s available in just two classic flavors, Chocolate and Vanilla.
I don’t have to rack my brain trying to figure out what flavor to select. Oh yes, some meal replacements offer up to 17 flavors, which in reality only adds to the selection paralysis.
Both flavors are rich, creamy and taste exactly like a milkshake does. It’s super easy to mix, even with plain water and a shaker. It does not have that powdery, grainy texture that caused that an aversion to meal replacement shakes in my mind in the first place.
No undissolved gunk, no synthetic lingering flavors after I gulp the shake down.
Here’s the lowdown on each flavor.
It’s a very natural tasting chocolate with organic cocoa, some coconut milk for creaminess and just a hint of cinnamon. It’s not overly sweet (thankfully), nor is it overly bitter. It’s my preferred flavor of the two. According to Kachava, almost 55% of their users prefer the chocolate flavor. So, I am part of the majority.
I quite like the Vanilla flavor. It has natural vanilla extracts, which in itself tastes delicious. It’s very creamy and makes for a great morning shake. However, I find it a little too sweet for anytime drinking. My partner prefers it over the chocolate though.
By the way, there is a third option. You can blend these two flavors. Half a glass of vanilla topped with half a glass of chocolate.
Questions I Had Before I Bought Kachava
As I mentioned at the outset, I was never sold on the meal replacement premise, until my waistline started to expand and my arteries started to shrink.
When my fitness trainer made the pitch, asking me to swap at least one takeaway meal with Kachava, I was not prepared. I had a whole bunch of questions in my mind.
Here are some of them.
Is Kachava worth the Money?
So this was by far the main question that I wanted to get answers for. Is Ka'chava really worth it? This is why i spent so much time researching it. I set out to find as many meal replacements that I could that would rival Kachava.
I put together a list of all the ones that were actually worth a hoot. And by this I mean sorted out the junk nutrition profiles, ones that contain ingredients that I, nor anybody else would want to put in their bodies.
Surprisingly though there actually was not many once i sorted out the bad ones. Then I compared via price per serving. And by far, Kachava not only had a far superior nutrient profile but also gave the best bang for buck. It was a clear winner for me.
Next was taste testing but will leave that one for you to be the decider on. But remember there are many many recipes that you can make with kachava so you are not limited to only the flavors they provide.
Does Kachava Help You Lose Weight?
While it is not a weight loss shake, it can actually help you lose weight in more ways than one.
For starters, it is just 240 calories a shake. That’s a complete meal by the way, which leaves you feeling full for hours.
That has to do with three ingredients in Kachava.
25 grams of protein, 9 grams of fiber and a blend of probiotics. There are no appetite blockers or other nasty stuff.
You Might wonder, is Kachava healthy?
Kachava is all about natural, healthy and sustainable weight loss. The average calorific value of a takeaway meal is between 400-500, most of which is unhealthy junk.
Even if you swap just one meal a day with Kachava, that’s a deficit of 260 calories. If you do that for two meals, it’s 500 calories. A deficit of 500 calories will result in 1-2 pounds of weight loss in a week.
It’s not dramatic. But it’s definitely sustainable. Especially if you exercise regularly as this increases your metabolism.
I usually add ingredients to Kachava, or just blend it with plain water depending on what my goals are and what fitness level do I want to achieve. Add a large tablespoon of peanut butter and you have more protein, healthy fats and around 90 calories.
Throw in a frozen banana and it tastes delicious.
Does Kachava Have Caffeine?
Kachava does not have added caffeine, which may or may not work for you. I usually prefer my beverages decaffeinated. If at all I need some dopamine boost, I go for an expresso shot for my dose of caffeine.
That said, if you are sensitive to caffeine or something, then you should be aware that there are trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine in cocoa.
So the chocolate flavor does contain caffeine. But it’s only in miniscule amounts that should not bother most people.
If it does, then you can always opt for the vanilla flavor instead.
What Is an Alternative to Kachava?
Before getting started with Kachava, I spent a week researching meal replacement powders, based on the quality of ingredients, taste, how well they mix and price.
I discovered that most of the aggressively marketed brands like Huel, Soylent and Herbalife leave a lot to be desired, for one or more reasons.
The closest shake that I could find to Kachava was Vega One.
It is a complete plant-based food that contains 20 grams of protein, 50% of your RDI of vitamins and minerals, 1.5 grams of Omega-3, a decent amount of veggies and greens and 6 grams of fiber, all in just 170 calories.
The calorific value is a tad lesser than what I’d prefer. But there’s always ways to increase that. So that doesn’t bother me much.
On to more pressing things, the primary protein source is Pea and hemp, which is great. There’s no low quality cheap stuff like Soy.
I have never tried Hemp protein. But all I hear is good things about it. In addition to this, there’s Sacha Inchi and flax.
It is available in 7 flavors and my favorites are chocolate, mocha, and coconut almond.
Lyfe Fuel - My Top Pick Alternative to Kachava
I promised earlier on in this post that I will be going into details about Lyf Fuel Essentials Shake and why I like it.
It’s time!
So, how does Lyf Fuel compare to Kachava; is it a worthy alternative?
Although Lyf Fuel might fade in comparison to Kachava’s nutrient profile, it still packs quite the punch for its price.
That’s right, this shake is going for a fraction of the cost of most other shakes out there. But before you shrug it off as just another cheap excuse for a meal replacement shake, hear me out.
After digging around about (and actually having a sip of) the Lyf Fuel essentials, it soon became clear to me that affordability isn’t the only thing this shake has going for it…
Just like Kachava, this shake too is 100% plant-based, comprising of up to 27 natural superfood ingredients. The caloric count is just as remarkable since you get a healthy 110 calories with each shake; a good level especially for those looking to lose weight.
Don’t let this fool you though, Lyf is the shake to gulp down on if you want a little pick-me-up during the day (or even at night) to silence those hunger pangs naturally and keep cravings at bay.
Did I mention the chocolate taste is a sure treat to bring your taste buds to life? One thing for sure, this isn't one of those shakes that taste like dung!
And that's not all...
The LACK of gluten, grains, and dairy is winning the hearts of a good portion of users who have tried it.
Moreover, the macronutrient profile gives everyone (even those who don’t have any fitness goals in mind) a refill on their daily energy needs.
And for you fitness freaks, athletes, and weight watchers out there…the keto and vegan-friendly nature of this Essentials shake is something I’m sure you are chasing in your diet.
How Many Meals a Day Can Be Replaced with Kachava?
As many as you need. Kachava is completely nutritious and 100% plant-based. There are no allergens, chemicals, preservatives and unwanted filler ingredients.
That said, you should not rely purely on powdered meal replacements, ever.
So, we ensure that we do not replace more than two meals a day with Kachava. It’s either breakfast and lunch. Or Breakfast and dinner.
We ensure that we always eat at least one normal meal a day.
You can of course start with one Kachava shake and then work your way from there depending on how you feel, or depending on your fitness goals.
Can Kachava Be Used to Build Muscle?
Yes, it can, and it's great for it. Many of Ka'chava's reviews from customers state how they love to use kachava for both their meal replacement and their post workout recovery.
The was a common misconception that Whey protein was a superior choice for athletes due to a better amino acid profile, which has been proven wrong.
Vegan protein blends, like the one in Kachava, not only provide you with all the essential amino acids, they are also gentler on the gut, especially if you have lactose intolerance.
With each serving of Kachava, you get 25 grams of high quality protein, which makes it perfect for use as a post workout shake.
Oh, don’t discount the fact that it’s just 240 calories a shake.
What Are Some Good Recipes for Kachava?
The rich consistency and easy mixability make Kachava a very versatile addition to a variety of mouthwatering dishes.
You can use it to bake cookies, cakes and bread, make a whole bunch of smoothies with it, make snacks and bars, make pancakes and waffles, or just whip up a highly nutritious breakfast with it.
I started off with the most obvious smoothies. But over the last four to five months, me and my partner have gotten really creative with it.
These are our top 3 favorite Kachava recipes.
#1 – Kachava Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie
Well, this technically does not qualify as a smoothie. Because there’s just one fruit, that’s Blueberry. But you can always add more and turn it into a berry blast kind of thing. Raspberries, Mulberries, Cranberries, add anything that works.
Here are the things you'll need:
- Two scoops of Ka’Chava Vanilla
- 500 ml of water
- 200 grams of mixed berries or Blueberries
- 1 large tablespoon of vegan cream cheese
Add the water, the Kachava powder and the berries to a blender and blend until it has a rich, slightly thick consistency. Now add the vegan cream cheese and blend again until the cheese is completely blended.
*Extra tip: Take some digestive sugar-free cookies, crush them into coarse crumbles and garnish your shake with this.
#2 – Kachava Power Balls
We usually make these power balls for our travel. Not only are they quite filling, they are also super easy to carry.
After we used this for our impromptu snacking during our last holiday, these have become a hit with our friends as well.
Here are the Ingredients you'll need:
- 150 grams of Oatmeal
- 4 scoops of Ka’Chava Chocolate
- 2 scoops of Ka’Chava Vanilla
- 40 grams of Almonds
- 40 grams of organic coconut chips
- 80 grams of soaked date pulp
- 40 grams of cashew nuts
- 2 tbsps of Chia seeds
- 1 tsbp peanut butter
Throw in everything into a food processor and blend it. Add water slowly. You want to attain a dough like consistency so that you can roll tiny balls.
It might take some practice initially. But once you get a hang of things, you’ll be able to make balls very easily.
You can dust with desiccated coconut.
#3 – Kachava Choco Vanilla Cookies
Who doesn’t like cookies? If it’s as nutritious as these are, then they make for guilt free snacking.
Here are the Ingredients you'll need:
- 2 scoops of Vanilla Kachava
- 2 scoops of Chocolate Kachava
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 whole eggs
- ½ cup of brown sugar or 2-3 drops of Stevia extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon extract
- ½ cup of chocolate chips
Take a large bowl. Add all the dry ingredients first, followed by the rest and start to knead it like you would knead normal cookie dough.
Preheat an oven, line up the cookies in a greased tray. You can use oil or butter.
Bake at 350F (180C) until the cookies are evenly done. You can use toothpicks to check whether they are cooked completely.
#4 – Kachava Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are the perfect breakfast. Easy to consume, filling and super easy to make.
With Kachava, we start our days with a perfect meal that amps up the nutrient value of the oats by miles.
Here are the Ingredients you'll need:
- 150 grams of Oats
- 2 scoops of Kachava Vanilla or Chocolate
- 300 ml of almond milk
- 300 ml of water
- 1 tbsp Maple syrup (optional)
- 1 tbps Cocoa (optional)
- 1 frozen banana or berries
Throw everything into a bowl, mix and refrigerate. Top it with the fruit in the morning for a quick, sumptuous morning meal.
Related Readings:
- I Tried The One Punch Man Workout - Here Are The Results
- How Long Should You Run on a Treadmill?
- Stationary Bike vs. Elliptical – Which is Better for What?
- Best Incline Treadmills & Trainers
- Calisthenics vs Weights, Which is Best For Building Toned Muscle?
