When it comes to ready-to-drink meal replacements in 2025, the battle of yFood vs Huel is endless. Both are popular, both promise balanced nutrition, but both are not built the same! So, which one is actually better?
In today’s fast-paced life, not everyone has the time to prep a healthy lunch between Zoom calls, long commutes for work, or endless to-do lists. That is where these meal replacement drinks come in. And no, we are not talking about shakes and drinks that taste like cardboard. We are talking about the next-gen nutritional drinks like yFood and Huel – two brands that are revolutionising the way Brits are having lunch on the go.
But how do you decide which brand is the best in terms of taste, nutritional value, or keeping your hunger pangs away for a longer time?
In this blog- yFood vs Huel, we are going to break down every factor to help you decide which one to choose based on your lifestyle, budget, and nutritional requirements.
Huel vs yFood – Origin and Overview
yFood, a German-origin brand, has made a serious splash in the UK in the past few years. It has become one of the go-to choices as grab-and-go meals that don’t compromise on flavour or nutrition. The idea behind forming yFood was to mimic a complete meal, containing carbs, fats, and proteins, all in the right proportions. Known as a superfood, yFood consists of 26 vitamins & minerals to meet your everyday requirement of a balanced diet. So whenever life gets in the way, this could be your resort to a healthy meal with no blender, no prep, and no fuss – yet super tasty.
On the other hand, Huel is a UK-based brand that has built a cult-following among fitness enthusiasts. While it also offers ready-to-drink meal replacements, it is primarily known for its powdered meals, unlike yFood, which is widely popular for its RTD shakes. These powdered meals by Huel (short for human fuel) are high in protein and fibre and engineered to be ultra-efficient and clean fuel for your body. But that’s not it. Huel has a wide range of food options, from powdered meals to hot meals, supplements, snacks, nutrition, and on-the-go meals. This plant-based, highly nutritious food is totally customizable, especially when you are controlling your macros and trying to save some money. And let’s not forget that you might need a shaker or hot water for it!
So, in this comparison of yFood vs Huel, the latter is less of a ’grab and go’ meal and more of a ‘food with intent’. In this case, yFood fits your fast-paced lives better, but if you want to optimise health over convenience, Huel should be your choice.
Difference Between yFood and Huel – At a Glance
| Feature | yFood | Huel |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Germany | United Kingdom |
| Food Types | RTDs, bars | Powders, RTDs, bars, hot meals |
| Prep Needed? | None | Yes (for powdered & hot meals) |
| Taste Style | Creamy, dessert-like | Earthy, natural, less sweet |
| Best For | Convenience + taste | Budget + customisation |
| Nutritional Requirements | Fulfils 25% of your daily needs | Fulfils 25% of your daily needs |
yFood vs Huel – Who has a better Nutritional Value?
When it comes to meal replacements, the first question that pops up in everyone’s mind is – does it meet the daily nutritional requirements of our bodies? In this case, both Huel and yFood claim to be offering all the necessary nutrients, each fulfilling 25% of the daily nutritional needs of your body with 26 essential vitamins and minerals. But what happens when we start comparing specific products? Let’s start with the products these brands specialize in.
While comparing the ready-to-drink meals (500ml bottle) by yFood and Huel, it should be noted that yFood offers 33.3g of protein, and Huel offers only 20g of protein. yFood, with 37.7g of carbohydrate, 27.7g of fat, and 500 calories, is more suitable for someone who needs a high-energy intake. However, Huel RTD meals (500ml bottle) contain 36g of carbohydrate, 19g of fat, and 400 calories, making it more appropriate for someone who needs a low-calorie, low-fat drink that also provides balanced nutrition.
Nutritional Philosophy – Comparison of Huel vs yFood Ready to Drink Meals
| Nutrient | yFood RTD | Huel RTD |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~500 kcal | ~400 kcal |
| Protein | 33.3 g | 20 g |
| Carbohydrates | 37.5 g | 36 g |
| └ Sugars | 5.8 g | 4.2 g |
| Fat | 26.7 g | 19 g |
| Fiber | 7.5 g | 6 g |
| Vitamins & Minerals | 26 essentials | 26 essentials |
| Lactose-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Vegan | No (uses milk protein) | Yes |
Let’s move on from RTDs to Meal Replacement powders, which is what Huel is known for! Well, per 100g serving of yFood’s meal replacement powder contains up to 26.4 g of protein, around 400 calories, 37 g of carbohydrate, and 7 g of fiber. On the contrary, Huel offers 30 g of protein, 400 calories, 37 g of carbohydrate, and 7 g of fiber per 100 g serving of its meal replacement powder.
Nutritional Philosophy – Comparison of Huel and yFood Meal Replacement Powder
| Nutrient | YFood Powder | Huel Powder (v3.0) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~400 kcal | ~400 kcal |
| Protein | 26.4 g | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 37 g | 37 g |
| └ Sugars | 3.5 g | <1 g |
| Fat | 17 g | 13 g |
| Fiber | 7 g | 7 g |
| Vitamins & Minerals | 26 essentials | 26 essentials |
| Lactose-Free | Yes | Yes |
| Vegan | Only Classic Powder is vegan | Yes |
In this round of yFood vs Huel, both offer complete meal solutions, but they cater to slightly different needs and preferences. yFood is ideal for those seeking high-protein and high-calorie meal replacement options to meet higher energy needs to gain or maintain their weight. Whereas, Huel is perfect for those who are looking for low-sugar and fiber-rich formulations for clean and balanced nutrition.
yFood vs Huel – Ingredients They Use
When breaking down the specific ingredients of yFood, you will find that they use milk-based proteins (slower-digesting casein + some whey) that keep you full for longer hours. yFood also uses coconut milk for a creamy texture, pea protein, rice powder, sunflower oil for fats, soluble corn fibre, and sucralose as a sweetener.
However, Huel utilizes 100% plant-based proteins extracted from peas and rice, which creates a complete amino acid profile. It voids sugar-based carbs, relying on oat flour and tapioca starch, and includes flax seeds and MCTs for fats. For fats, Huel UK also uses sunflower oil along with soluble corn fiber and oat fiber, and just like yFood, most of its drinks contain sucralose.
In this round, Huel comes out ahead if you prefer plant-based eating without any artificial additives. But if you are more into dairy and want that ‘milkshake’ like experience that is familiar to you, yFood must be your obvious choice.
yFood vs Huel – Taste and Experience
Taste is one of the major factors that influences people’s choice of meal replacements. Because somewhere down the line, you will get tired of a terrible-tasting drink, regardless of how nutritious it is. Although both yFood and Huel tick the ‘complete nutrition’ box, they surely deliver completely different taste experiences, making the choice between these two very clear for many Brits.
yFood offers a silky and drinkable texture that is not too thick and tastes delicious, as reported by the majority of users. yFood drinks come in six flavours – chocolate, vanilla, coffee, fresh berry, banana, and coconut. And the best part is, there is zero effort required to consume it, just shake, open, and drink.
Huel, on the other hand, has a polarising taste for the first-timers, even though it has developed a user base amongst the fitness enthusiasts who prefer performance over flavour. Huel has a thicker texture due to its oat base, and its subtle taste may be a bit chalky and plain for many consumers. However, Huel offers unflavoured and unsweetened versions of its powders to let the users add their own flavours, but that only means extra efforts and is not an option for those looking for a quick meal replacement.
In this round of Huel vs yFood, if you want to choose flavour and convenience in your meal replacements, yFood should be your go-to choice without question. But if you have an acquired taste and want optimised nutrition, Huel has more flavours for you, including vanilla, berry, chocolate, and banana. They also have other flavors like cinnamon, salted caramel, and iced coffee caramel.
yFood or Huel – Which Offers More Convenience?
The whole point of switching to meal replacements is replacing your home-cooked meals without compromising nutrition, conveniently. So let’s find out which one between yFood and Huel makes it effortless to consume these drinks.
yFood is mostly focused on offering already prepared meals that can be consumed in between meetings, classes, and while driving as well. This is the reason why its ready-to-drink meals are so popular and the first choice of busy individuals. On the contrary, Huel is more known for its meal replacement powders and their nutritional value, but the problem is, they need to be prepared first using water or milk, making it less convenient for some users.
So in terms of convenience, yFood is more preferable than Huel for people who have less or no time to prepare these drinks or hot meals during the day.
yFood vs Huel UK Discount Codes & Price Comparison
If you are a regular consumer of these ready-to-drink and powder meals by yFood and Huel, you might also be curious about finding discounts that can help you save amazingly on your purchases. Well, worry not, because here we have revealed all such evergreen deals and offers to weigh in your decision of choosing the right one between Huel and yFood.
| Points of Comparison | Huel Discount Codes | YFood Discount Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sign Up Discount | 10% OFF | 10% OFF |
| Subscription Discount | 10% OFF (brings down £42 cost of the mealbox to £38) | 15% OFF (brings down £20.94 to £17.80) |
| Student Discount | 10% via Student Beans | 10% via Student Beans |
| Referral Program | £15 off for referrer and referee | £10 off for referrer and referee |
| Bulk Discount | 10% off when spending £90+ | Not officially listed |
| Free Shipping Threshold | Free shipping over £45 | Free shipping over £25 |
| Emergency Worker Discount | NHS discount, military discount, first responder discount, & teacher discount | NHS discount |
Both of these meal replacement brands offer amazing deals for the users. Huel, being a UK-based company, has a variety of discounts for different user bases, but yFood doesn’t offer emergency worker discounts, which may be a downside for specific buyers who might benefit from those discounts.
Huel vs yFood – the Ultimate Showdown
Although choosing between Huel and yFood comes down to a personal choice, nutritional requirement, calorie preferences, and taste, we will do everything to make the choice easier for you. After we have analyzed both of these meal-replacement providers, it’s time to dive a bit deeper, highlighting certain other key factors that can contribute to your decision.
| Basis of Comparison | Huel | YFood |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Price RTD | £3.17 per bottle | £3.49 per bottle |
| Standard Powdered Meal | £1.59 per meal | £1.99 per meal |
| Value for Money | More affordable, especially in the UK. Powder costs around £1.09–£1.47 per 400kcal serving. | Slightly more expensive, with powder costing around £1.99 per 400kcal serving. RTD bottles are also priced higher due to convenience. |
| Convenience | Meal powders and ready-to-drink (RTD) options are available. Powder requires mixing; RTD is more convenient but pricier. | Primarily known for RTD bottles, which are highly convenient. Powder options are also available. |
| Taste & Texture | Some find the powder gritty and bland; RTD versions are more palatable but loved by only a specific audience. | Liked by the consumers for taste and smooth texture, especially the RTD versions. Powder may be watery if not mixed well. |
| Nutritional Quotient | Vegan-friendly and has a balanced macronutrient profile. Lower in sugar (1.2g per serving) and includes MCTs for energy. | Higher in sugar (15g per serving) and fat. You’ll get both vegetarian and vegan options, with high protein content. |
| Reviews Available on Third-Party Websites | Mixed feedback – while some users appreciate the nutritional balance, others have issues with its taste and texture. | Mostly positive reviews, especially for taste and convenience, with some concerns about higher sugar content and price. |
| Dietary Suitability | 100% vegan and gluten-free. Suitable for various dietary preferences. | Standard products contain milk; vegan options are available but may contain soy. Gluten-free. |
| Environmental Impact | 51% of recyclable plastic is used to promote sustainability. | Contributes to plastic waste. |
Who Wins – yFood or Huel?
After we have pitted them head-to-head in this comprehensive analysis, it would be quite difficult to pick just one between yFood and Huel. Both of these sellers offer great nutritional value, convenience, and value for money, making an undeniably good choice for all the busy bees. However, the winning choice between yFood vs Huel would be the one that fulfills your needs better.
Like, if you want to prioritise taste and have a grab-and-go option for your meals, yFood is the answer, and if you want to keep your sugar levels and calories in check, then you know you have to go with Huel. If you want a cheaper option with flexibility in choosing your meal portion size, Huel is all you need, but those who choose convenience over money will go with yFood.
Is Huel actually good for you?
Huel is an ultra-processed food, but not the one that you should completely avoid. It mostly contains peas, rice, oats, and it is an unsweetened and unflavoured powder that can be turned into a drink whenever you want. It adds essential vitamins and minerals on top of it to make their meal replacements healthier. So, most users have reported that it is good for their health, however, they also recommend that it should be consumed in a limited quantity.
Is Huel good for weight loss?
Overall, it can be said that Huel contributes to your weight loss journey by being a part of your calorie-controlled diet. It has a high content of protein and fiber that can help you feel full for a longer period with a great nutritional balance.
Is yFood healthy?
Absolutely, yFood is reported to be one of the healthiest meal replacement options with 26 vitamins and minerals, protein, fiber, carbohydrate, and other ingredients for a high nutritional value, as recommended by the German Nutrition Society. Indulge in a guilt-free experience full of taste that healthily replaces your meals.