OPTAVIA Fuelings: The Science Inside Every Bite

When it comes to your health journey, what you eat sets the foundation for how your body functions.

That’s why OPTAVIA Fuelings, nutrient-dense grab-and-go options, are the bedrock of OPTAVIA’s flagship 5 & 1 plan®. When paired with a daily Lean & Green™ meal, they deliver balanced nutrition that helps preserve lean muscle mass and keeps you on track.  

With more than 45 choices on the OPTAVIA Fuelings list — from creamy shakes and crunchy bars to hearty soups and savory snacks — each one is carefully crafted by OPTAVIA’s in-house food scientists with intentional ingredients backed by rigorous research.

Product innovation, science and taste come together in every bite to move you closer to your goals. 

What are OPTAVIA Fuelings? 

OPTAVIA Fuelings are scientifically designed meal replacements that form the core of the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 plan®. On this structured plan, you’ll eat five Fuelings each day — along with one Lean & Green meal — giving your body the right balance of protein, fiber and essential nutrients.  

This combination helps you enter a fat-burning state, while retaining up to 98% of your lean muscle mass.*  

With an array of Fuelings designed to fit your lifestyle, variety and science work together to support both progress and satisfaction. And with this nutritional combination, quality weight loss has never been easier. 

The Science Behind OPTAVIA Fuelings 

Every Fueling is rooted in science, not guesswork, to support quality weight loss and overall metabolic health.

If you tried to stay within this calorie range using only whole foods, you’d likely miss out on key nutrients your body needs. That’s where the science behind OPTAVIA Fuelings comes in — every option is intentionally formulated to help you reach your weight-loss goals while also delivering critical vitamins, minerals, protein, carbs, fat, fiber and probiotics.

Each Fueling is built on high-quality protein with all nine essential amino acids to help preserve lean muscle. Every option also includes BC30™ probiotic cultures and fiber to support digestive health, plus 24+ vitamins and minerals — including 50% of the daily value for vitamin D. The macronutrient profile of each Fueling is intentionally balanced with carbs, fat and protein to promote a strong and targeted fat-burning state on the 5 & 1 Plan while helping keep energy levels steady. And with no colors, flavors or sweeteners from artificial sources, every Fueling reflects science-backed formulation designed to give your body what it needs.

Backed by rigorous testing and quality standards, OPTAVIA Fuelings are science-driven nutrition designed to deliver real results. 

Hear all about OPTAVIA Fuelings from Doug Zimmerman, Vice President of Research & Product Development at OPTAVIA: 

Types of OPTAVIA Fuelings 

OPTAVIA Fuelings bring delicious, interchangeable nutrition to your daily intake while having a weight loss goal. Whether you’re craving a creamy shake like Creamy Chocolate or Caramel Macchiato, a chewy bar like the Essential Chocolate Mint Cookie Crisp Bar, or savory comfort like Homestyle Chick’n Noodle Soup or Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, there's something for every palate and plan.

From shakes and bars to cereals, soups, desserts, savory meals and crunchers, our Fuelings give you variety without compromise — nutritionally interchangeable, so you can swap flavors and formats to fit your mood, not your macros. 

Explore the full OPTAVIA Fuelings list to see the complete range of science-backed choices designed to keep every meal on target. 

How to Choose the Right Fueling For You 

With so many options on the OPTAVIA Fuelings list, the best choice often comes down to preference and routine. Because every Fueling is nutritionally interchangeable, you can mix and match freely without worrying about counting or measuring.

Want something quick in the morning? Try a creamy shake or bar you can grab on the go. Looking for comfort in the evening? A warm bowl of soup or mashed potatoes can hit the spot. Sweet tooth? Satisfy it with a brownie or cinnamon crunch cereal.

The key is variety — having options that fit your lifestyle while delivering the same science-backed nutrition.

Explore the full OPTAVIA guide to see how each Fueling works with your plan and discover which flavors and formats keep you motivated day after day. 

Incorporating Fuelings Into Your Day 

One of the biggest advantages of OPTAVIA Fuelings is just how simple they make healthy eating. Take our most popular and clinically proven plan, the 5 & 1 plan, there’s no calorie counting, no measuring, no complicated prep.

You’ll enjoy five Fuelings and one Lean & Green meal each day — giving your body the structure it needs to enter and sustain a gentle fat-burning state.

Here’s how client Lauren makes it work: 

Morning, Fueling 1: OPTAVIA shake 

Mid-Morning, Fueling 2: OPTAVIA oatmeal

Afternoon, Fueling 3: OPTAVIA cruncher 

Mid Afternoon, Fueling 4: OPTAVIA bar 

Early evening: Lean & Green meal 

Evening, Fueing 5: OPTAVIA dessert 

Whether you’re rushing out the door, stuck in back-to-back meetings or winding down at night, Fuelings take the guesswork out of eating well — keeping it simple, convenient and totally doable. 

 It’s nutrition designed for real life.  

“I loved that I didn’t have to calculate or count anything. It was so easy and I never ever felt deprived.” –Stephanie M. 

“The plan is so easy to follow. It’s very convenient and every Fueling is delicious — just to grab and go. –Gabriela P. 

“I needed a simple structure! It felt like someone handed me a gift!” –Jen F. 

“What I needed was simplicity. A simple program that took the thinking out of the equation.” –Maria T. 

“The simplicity! This over- thinker did not have to think. I just followed the daily routine 100% and the program did the rest!!!” –Janet T 

The Bigger Picture: Coaching & Healthy Habits 

While OPTAVIA Fuelings deliver the science and structure for quality weight loss, real transformation goes beyond what’s on your plate.  

Success isn’t just about nutrition — it’s about building the habits that carry you forward. 

That’s where coaching makes the difference. With a dedicated coach by your side, you’ll have someone to celebrate wins, help you navigate challenges and keep you accountable when life gets unpredictable. It’s personalized guidance, rooted in connection, that turns short-term progress into long-term success. 

And with the Habits of Health® (now available for free in the OPTAVIA app), you’ll learn practical skills that make lasting change possible — like creating daily routines, navigating triggers and managing stress.  

Together, these tools don’t just help you lose weight, they help you create the habits that make it easier to keep moving forward, one day a a time.  

Related: Why Am I Not Losing Weight? 5 Hidden Habits That Might Be Stalling You 

 

OPTAVIA Fuelings are more than just something to eat — they’re the science-backed foundation of a structured plan designed to help you achieve quality weight loss that helps support metabolic health.

With a wide variety of OPTAVIA Fuelings to choose from, clinically proven plans like our 5 & 1 plan and the added support of coaching and healthy habits, you’ve got everything you need to lose weight with confidence.

Because transformation doesn’t happen by chance — it happens with the right tools, the right guidance and the right nutrition. 

Ready to explore the full lineup? View the OPTAVIA Fuelings list. 

 *Arterburn et al., 2019. In a clinical study, 98% of lean mass was retained on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® at 16 weeks.