There are many shakes available and some choose to have a shake for their first meal of the day, mainly because it is quick and easy and they may not have time for breakfast before work, or they can't stomach a lot of food in the morning but if they throw a protein shake in they know they will get a portion of protein in straight away and will set them up for the day.
Sounds like a quick win and better than missing a meal right? Here is the problem I see, this is from my own experience and working with my clients.
A shake is a liquid meal. It provides nutrients yes, depending on the brand of the shake you are getting in protein, possibly carbs, and some extra vitamins and minerals that you won't get if you miss a meal.
But...
With a liquid meal, you are not filling your stomach, it will be through your gut and absorbed relatively fast, so great it gets into your system but not great because your stomach is still empty. What then happens is you are not satisfied and you are potentially still hungry or at least you will be sooner compared to having a denser more nutritious meal.
Meal replacement shakes are often marketed as weight loss drinks and are also low in carbohydrates, which means the energy is lower to reduce the calories, so as well as having an empty stomach your energy levels will crash quite quickly.
Depending on your goals or your lifestyle you might notice the hunger but think well I have had a shake for breakfast I don't need anything else, you get to lunch but you don't have time to have a proper lunch because of work and life then you have a decent dinner. But after dinner, you aren't satisfied because you have hardly eaten all day. With a normal day like this I can guess your calories are significantly low, so you either don't have energy for the next day, are snacking late at night (and feeling guilty for it), or are not sleeping well. Sound familiar?
At this time of year, you're better at ensuring you are having a more substantial breakfast - it doesn't have to be first thing - but recommended it is in the morning to provide you with enough energy and avoid blood sugar crashes.
I am not saying shakes aren't good, they absolutely provide a quick win to get nutrients in but I don't recommend they are in place of meals. They should be
a supplement to your regular diet and regular meals. I use shakes but usually to aid my training and recovery and they will be in addition to my daily intake. So you can still have that shake but just make sure you're eating enough before adding the shake and before blaming your cravings and boredom for why you can't stop snacking at night.
If this relates but you don't know how to balance this get in touch, understanding your daily needs and how to balance it could be the game changer you need.