Soulara’s ready-to-eat meals contain a wide variety of whole food ingredients such as lentils, legumes, whole grains and vegetables with the addition of herbs and spices, which is a standout feature. The preservatives and additives were found in the secondary ingredients such as soy sauce. Whilst they are in small amounts, as a Nutritionist I do not recommend consuming foods that contain preservatives and additives every day. If comparing Soulara based on the quality of ingredients alone, Garden of Vegan is superior due to their use of organic, real, whole foods only and no added preservatives or additives.

Soulara uses olive oil in the majority of their meals, which is a good source of monounsaturated fats (heart healthy fats!), as well as some vegetable oils including sunflower and canola oil. In comparison, Garden of Vegan is 100% oil free, which may be of benefit to those who are looking to lose weight. 

Overall, the protein content was excellent! The meal with the lowest amount of protein was the Mushroom Bourguignon & Garlic Mash at 7g, with majority of the meals ranging between 20g – 30g protein per serve. This protein content is comparable to Garden of Vegan and is superior to Herbidoor. Unlike Garden of Vegan however, who use real, whole food ingredients to provide their protein source, Soulara uses textured soy protein (TVP) to bulk up the content of some meals. TVP is a processed food, however it does provide a good source of protein. Soulara’s TVP is also minimal in ingredients and is therefore not seen as a mark against quality. 

As mentioned, Soulara’s meals have an abundance of vegetables, lentils, herbs and spices which are a standout feature. The vegetables were clearly visible in the meals, and they were vibrant in colour. Compared to Garden of Vegan and Herbidoor, Soulara contains significantly more vegetables, averaging at one serving with each ready-to-eat meal.

Whilst the flavours were delicious, it is currently summer, and I found that a lot of the meals were more suited to a cooler climate. Many were a curry style or stew based which is not always appealing on a hot day. It would be great to see more seasonal appropriate meals available on the menu such as stir fry’s which are often ‘lighter’.