Ready meals are no longer the beige, bland TV dinners of the past. With more Australians exploring plant-based eating – whether for health, sustainability, or convenience – the demand for nutritious, ready-to-eat meals has skyrocketed.
Two of the biggest names in this space are IKU and Soulara, both offering a wide range of pre-prepared, plant-based meals delivered to your door. But which one is actually worth your time, taste buds, and money?
As a dietitian who regularly recommends convenient, wholefood options to clients, I put both to the test. Here’s what I found.
Variety: Meals + More
IKU offers an impressive 54 meal options – and launches a new one every fortnight – ranging from hearty mains to fresh soups, vibrant salads, nourishing breakfasts, functional juices, and sweet treats.
Soulara offers 52 mains and a smaller selection of snacks and drinks.
✅ Winner: IKU – The wider variety, seasonal rotation, and inclusion of fresh accompaniments give IKU the edge. It’s a more complete and considered offering.
Ingredients: Quality and Wholesome
This is where I saw a clear difference. IKU’s meals feel like they’ve been crafted with care – ingredient lists are short, clean, and full of recognisable, whole food ingredients. Their meals primarily use olive oil (a heart-healthy, monounsaturated fat) and minimal added sugars.
Soulara, on the other hand, included more additives and fillers, like corn maltodextrin, added sugars, and even artificial colours in some dishes. Their use of vegetable oil was vague and inconsistent, and the ingredient lists often felt longer and more processed.
✅ Winner: IKU – It’s clear IKU prioritises quality over shelf life. The food tastes like something that’s been made with intention, not for mass production.
Taste: You Can Tell When Food’s Made With Care
At the end of the day, food has to taste good – and IKU delivered. Their meals tasted more vibrant, fresh, and satisfying. Texture-wise, they were less dry and had more depth of flavour.
Soulara meals felt more like the typical “ready-made” experience – a little flat, occasionally mushy, and not something I was excited to eat again.
✅ Winner: IKU – Hands down. There’s a noticeable difference in the quality and care that goes into each meal.
Customer Service and Delivery
Another standout moment for me was the customer experience. IKU’s ordering process was smooth, clear, and proactive – I received timely emails, flexible delivery options, and felt well looked after.
With Soulara, my delivery date changed a few times without clear communication, and the lack of transparency was frustrating.
✅ Winner: IKU – Exceptional customer care, from order to delivery.
Sustainability & Packaging
Both IKU and Soulara are making efforts to reduce their environmental impact – with recyclable cartons and a strong plant-based philosophy that supports a lower carbon footprint.
However, IKU is taking things a step further. Their trays are now lined with bagasse – a natural by-product of sugarcane that is completely compostable. They’ve also committed to being entirely plastic-free by 2026, showing a clear long-term vision for sustainable packaging.
IKU also sources produce from sustainable farms and actively uses imperfect vegetables that are just as nutritious, helping reduce food waste in the supply chain.
Soulara does note that it sources ingredients locally “where possible,” but doesn’t go into the same level of detail when it comes to packaging or waste reduction.
✅ Winner: IKU – A stronger, more transparent commitment to sustainability and planet health.
Protein: Soulara Comes Out Ahead – But the Details of This Win Matter
When it comes to protein per meal, Soulara offers more options with 20g or more. In comparison, fewer IKU meals hit that mark.
However, it’s worth noting that many of Soulara’s high-protein meals rely on additives and fillers to boost protein content, rather than wholefood sources.
✅ Winner: Soulara (on numbers) – but IKU’s meals may be a better choice for those wanting fewer processed ingredients.
Cost & Value
IKU meals range from $10.95–$12.95, and Soulara meals fall between $10.95–$12.45. While IKU’s portion sizes can vary, the value lies in their ingredient quality, freshness, and flavour.
✅ Winner: IKU – For a few cents more, you’re getting thoughtfully prepared, wholefood meals made with care.
The Verdict
Both brands are helping to make plant-based eating more accessible – and that’s something to celebrate.
But when comparing the full experience – flavour, ingredients, sustainability, variety, and customer care – it’s clear that IKU stands out. Their meals feel like they were made in a kitchen, not a lab. It’s food that fuels you and makes you feel good, inside and out.
🥇 Overall Winner: IKU
Disclosure – Paid Blog Advertisement with IKU
