# Non-Soy Protein Meals smul's Microwavable Plant-Based Meals Nourish with Lentils and Beans By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-03-09 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonsoy-protein-meals References: [nosh](https://www.nosh.com/news/2026/smul-enters-functional-drinks-heat-and-eat-meals) & [smul](https://smul.com/collections/heat-and-eat-meals)  As protein takes center stage in the way people think about their meals, vegetarian consumers are pushing beyond the default options and actively seeking out [plant-based meals that deliver on protein](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fiid-plantbased-meals) without relying on soy, like smul's range of non-protein soy meals. These [no-fridge-needed meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biona-world-bean-meals) are ready to be picked up in nourishing varieties like Tikka Masala, Lentil Ragu and Chili 'Non' Carne that are packed with whole grains. smul's best-selling Lentil Ragu, for example, can be enjoyed in minutes, and it's made with a satisfying combination of brown basmati rice and sorghum, sundried tomatoes, and mushrooms. Preparing this [non-soy protein meal](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prot-block), and others from the brand, is as simple as puncturing the film and placing the sleeve in the microwave for a quick steaming. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 20% | Freshness: 68% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Non-soy Protein Mainstreaming:** Growing consumer demand for high-protein plant meals that avoid soy signals opportunities for novel legume- and grain-based protein formulations that redefine vegetarian protein sources. - **Shelf-stable Microwavable Meals:** Convenience-driven products that require no refrigeration and heat quickly in microwaves indicate potential for ambient, ready-to-eat entrees with extended shelf life and restaurant-quality textures. - **Ancient and Whole-grain Integration:** The fusion of sorghum, brown basmati and other whole grains into protein-forward dishes points toward innovations in grain processing and flavor pairings to elevate nutrition and mouthfeel. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Ready-to-eat Food Manufacturing:** Manufacturers can reimagine production lines and formulations to produce scalable, non-soy protein entrees that balance protein density, taste and ambient stability. - **Food Packaging and Preservation:** Advances in film, aseptic processing and microwave-steam packaging present opportunities to extend shelf life while preserving texture and nutrient profiles in plant-based meals. - **Retail and Foodservice Distribution:** Cold-chain-free distribution models and retail-ready grab-and-go assortments suggest new logistics and merchandising approaches tailored to protein-centric, plant-based convenience foods. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Greek Frozen Yogurts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chara.md) - [Protein-Packed Global Cuisine Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/get-real-protein.md) - [Protein-Forward Ready-Made Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/factor-glp1-support.md) - [60-Second Protein Bowls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/better-bowls.md) - [Weight Loss Support Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highprotein-meals.md) - [Weight Loss Grocery Aisles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ocado-weight-management-aisle.md) - [Plant-Based Recipe Kit Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grubby-and-bosh.md) - [Subscription-Free Protein Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clean-eatz-kitchen-glp1-meal-plan.md) - [High-Protein Recipe Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/high-protein-meals.md)