the pumpkin soup and the mushroom soup tend to be a little lumpy all the time, not big lumps but a few small ones. I always use at least 250ml water and that makes it OK.

The asian curry soup has never been lumpy when I've made it.

I find they taste as good as any other packet soups (except the chicken which I didn't like)

ETA: how much water are you using for the shakes? mine are not what id call thick? or are you putting fibre in the shakes?