Patent CA-2880667-A1 (CA)
Inventor: DEVIN NADINE M
IPC: A23P30/00
Filed: 2015-01-30
Abstract: "there is a market for opportunities to develop product offerings that assist families and individuals in simplifying their lives and enhancing their quality of life. Fully-prepared and partially-prepared meal solutions that address decision making, time, energy and skill shortages of today's consumers will find a home in the marketplace. Products targeting the convenience trend can also be bundled with other attributes appealing to consumers interests in technology, health, and ethical concerns. This will assist companies differentiate their products from the competitor. In addition companies can capitalize on the convenience trend by building consumers' confidence in the kitchen and serving as a trusted helper, as well as by targeting the differing comfort needs of consumers and their preferences.for traditional /home cooked dishes " This opportunity will do all of this. Take n' Bake is an innovative model of delivering traditional home cooked meals right to the family - all in one Take n' Bake box! Take n' Bake offers a simplified process of bringing a series of partially-prepared meals ready for "batch cook"  assembly directly to consumers minimizing the decision making, time and skill requirements needs by the consumer, and while at the same time balancing the need for building consumers' confidence in the kitchen. The Take n' Bake Box comes in Small and Large. In the she small box there are 6 Take n' Bake kits including ingredients for 6 different family meals. Each kit should provide 8 to 10 servings (depends on the size of your family and how much they eat) or 2 meals, for total of 12 meals per small box.  The Large box is double the size. Each kit will include prepared ingredients that are cut, diced and measured to exact portions needed for the recipe. Each ingredient bag will be labeled with the name of the ingredient.  Each box will contain 6 Take n' Bake Cards, one for each meal/kit. The card will include instructions on how to assemble the meal, cooking instructions, instructions for freezing, instructions for thawing and reheating and complete nutritional information. It will also provide vegetable side dish ideas and tips on how to get the family in the household involved in the assembly. The idea of 6 or 12 kits in one box builds on the concept of batch cooking.  Batch cooking is the process of preparing multiple portions of several meals at once and storing them for future consumption. It is a helpful means to support busy parents in getting healthy meals on the table for their families amidst the hectic work week. Now let's consider the process of preparing 6 or 12 meals in the average consumer home using a traditional batch cooking approach. It would likely require a full day involving shopping, cleaning, dicing, mixing, and cooking, followed by the massive cleanup of the kitchen, all while trying to keep the kids and the dog in the house happy and occupied. The average consumer sees cooking as a chore, so the likelihood of investment into this approach in a typical family home is questionable. Not to mention the skills required investing into this undertaking and the decision making into what meals will be made. No wonder so many consumers think the idea is great, but don't invest. But in this model, the time for batch cooking for the consumer is dramatically reduced. All ingredients are determined and prepared, the decision making minimal, the cleanup simple. The time required: 1 hour for 6 meals. That is 10 minutes per meal. Then add to that the comfort of knowing that the meals are healthy and nutritious. These partially-prepared meals will meet specific nutrition standards developed by a Registered Dietitian, appealing to consumer's interest in health. Take n' Bake incorporates as much technology as possible in the ordering and payment process to capitalize on the convenience this niche delivers time-pressed consumers. Take n' Bake will also offer online instructional videos aimed at building consumer confidence in the kitchen. Clients also have the option of booking a Take n' Bake Home Party. In this fashion multiple people can get together and prepare meals in a meal assembly process, while enjoying some leisure time in the company of friends. Take n' Bake may also be an option for many schools as a unique fundraising venture that provides parents with useful products. The Take n' Bake model will involve a centralized distribution centre who is charged with all the shopping, prepping, storing and central distribution. And scattered through the community will be Take n' Bake independent consultants. These consultants work with clients in their geographic area on promoting the Take n' Bake Box, accepting orders and coordinating local distribution. These consultants receive a commission on the Boxes they "sell"/coordinate. In summary, it is important that we discover innovative ways to support families in preparing and serving healthy meals as rates of obesity soar and the current generation is on track to live a shorter life span than their parents. A 2010 report estimated that direct costs of overweight and obesity represented $6 billion - 4.1 % of Canada's total health care budget. However, this estimate only accounts for health care costs related to obesity, and does not account for productivity loss, reductions in tax revenues or psychosocial costs (source: Canadian Obesity Network). We also have to explore ways to preserve food skills in a culture that is shifting towards prepackaged convenience foods that often have questionable nutritional quality. This innovation aims to do just that.   .cndot.    Assist families in simplifying family meal preparation and minimizing the time taken to prepare meals using partially-prepared meal solutions; .cndot.    Consider consumers time constraints and their desire for more leisure time while balancing their interest in health; .cndot.    Shift families towards enjoying more nutritionally balanced family meals and away from fast food and convenience foods that have questionable nutritional value; .cndot.    Enhance meaningful social learning opportunities for children and youth by supporting families in enjoying more traditional family meals at home; .cndot.    Address the lack of cooking and food skills in today's society and help build consumers' confidence in the kitchen as a growing body of research is supporting the relationship between food preparation and cooking skills and food choices.