Patent Publication Number: US-2012040058-A1

Title: Customized children&#39;s feeding system and methods of use thereof

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/159,224, filed Mar. 11, 2009, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein h reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure generally relates to health and nutrition. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to children&#39;s foods and particularly to packaged children&#39;s foods that can be combined to provide an optimal nutrition profile for meeting the nutritional needs of a child. 
     When the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (“NLEA”) was enacted in 1993, there was a reluctance based on the dietary recommendations at that time to develop Daily Values (“DV”) for fat, cholesterol, saturated fat and sodium for children up to four (4) years of age. Because there ate no macronutrient DVs but there are vitamin and mineral DVs, products labeled for children under the age of two (2) years are limited to good source for vitamins and minerals only. See 21 C.F.R. 101. 
     In the fourteen years since the NLEA, childhood obesity has dramatically increased. In fact, Nestle&#39;s published study, the Feeding infants and Toddlers Study of 2002, found that trends in adult poor eating habits are being found in infant and toddler diets. For example, approximately twenty five percent of toddlers did not eat a single fruit or vegetable in a given day. Sweetened drinks and candy were also part of the diet of twenty five percent of toddlers on a given day. These troublesome dietary trends linked with current regulatory gaps leave the makers of children&#39;s products unable to clearly communicate nutritional benefits to caregivers. 
     Therefore, there remains a need for a means of guiding caregivers to provide optimal nutrition to children. 
     SUMMARY 
     Customized children&#39;s feeding systems and methods of using the customized children&#39;s feeding systems are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a packaged food product including a tray defining at least three compartments. The packaged food product also includes a removable food cartridge including an individual food product sealed in each of the food cartridges. The food cartridges are located in each of the compartments. Each food cartridge and compartment can be associated with a corresponding color that is representative of a food category. The shape of the food cartridges can be the same shape as the compartments. 
     In an embodiment, each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding shape that is representative of a food category. In another embodiment each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding symbol that is representative of a food category. 
     In an embodiment, each of the food cartridges includes a snap-in element that connects to a corresponding receiving aperture in the compartments. The snap-in element can include a shape such as a square, triangle, circle, oval, star and rectangle. 
     In an embodiment, a first food cartridge includes a vegetable product, a second food cartridge includes a protein product and a third food cartridge includes a fruit product. The contents of the food cartridges together can be a complete meal. 
     In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a packaged food product including at least three food containers each including a lid and a food compartment including a food product sealed in the food compartment. Each of the lids includes at least one snap element attachable to a bottom portion of the food compartment. 
     In an embodiment, each lid of the food container can be associated with a corresponding color, shape or symbol that is representative of a food category. A first food container includes a vegetable product, a second food container includes a protein product and a third food container includes a fruit product. The contents of the food containers together can be a complete meal. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the present disclosure provides a packaged food product including a container having a lid removably attached to the container, and at least three food packages located within the container. Each food package is associated with a corresponding color, shape or symbol that is representative of a food category. A first toad package includes a vegetable product, a second food package includes a protein product and a third food package includes a fruit product. The contents of the food packages together can be a complete meal. A utensil can be attached to the lid. 
     In an embodiment, the container includes transparent walls. The lid can be constructed and arranged to snap onto the container. The container can include a thumb indent. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a packaged food product including a tray defining at least three food compartments and having a peelable lid. A first food compartment includes a vegetable product, a second food compartment includes a protein product and a third food compartment includes a fruit product. The contents of the food compartments together can include a complete meal. 
     In still another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a packaged food product including a tray defining at least two food compartments and having a lid removably attached to the tray. The first food compartment includes at least one of a vegetable product, a protein product and a fruit product. The second food compartment includes at least one of a vegetable product, a protein product and a fruit product that is different that of the first food compartment. A portion of the lid positioned over each compartment includes a corresponding color that is representative of a food category in that compartment. A utensil can be attached to the lid. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of customizing children&#39;s nutrition. The method comprises providing a tray defining at least three compartments and providing individual food cartridges located in each of the compartments and including a food product sealed in the cartridges. Each food cartridge is associated with a corresponding color that is representative of a food category. 
     In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of customizing children&#39;s nutrition. The method comprises providing a tray defining at least three compartments and providing individual food cartridges located in each of the compartments and including a food product sealed in the cartridges. Each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding shape that is representative of a food category. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of customizing children&#39;s nutrition. The method comprises providing a tray defining at least three compartments and providing individual food cartridges located in each of the compartments and including a food product sealed in the cartridges. Each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding symbol that is representative of a food category. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of generating revenue. The method comprises providing a tray defining at least three compartments and selling individual food cartridges located in each of the compartments and including a trod product sealed in the cartridges. Each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding color, shape or symbol that is representative of a food category. The individual food cartridges can be sold together in a bundle with the tray or separately. 
     An advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a customized children&#39;s feeding system. 
     Another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a fun, engaging and interactive way for a parent and child to jointly prepare a delicious meal. 
     Yet another advantage of the present disclosure is to provide a specially designed feeding system that makes it easy for caregivers to provide balanced nutrition for their child. 
     Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a packaged food product including a tray having three compartments in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  shows a packaged food product including stackable food containers in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  shows a packaged food product including a container leaving three food packages in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  shows a packaged food product including a tray having three compartments in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  shows a packaged food product including a tray having two compartments in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  shows a packaged food product including a container, a lid and a utensil attached to the lid in an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to customized children&#39;s feeding systems and methods of using the customized children&#39;s feeding systems. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a range of packaged food products for children. The packaged food products include but are not limited to individually packaged meals and meals in multiple compartment containers. The packaged food products preferably contain indicators to guide the consumer to selecting the appropriate meal package to provide the optimal nutritional profile for a child. Preferably, the packaged food products provide a child with balanced nutrition on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. 
     As used herein, the term “children” means children up to five years of age. The children range up to age five, preferably between one and five years of age and most preferably from one to four years of age. 
     “Complete meal” means a meal that is designed to provide one nutritionally balanced serving, i.e., it is not necessarily to combine the complete meal with another food product to provide a meal. A “shelf-stable” food product means a food product that can he safely stored and sold in a sealed container at room temperature while still having a useful shelf life, for example at least about 2 months, preferably longer. “Food category” means a distinct classification of a group of foods have related characteristics such as, for example, proteins, vegetables, fruits, starches, etc. 
     The combinations of food products in the customized children&#39;s feeding systems can be from a range of baby or toddler food and have an optimal nutrition profile for meeting the nutritional needs of the child. Two or more food products from the range may be combined to provide an optimal nutrition profile for meeting the nutritional needs of the child. The food products as part of the packaged food products can be shelf-stable. 
     The total optimal daily nutrition profile for each of the food products in the customized children&#39;s feeding systems can be determined by first evaluating and determining the caloric needs for the children&#39;s population group because calories are the basis for other macronutrient needs. Using calories as the basis, the missing DVs are determined for fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, cholesterol, fiber and sugar. The nutrition profile can then be further distilled for individual foods as well as meals. 
     In a general embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the present disclosure provides a packaged food product  10  including a tray  12  defining three or more compartments  14 ,  16  and  18 , and individual food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24  for each of the compartments, respectively. Food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24  include an individual food product sealed in each of the respective food cartridges. The shape of food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24  can be the same shape as the compartments  14 ,  16  and  18 . Food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24  and compartments  14 ,  16  and  18  can be sized to hold any suitable amount of one or more food products. 
     Each food cartridge and compartment can be associated with a corresponding color (or shape or symbol) that is representative of a food category. For example, lids  30 ,  32  and  34  of individual food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24 , respectively, can each have a different color. Lid  30  can be yellow to represent that food cartridge  20  contains a protein as the food product contained therein. Lid  32  can be pink to represent that food cartridge  22  contains a fruit as the food product contained therein. Lid  34  can he green to represent that food cartridge  34  contains a vegetable as the food product contained therein. 
     The contents of the food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24  together can be a complete meal for a child. The food product in each of food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24  can be packaged so as to be shelf-stable. In a preferred embodiment, each food cartridge  20 ,  22 , or  24  are sized to meet the serving size requirement for that food product for a child at a certain stage of development. 
     In an embodiment, each of food cartridges  20 ,  22  and  24  includes a snap-in element  40  that connects to a corresponding receiving aperture in the compartments. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1B , food cartridge  24  includes a snap-in element  40  having a square shape that is attachable to a corresponding receiving aperture  42  in compartment  18 . The snap-in elements on the food cartridges and the receiving apertures can include a shape such as a square, triangle, circle, oval, star and rectangle. 
     Tray  12  can be a reusable tray that is preloaded with a balanced meal from the food products sealed in the individual food cartridges (e.g., roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans), which can be purchased by a caregiver. Multiple varieties of each food group (e.g., fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains) can be sold in the individual food cartridges. In an example, a caregiver such as a mom can choose a 2 oz portion (portion size can vary) from either peas, green beans, squash, etc., as the vegetable component of the meal in one cartridge. In the same manner, the caregiver can also select more cartridge from a variety of other food categories to be combined on the tray and served to the child. 
     In an embodiment, individual food cartridges fit only a specific area of the reusable tray. The individual food cartridges and their corresponding compartments in the tray can delineated by one of the following or a combination thereof:
         Colors→Fruits are blue; Vegetables are green; Grains are yellow, etc. The cartridge color matches the tray color.   Shapes→Fruits are square, Vegetables are triangles, Grains are round, etc. The cartridge shape matches the nay shape (e.g., the shape may be the shape of the total cartridge or be a smaller shape on the bottom of the cartridge).   Symbols→Fruits are an apple image; Vegetables are a carrot image; Grains are wheat stalk, etc. The cartridge symbol matches the tray symbol.   Sizes→Fruits, vegetables and protein organics are sized to contain the serving size needed for a child at their development stage to create a complete meal.       

     It should be appreciated that the compartments of the tray can provide a reservoir for additional items such as yogurt, applesauce, dipping sauce, etc., that can supplement the meal in the packaged food product. 
     In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the present disclosure provides a packaged food product  50  including three or more food containers  60 ,  70  and  80 . Each of food containers  60 ,  70  and  80  include a lid  62 ,  72  and  82 , respectively, and a food compartment  64 ,  74  and  84 , respectively. Food compartments  64 ,  74  and  84  include a food product sealed in each of food compartments  64 ,  74  and  84 . The food products can be from a variety of food categories. 
     Each of the lids can include one or more snap elements  90  attachable to a bottom portion of another food compartment. As a result, the bottom portion of the food container can be snapped or screwed onto the top of the lid of another food container. This allows food containers  60 ,  70  and  80  to be stacked on top of each other as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Each lid  62 ,  72  and  82  of the food container  60 ,  70  and  80 , respectively, can be associated with a corresponding color, shape or symbol that is representative of a food category in a manner discussed previously. For example, food container  80  can have a green lid  82  and include a vegetable product. Food container  70  can have pink lid  72  and include a fruit product. Food container  60  can have a yellow lid  62  and include a protein product. The contents of the food containers together can be a complete meal. 
     In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the present disclosure provides a packaged food product  100  including a container  102  having a lid  104  removably attached to container  102 . Three or more food packages  110 ,  112  and  114  can be located within container  102 . 
     Each toad package can be associated with a corresponding color, shape or symbol that is representative of a food category in a manner previously discussed. For example, food package  110  can be green and include a vegetable product. Food package  112  can be yellow and include a protein product. Food package  114  can be pink and include a fruit product. The contents of the food packages together can be a complete meal. 
     In an embodiment, container  102  includes transparent walls. Lid  104  can be constructed and arranged to snap onto container  102 . 
     In yet another embodiment illustrated in FIG,  4 , the present disclosure provides a packaged good product  130  including a tray  132  defining three or more food compartments  140 ,  142  and  144 . Packaged food product  130  further includes a peelable lid  134 . Food compartment  140  can include a vegetable product. Food compartment  142  can include a protein product. Food compartment  144  can include a fruit product. 
     The contents of the food compartments together can include a complete meal. For example, packaged food product  130  can come complete with a fruit, veggie and a protein in separate compartments to create a nutritionally balanced 6 oz. meal designed for children. 
     In still another embodiment show in  FIG. 5 , the present disclosure provides a packaged food product  200  including a tray  202  defining two or more food compartments  210  and  212 . Packaged food product  200  further includes a lid  204  removably attached to tray  202 . Food compartment  210  can include at least one of a vegetable product, a protein product and a fruit product. Food compartment  212  can include at least one of a vegetable product, a protein product and a fruit product that is different that of food compartment  210 . A portion of lid  204  positioned over each compartment  210  and  212  can be associated with a corresponding color, shape or symbol that is representative of a food category in that compartment. 
     In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a packaged food product  250  includes a container  252  ha mg a lid  254  removably attached to container  252 . Lid  254  can be a snap-on lid. Three or more food packages can be located within container  252  in a manner as previously described. Container  252  can include a utensil  260  attached to lid  254 . For example, utensil  260  can be located within a peel able cover  256  on lid  254 . Utensil  260  can he a spoon, fork, knife or any other suitable utensil. 
     In yet another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of customizing children&#39;s nutrition. The method comprises providing a tray defining at least three compartments and providing individual food cartridges including a food product sealed in the cartridges and located in each of the compartments. Each food cartridge is associated with a corresponding color that is representative of a food category. 
     In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of customizing children&#39;s nutrition. The method comprises providing a tray defining at least three compartments and providing individual food cartridges including a food product sealed in the cartridges and located in each of the compartments. Each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding shape that is representative of a food category. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of customizing children&#39;s nutrition. The method comprises providing a tray defining at least three compartments and providing individual food cartridges including a food product sealed in the cartridges and located in each of the compartments. Each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding symbol that is representative of a food category. 
     In the preceding embodiments, a caregiver can select the individual food cartridges for use with the tray. In this manner the caregiver can mix and match different food categories of the food products within the individual food cartridges based on the preferences and nutritional requirements of the child. Alternatively, the tray can come with a predetermined set of individual food cartridges containing food products from several food categories that provide complete meals for children of specific ages and conditions. 
     In yet another embodiment the present disclosure provides a method of generating revenue. The method comprises providing a tray defining three or more compartments and selling individual toad cartridges including a food product sealed in the cartridges and located in each of the compartments. Each food cartridge and compartment is associated with a corresponding color, shape or symbol that is representative of a food category. The individual food cartridges can be sold together in a bundle with the tray or sold separately to the purchaser or caregiver. 
     Benefits of the packaged food products for adults and children include the following: 
     Adult Benefits:
         Quality time with children   Opportunity to educate about different food groups, textures, etc.   Peace of mind that the child is getting developmentally appropriate, specially designed balanced nutrition (e.g., appropriate textures, fruit and vegetable servings, vitamins and mineral delivery such as proteins, zinc, iron).   Simplifies retail experience (e.g., easy way to purchase balanced meal)   Customizable to child&#39;s preferences to insure child gets nutrition these require       

     Child Benefits:
         Participatory with mom/dad/caregiver   Makes mealtime fun, engaging and interactive   Facilitates development
           Matching colors, shapes and/or symbols   
           Begins to learn (importance of) different food groups   As taste and preferences have developed by this point, customization ensures children get tastes they love       

     EXAMPLES 
     By way of example and not limitation, the following examples are illustrative of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Percentages used herein are by weight unless specified otherwise. 
     Example 1  
     Guidelines for Calories and Fat 
     Calories 
     Energy is needed for toddler growth and development. Energy balance can be important to maintain proper growth and development and is dependent on energy intake and expenditure. The Estimated Energy Requirement (“EER”) used by the Institute of Medicine (“IOM”) is the average daily energy intake predicted to maintain energy balance in healthy adults and is defined by age, gender, weight, height and level of physical activity. The EER for toddlers includes energy needs for growth and development during this time. This EER allows for individual variability. The IOM did not set recommended dietary allowances (“RDAs”) or tolerable, upper intake levels (“ULs”) for calories for any groups because any intakes above the EER are expected to result in weight gain. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 24-36 
                   
                 36-48 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 mos. 
                   
                 mos. 
                 36-48 
               
               
                   
                   
                 All 
                 36-48 
                 Moder- 
                 mos. 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Activity 
                 mos. 
                 ately 
                 Very 
               
               
                 Organization 
                 12-24 mos. 
                 Levels 
                 Sedentary 
                 Active 
                 Active 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 EER-females 
                 768-997  
                  997-1080 
                 1080 
                 1395 
                 1649 
               
               
                 EER-males 
                 844-1050 
                 1050-1162 
                 1162 
                 1485 
                 1683 
               
               
                 AHA-females 
                 900 
                 1000 
                 1000 
                 1200 
                 1400 
               
               
                 AHA-males 
                 900 
                 1000 
                 1000 
                 1200 
                 1400 
               
               
                 MyPyramid- 
                 — 
                 1000 
                 1000 
                 1200 
                 1400 
               
               
                 females 
               
               
                 My Pyramid- 
                 — 
                 1000 
                 1200 
                 1400 
                 1400 
               
               
                 males 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Toddler Dietary Guideline for Calories: 1050 (1000) 
               
               
                 Average EER of females and males at 24 months = 1024 
               
               
                 Average EER of females and males at 36 months = 1121 
               
               
                 Average of 24 and 36 month EERs = 1072 
               
               
                 Rounded average EER and AHA/AAP calories for females and males 12-24 months = 900 
               
               
                 Moderately active AHA/AAP calories for females and males 36-48 months = 1200 
               
               
                 Average of 12-48 month calories = 1050 
               
               
                 Toddler Dietary Guidelines for calories = 1000 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Fat 
     The total fat is calculated based on the midpoint between the AHA and AAP range from 12-48 months without rounding down the amount because toddlers need fat in their diets. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide the total optimal daily nutrition profile for each of the packaged food products. In an embodiment, the packaged food products include about 41 g fat, about 300 mg cholesterol, about 12 g saturated fat and about 1500 mg sodium. 
     The total optimal daily nutrition profile can further include about 16 g fiber. The shelf-stable packaged food products can include complete meals or incomplete meals. The complete meals can include two or more incomplete meals. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the preen subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.