A system, comprising: an oven , comprising: inner oven walls defining a cavity within the oven, wherein the oven has a front and a rear ; a meal carrier positioned within the cavity of the oven, the meal carrier having a front and a rear corresponding to the front and the rear of the oven, respectively the meal carrier including a top wall , two side walls , and a bottom wall , the front and the rear of the meal carrier being open to allow a flow of air through the meal carrier from the rear of the oven to the front of the oven, the meal carrier including a plurality of meal trays positioned generally parallel to the top wall and the bottom wall of the meal carrier ; at least one heating element configured to heat air in the oven, the at least one heating element positioned between the meal carrier and the rear of the oven; and at least one fan , the at least one fan configured to: blow the drawn air over the at least one heating element to produce heated air and distribute the heated air through the meal carrier between meal trays of the plurality of meal trays ; characterized in that :the at least one fan is positioned between the rear of the oven and the at least one heating element , and is configured to draw air from the front of the oven between the meal carrier and the inner oven walls to the rear of the oven ; and in that the system further comprises at least two air deflectors configured to direct the air from the front of the oven between the meal carrier and the inner oven walls to the rear of the oven while preventing the heated air from the at least one fan from blowing between the meal carrier and the inner oven walls . inner oven walls defining a cavity within the oven, wherein the oven has a front and a rear ; a meal carrier positioned within the cavity of the oven, the meal carrier having a front and a rear corresponding to the front and the rear of the oven, respectively the meal carrier including a top wall , two side walls , and a bottom wall , the front and the rear of the meal carrier being open to allow a flow of air through the meal carrier from the rear of the oven to the front of the oven, the meal carrier including a plurality of meal trays positioned generally parallel to the top wall and the bottom wall of the meal carrier ; at least one heating element configured to heat air in the oven, the at least one heating element positioned between the meal carrier and the rear of the oven; and at least one fan , the at least one fan configured to: blow the drawn air over the at least one heating element to produce heated air and distribute the heated air through the meal carrier between meal trays of the plurality of meal trays ; characterized in that :the at least one fan is positioned between the rear of the oven and the at least one heating element , and is configured to draw air from the front of the oven between the meal carrier and the inner oven walls to the rear of the oven ; and in that the system further comprises at least two air deflectors configured to direct the air from the front of the oven between the meal carrier and the inner oven walls to the rear of the oven while preventing the heated air from the at least one fan from blowing between the meal carrier and the inner oven walls . <EOS>