The present invention discloses a preferably single-serve and disposable container and lid packaging system for facilitating the preparation of a fresh food item to a desired consistency. The container contains a pre-measured amount of a main food item to be prepared, and its side wall has at least one visual indicator indicating an amount of liquid to add to the container and to be mixed with the main food item. The invention is particularly useful for making a single-serve portion of ready-to-eat tahini by adding a lemon juice mix contained in the lid, adding water to a visual fill-to line in the container containing raw tahini (or the lid), and then thoroughly mixing the mixture.

Embodiments of the invention relate to meal replacement dietary products and methods for producing them. In some embodiments, the dietary products consist of raw, whole foods blends that create portioned meal replacement products, which are distinguished from juices. In some embodiments, the dietary products consist of approximately, by weight, 85% fruits, 5% vegetables, 5% nuts, and 5% seeds of a total dietary product, not including water and consisting of a variety of highly absorbable nutrients based on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. In some embodiments, the entire foods are used to include: peels, seeds, stems, husks, etc. The resulting dietary products deliver nutrient reach meals.

A fasting mimicking diet package providing daily meal portions for a predetermined number of days is provided. The fasting mimicking diet package includes a kale cracker composition, a first vegetable broth composition, a mushroom soup composition, a tomato soup composition, a quinoa-containing minestrone soup composition, a bean-containing minestrone soup composition, and a pumpkin soup composition. Characteristically, the daily meal portions are packaged into meal servings or into a total daily serving to be divided into meals.

A low sugar content sweet food spread is provided said food spread comprising at least one of a cocoa product and a nut product, at least one vegetable oil and at least one sweetener. The at least one vegetable oil is substantially free or free of palm oil and the sugar content of the spread is less than about 20% by weight of the total spread. The food spread possesses excellent properties and is advantageously spreadable at low temperature.

Macadamia nut-based compositions suitable for use in confectionary and baking are provided.

An almond based dispersion including water; an almond butter base homogeneously dispersed in the water; and nisin derived from a non-dairy source of Lactococcus lactis that is homogeneously dissolved in the water. The dispersion has a shelf life of at least 28 days and up to 45 days when stored at 4° C., maintains a pH ranging from 6.1 to 7.0 while stored, and is satisfactory for human consumption.

Compositions are described that use glucono delta lactone (GDL) in a portion of a composition containing two portions with differing water activities. GDL is included in a low water activity portion that is in contact with a high water activity portion, such that an interface formed between the two portions contains gluconic acid formed by contact of GDL with water from the high water activity portion. Methods of controlling pH in a composition containing two portions with differing water activities and methods of controlling microbial growth at an interface of two portions with differing water activities are also described.

Contained herein are compositions of plant-based fermented products. Compositions of plant-based fermentation products may comprise at least about 5% whole oilseed material by dry weight, greater than 5% protein by caloric value, and one or more microorganisms. Alternatively, or in addition to, the composition may comprise at least about 5% oilseed material by dry weight and one or more microorganisms capable of degrading pigmented molecular compounds. The composition may be of a white or off-white color. Plant-based fermented products may be used in plant-based yogurts, cheeses, fermented products, or any combination thereof.

The invention relates to a method for producing a cream-cheese-like, preferably vegan, food product with a strength measured at 10° C. by a texture testing machine, in which a round press plunger with a surface area of 1.27 cm.sup.2 and a speed of 2 mm/s is introduced into a sample, said strength coming from a value range between 0.2 N and 7.0 N, preferably between 0.5 N and 2.5 N, a dry mass weight proportion between 6% and 80% and a total fat weight proportion between 0.92% and 30%, comprising the following steps: producing a pumpable mass based on water and nuts and/or seeds, preferably almonds; and obtaining the food product from the pumpable mass. The invention is characterised in that the pumpable mass is produced by mixing a partially de-oiled flour made from the nuts and/or seeds, preferably almond flour, having a fat weight proportion between 5 and 20 wt. %, with the water and fat, in particular in the form of oil.

This disclosure relates for example to meat alternative compositions comprising a plant based meat alternative and a cranberry seed preparation. This disclosure is also related to methods of preparing such meat alternative compositions.