This invention discloses packaged nutritional supplements that have nutritional ingredients derived from green leafy vegetation that shall collectively or singly be useful to fulfill the daily need of supplementation from one or more of a nutrient from green leafy vegetation. One embodiment of this invention discloses a novel packaged composition that comprises at least one fraction of a green leafy vegetation and at least one more ingredient to improve its usability and is source of at least one nutritional ingredient selected from the group dietary fiber, beta carotene, iron, calcium, xanthophylls, folic acid and lysine plus methionine and cystine; wherein the fraction comprises a fibrous fraction, a water soluble deproteinized juice fraction and a water insoluble high protein low fiber fraction as fourth primary fraction. In one embodiment of invention, the contribution of at least one nutrient to the nutrient content of the composition from green leafy vegetation or its fraction is a least 15% of at least content of one nutrient of the composition. Also disclosed is a novel packaged composition comprising pulp of whole edible green leafy vegetation and at least one component of flax-seed in the form of a soup or a food bar. The component of flax seed may be one or more selected from the group of whole flax seed, flax seed cake or flax oil.

This invention discloses packaged nutritional supplements that have nutritional ingredients derived from green leafy vegetation that shall collectively or singly be useful to fulfill the daily need of supplementation from one or more of a nutrient from green leafy vegetation. One embodiment of this invention discloses a novel packaged composition that comprises at least one fraction of a green leafy vegetation and at least one more ingredient to improve its usability and is source of at least one nutritional ingredient selected from the group dietary fiber, beta carotene, iron, calcium, xanthophylls, folic acid and lysine plus methionine and cystine; wherein the fraction comprises a fibrous fraction, a water soluble deproteinized juice fraction and a water insoluble high protein low fiber fraction as fourth primary fraction. In one embodiment of invention, the contribution of at least one nutrient to the nutrient content of the composition from green leafy vegetation or its fraction is a least 15% of at least content of one nutrient of the composition. Also disclosed is a novel packaged composition comprising pulp of whole edible green leafy vegetation and at least one component of flax-seed in the form of a soup or a food bar. The component of flax seed may be one or more selected from the group of whole flax seed, flax seed cake or flax oil.

In the method of the main patent, corn kernels coated with sunflower lecithin and additives are obtained. According to the improvements, the additives and sunflower lecithin can be added in liquid state, solid state or both, and can be mixed and subsequently filtered before reaching a final mixer (2) to which are added not only the additives and sunflower lecithin, in any state, but also the corn kernels (1), in order to coat the corn kernels inside the mixer. The improvements also provide for the substitution of sunflower lecithin by other compounds with which similar results can be obtained, such as fructose syrup, liquid glucose, corn syrup, molasses, inverted sugar syrup or cornstarch, the kernels obtained being able to be coated with more than one coating of a different nature.

Popcorn machines having process chambers with variable heating profiles, and associated systems and methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a popcorn machine includes a tube having an upper tube portion and a lower tube portion. The upper tube portion and the lower tube portion form a circumferential boundary of a tubular process chamber for popping popcorn. A first heating element can be positioned to heat a first heating zone, and a second heating element can be positioned to heat a second heating zone. A first thermocouple can be positioned to measure a temperature at a transition point between the first heating zone and the second heating zone, and a second thermocouple can be positioned to measure a temperature in the second heating zone. A rotatable auger can be positioned at least partially within the tube to move ingredients through the process chamber.

Popcorn machines having process chambers with variable heating profiles, and associated systems and methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a popcorn machine includes a tube having an upper tube portion and a lower tube portion. The upper tube portion and the lower tube portion form a circumferential boundary of a tubular process chamber for popping popcorn. A first heating element can be positioned to heat a first heating zone, and a second heating element can be positioned to heat a second heating zone. A first thermocouple can be positioned to measure a temperature at a transition point between the first heating zone and the second heating zone, and a second thermocouple can be positioned to measure a temperature in the second heating zone. A rotatable auger can be positioned at least partially within the tube to move ingredients through the process chamber.

Puffed food composition contains a pulse/millet and satisfies (1)-(7): (1) containing dietary fibers at 3 mass % or more (dry mass); (2) containing starch at 5 mass % or more (dry mass); (3) containing protein at 4 mass % or more (dry mass); (4) containing a soluble carbohydrate being contained in edible plants of pulses, millet, potatoes, seeds, vegetables and fruit at 2 mass % or more (dry mass); (5) containing edible parts of a pulse/millet and a dietary fiber localized portion of an edible plant at 10 mass % or more (dry mass) to the composition; (6) a number-based average diameter of composition particles in a dispersion liquid in an ultrasonicated state is 30 m or less; and (7) a maximum particle diameter of composition particles in a non-ultrasonicated state is 300 m or more.

Puffed food composition contains a pulse/millet and satisfies (1)-(7): (1) containing dietary fibers at 3 mass % or more (dry mass); (2) containing starch at 5 mass % or more (dry mass); (3) containing protein at 4 mass % or more (dry mass); (4) containing a soluble carbohydrate being contained in edible plants of pulses, millet, potatoes, seeds, vegetables and fruit at 2 mass % or more (dry mass); (5) containing edible parts of a pulse/millet and a dietary fiber localized portion of an edible plant at 10 mass % or more (dry mass) to the composition; (6) a number-based average diameter of composition particles in a dispersion liquid in an ultrasonicated state is 30 m or less; and (7) a maximum particle diameter of composition particles in a non-ultrasonicated state is 300 m or more.

The present invention discloses the use of subcritical or supercritical carbon dioxide for injecting additives to seeds, beans, nuts, cereals and pseudo-cereals.

The present invention discloses the use of subcritical or supercritical carbon dioxide for injecting additives to seeds, beans, nuts, cereals and pseudo-cereals.

Some embodiments relate to a puffed edible products that contain more than 10 wt % of whole grains, and methods of their manufacture. The puffed edible products contain a puffed edible core that contains at least 25 wt % of whole grains and a flavoring composition that coats the surface of the edible core.