Grain-based food product

Abstract

A grain-based food product comprising a base component and a food inclusion. The food inclusion can have various textures, colors or flavors which make the grain-based product or cereal more appealing to consumers. Both the base component and the food inclusion are marketed in a single product package. The food inclusion is contained in a containment device, separating it from the base product in the product package.

1 . A food product in a package comprising:
 a grain-based component; and   a food inclusion contained in a containment device to separate the food inclusion from the grain-based component.   
     
     
         2 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the grain-based component comprises cereal, oats, rice, grits, barley, granola, corn, potato, tapioca, starch extrudates, wheat, buckwheat, millet, rye or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the grain-based component comprises a hot cereal product or a cold cereal product. 
     
     
         4 . The food product of  claim 3  wherein the grain-based component comprises an instant type cereal-based component which can be prepared for eating by the addition of liquid. 
     
     
         5 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the grain-based component comprises a granola bar or sports type bar. 
     
     
         6 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the food inclusion when added to the grain-based component after being prepared changes the taste, texture, appearance, nutritional value or a combination thereof of prepared grain-based component. 
     
     
         7 . The food product of  claim 6  wherein the grain-based component is contained in a base packet. 
     
     
         8 . The food product of  claim 6  wherein the containment device comprises a material which maintains the food inclusion fresh for a pre-determined shelf-life. 
     
     
         9 . The food product of  claim 6  wherein the containment device comprises a pouch, bag or packet. 
     
     
         10 . The food product of  claim 6  wherein the containment device comprises a spoon, a carton or a packet with multiple partitions. 
     
     
         11 . The food product of  claim 6  wherein the package comprises a plurality of containment devices and a plurality of base packets containing the grain-based component. 
     
     
         12 . The food product of  claim 6  wherein the food inclusion changes after being added to the prepared grain-based component. 
     
     
         13 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the grain-based component is contained in a base packet. 
     
     
         14 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the containment device comprises a material which maintains the food inclusion fresh for a pre-determined shelf-life. 
     
     
         15 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the package comprises a plurality of containment devices. 
     
     
         16 . The food product of  claim 15  wherein the package comprises multiple types of food inclusions. 
     
     
         17 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the package comprises a plurality of containment devices and a plurality of base packets containing the grain-based component. 
     
     
         18 . The food product of  claim 17  wherein the package comprises multiple types of food inclusions. 
     
     
         19 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the package comprises a plurality of base packets containing multiple types of grain-based components. 
     
     
         20 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the containment device comprises a pouch, bag or packet. 
     
     
         21 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the containment device comprises a spoon, a carton or a packet with multiple partitions. 
     
     
         22 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the food inclusion is moisture-sensitive or moisture-rich. 
     
     
         23 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the food inclusion has a different texture, appearance, flavor, than the grain-based component. 
     
     
         24 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the food inclusion adds a nutritional value to the grain-based component. 
     
     
         25 . The food product of  claim 1  wherein the food inclusion is heat-sensitive. 
     
     
         26 . A method for packaging food products comprising:
 providing a grain-based component;   providing a food inclusion in a containment device, wherein the food inclusion is added to the grain-based component before, during, or after preparation of the grain-based component; and   combining the grain-based component and the containment device in a single product package.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the grain-based component comprises cereal, oats, rice, grits, barley, granola, corn, potato, tapioca, starch extrudates, wheat, buckwheat, millet, rye or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the grain-based component comprises an instant type cereal-based component which can be prepared for eating by the addition of liquid. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  comprising storing the grain-based component in a base packet. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  comprising providing a plurality of containment devices in the product package. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  comprising:
 providing a plurality of base packets containing the grain-based component; and   providing a plurality of containment devices in the product package.