Simplicity is key. Convenience foods are entrenched in
every food category; however, the definition of
convenient has changed. At one time, convenient
meant quick-to-prepare. This began with the advent of cake mixes and
TV dinners in the 1960s, and continued more recently with the
explosion in microwaveable foods in the 1980s. But today
convenience also means assistance. Products may not be fast, but
may remove steps in the meal preparation process, making it easier for
novice cooks or time-pressured parents to make healthy meals. Some
slower foods, such as slow-cooker meal kits, allow the consumer to
quickly assemble a meal in the morning and return to a ready-made
dinner in the evening. This convenience-as-assistance theme also
appears in the growth of convenient meal components, rather than complete ready-to-heat dishes (Minte