Marrying convenience, saying “no” to food wastage and ‘ugly’ food and art is what FoodTech start-up ANINA Culinary Art’s release of ‘meal-in-a-pod’ varieties aim to show.
Using so-called ‘ugly’ vegetables, the pod offers a single-size meal portion that can be cooked on the stovetop or in a microwave.
Each disc-shaped container holds two full cups of vegetables—40% of an adult’s daily nutritional requirements—and is ideal for consumers seeking a fast nutritious and delicious meal solution at work or home.
Launched in Israel, the range consists of:
● Pasta Primavera — vegetables, Italian herbs, and pasta,
● Mediterranean bowl — vegetables, bulgur wheat, and black lentils, and
● Vietnamese bowl — rice noodles and vegetables
Each ANINA pod provides a plant-based meal replete with protein, high in fiber, and free from colorants or preservatives.
The products are currently available online, at premium and boutique bakeries, and at co-working spaces outlets.
The technology is patented, from the food-grade lamination process to the pod structure.
The technology forms flexible sheets from fresh vegetables.
“The heart of our technology is the creation of vegetable sheets. The flexibility of these sheets enables us to form any 3D structure and create any recipe in a decorative pod, each set to its unique controlled cooking time,” says Mor Wilk, VP of R&D.
The container’s outer shell is made from a layer of dried vegetables or fruits, while the inner core contains a range of natural ingredients.
The ingredients vary according to each recipe.
“We’re changing the way we eat,” says co-founder and CEO Anat Natan.
“And we’re shaping the future for a meaningful culinary consumer experience.”
“The ANINA meal capsule also addresses today’s fast-paced lifestyle, which too often forces consumers to compromise on the quality of the food they eat.”
Following the successful launch in Israel, the company plans to offer the meal pods to the US.
