Convenience food, or
tertiary processed food, is
food that is commercially
prepared (often through
processing) to optimize ease of consumption. Such food is usually ready to eat without further preparation. It may also be easily portable, have a long
shelf life, or offer a combination of such convenient traits. Although
restaurant meals meet this definition, the term is seldom applied to them. Convenience foods include ready-to-eat dry goods, frozen foods such as
TV dinners,
shelf-stable foods, prepared mixes such as cake mix, and
snack foods.