Freeze-dried, dairy or dairy-substitute compositions and methods of using same

Abstract

The present invention comprises a freeze-dried, dairy or dairy-substitute composition comprising a dairy or dairy-substitute ingredient and an emulsifier and methods of using same to promote and/or improve child development.

1 . A method of providing a product that can be used to promote child development comprising the steps of:
 providing a dairy or dairy substitute blend;   adding an emulsifier to the blend;   thermally processing the blend;   fermenting the blend;   admixing a gas with the blend;   freeze drying the portions product; and   packaging the product for consumption by a child.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dairy or dairy substitute blend is present in an amount of from 60% to 98% of the product. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the yogurt product has a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the yogurt product has a dissolvability in the range of from 0.1 to 8 pounds force peak load. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the viscosity of the yogurt product is from 1000 to 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         6 . A method of marketing a product comprising providing: a freeze-dried, yogurt product that is shelf stable and is designed to promote child development. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the product comprises a dairy or dairy substitute blend present in an amount of from 60% to 98% of the product. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the yogurt product has a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the yogurt product has a dissolvability in the range of from 0.1 to 8 pounds force peak load. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the viscosity of the yogurt product is from 1000 to 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         11 . A method of promoting child development comprising providing to a child a yogurt composition that is shelf stable and contains probiotics. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the composition comprises a dairy or dairy substitute blend in an amount of from 60% to 98% of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the yogurt composition has a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the yogurt composition has a dissolvability in the range of from 0.1 to 8 pounds force peak load. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the viscosity of the yogurt composition is from 1000 to 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing a nutritious snack to a child comprising providing to the child a freeze-dried aerated yogurt product that is shelf stable, comprises probiotics and is designed to improve the child's development. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the product comprises a dairy or dairy substitute blend present in an amount of from 60% to 98% of the product. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the yogurt product has a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the yogurt product has a dissolvability in the range of from 0.1 to 8 pounds force peak load. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the viscosity of the yogurt product is from 1000 to 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         21 . A method of improving child development comprising providing a nutritious freeze-dried shelf stable snack comprising yogurt and having developmentally appropriate size and dissolution properties. 
     
     
         22 . A method for promoting a child development comprising providing a child with a shelf stable yogurt product as a snack that is designed to promote child development, the yogurt product comprising a dairy blend in an amount of from 60% to 98% of the product, having a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load, a dissolvability in the range from 0.1 to 8 pounds force peak load, and a viscosity of from 1000 to 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the dairy blend comprises a dairy substitute. 
     
     
         24 . A method of improving a child's development comprising providing a shelf stable snack designed to improve a child's development comprising yogurt and having developmentally appropriate size and dissolution properties and a viscosity of the product when it is wet of 30,000 to 60,000 cp at a 10 rpm speed of the spindle 6 in a Brookfield viscometer. 
     
     
         25 . A method of providing a nutritious snack to a child comprising providing to the child a freeze-dried yogurt product that is shelf stable, comprises probiotics, such nutritious snack having a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load and is designed to improve the child's development. 
     
     
         26 . A method of improving child development comprising providing a nutritious freeze-dried shelf stable snack comprising yogurt and having developmentally appropriate size and having a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load. 
     
     
         27 . A method for promoting child development comprising providing a child with a shelf stable yogurt product as a snack that is designed to promote child development, the yogurt product comprising a dairy blend in an amount of from 60% to 98% of the product, having a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load, and a viscosity of from 1000 to 500,000 cp. 
     
     
         28 . A method of improving a child's development comprising providing a shelf stable snack designed to improve a child's development comprising yogurt and having a developmentally appropriate size, a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load, and a viscosity of the product when it is wet of 30,000 to 60,000 cp at a 10 rpm speed of the spindle 6 in a Brookfield viscometer. 
     
     
         29 . A method of promoting child development comprising the step of providing to a child a composition that is shelf stable and contains probiotics and has a hardness value of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load. 
     
     
         30 . A developmentally appropriate shelf stable composition, wherein the composition is dried and comprises a dairy or dairy-substitute ingredient. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30  wherein the composition is freeze-dried. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 30  wherein the composition has a hardness of from 0.5 to 8 force peak load. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 30  wherein the dissolvability is from 0.1 to 30 force peak load. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 30  wherein the composition is sized and shaped for ease of use by a child at the stage of development when the child is able to begin to chew solid foods. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 30  wherein the density is at least 0.01 g/cc. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 30  wherein the diameter and height of the composition is adapted to allow a child to self-feed. 
     
     
         37 . A dairy or dairy substitute composition having a hardness and dissolvability such that the composition is shelf stable but dissolves in a person's mouth upon contact with saliva, the composition comprising a dairy ingredient. 
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 37  further comprising a viscosity enhancer. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 37  wherein the dissolvability ranges from 0.1 to 30 force peak load. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 37  wherein the hardness ranges from 0.5 to 8 peak force load. 
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 37  further comprising a probiotic. 
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 37  wherein the composition has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc.