For individuals battling decreased appetite and energy, unintentional weight loss and fatigue while undergoing cancer treatment, Hormel Foods, Austin, Minn., introduced the HORMEL VITAL CUISINE line of packaged ready-to-eat meals.

Developed with support from experts at the Cancer Nutrition Consortium (CNC), West Palm Beach, Fla., along with professional chefs, HORMEL VITAL CUISINE products are nutrient- and protein-rich.

"During product development, we brought together researchers in both the health and culinary fields to ensure a thorough understanding of a patient's needs during various phases of treatment," says Dr. Chet Rao, strategy and business manager for the specialty foods group at Hormel Foods. "This product line was thoughtfully crafted, since many product attributes such as flavor, texture and ingredients are known to affect patients differently during their cancer journey, during which eating and drinking can be challenging."

HORMEL VITAL CUISINE ready-to-eat meals come in Chicken and Dumpling, Vegetarian Stew and Beef and Mushroom Gravy, and join a line of protein nutrition shakes and whey protein drink mix.