As people start the HMR weight-loss program, they often share how surprised they are about:

• How simple the program is to follow,
• How much food they actually get to eat,
• How much they enjoy the coaching support, and
• How quickly they lose weight.
  

Another surprise? That the food requires no refrigeration!

People are often surprised to learn that HMR's delicious entrees arrive in shelf-stable packaging, requiring no refrigeration. Being able to store your HMR Entrees on a pantry shelf, throw them in your work bag, or even pack them in your suitcase for your next trip makes them the ultimate convenient food. Plus they don't take up precious space in your fridge or freezer!

But what actually makes HMR Entrees shelf-stable? The answer is something called retort packaging.

Retort technology was originally developed by NASA.

We use this special technology to preserve the natural flavor and nutrition of the ingredients at the peak of their freshness. We use an industrial retort, which is basically a large pressure cooker like the one you might use at home. Using the simple science behind a classic pressure cooker, it uses steam heat and pressure in a sealed vessel to cook, preserve, and seal fresh ingredients making them safe to store in a pantry.

Our 27 industrial size rotational retorts use very hot water and pressure to thermally cook soups, sauces, and entrees packed in convenient pouches, trays, and bowls. This thermal processing in a state-of-the-art retort machine eliminates microbial organisms that can cause food spoilage, resulting in custom-prepared foods that are safe to store without refrigeration for the shelf life of the product. With retort processing, there's also no need to use any preservatives to seal in flavor, nutrition, and quality, so we don't!

This cooking method ensures that HMR Entrees taste terrific and retain their full nutrition and freshness for many months without refrigeration, until opened. Think "canned" tuna in pouches on your grocery store's shelves.

Some key benefits to this process over more conventional packaging:

• Freshest taste 
• Sealed fresh for optimal nutrition retention
  
• Easy storage—they don't take up precious space in your fridge or freezer
• Grab-and-go convenience
• Quick preparation
• Significantly reduced carbon footprint
• And of course, HMR retort packaging conforms to all FDA guidelines.

So, go ahead and fill your fridge and freezer with your favorite fruits and vegetables. Your HMR Entrees won't be taking up any space there.