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IN PHOTO : Maria Sandoval, a student in the Munroe Elementary School gardening club enjoys a meal she helped prepare by growing and chopping vegetables at the school in Denver, Colorado May 9, 2012. The students learn to grow and prepare healthy meals in the school's garden club with some of the food going to the school's lunch program. Colorado has the second fastest growing childhood obesity rate in the nation says non-profit LiveWell Colorado. Groups like Livewell are working to reduce childhood obesity by supporting school gardens, especially in low income areas, to provide learning about healthy food while actually providing nourishment. Studies have shown that children are more likely to try eating fresh fruit and vegetables if they are involved in growing them. Photo taken May 9, 2012. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

An Israeli firm has developed a food 'replicator' that can create almost any dish in 30 seconds. The device, similar in size and appearance to a coffee maker, is called "Genie." (Watch "Genie" at work in the video below.)

The device uses pods that contain natural dehydrated ingredients, with a shelf-life of between one to two years, according to Reuters. "Genie" can be controlled by a mobile app and creates meals in 140-gram portions in recyclable containers. It was developed by entrepreneurs Ayelet Carasso and Doron Marco from White Innovation company.

"The dish can be anything, it can be a meal like chicken with rice, like couscous with vegetable or an amazing Ramen or even a chocolate soufflé or any other desert that you want," Carasso said, according to Reuters. She added that they used only natural ingredients and not any preservatives people added to their meals.

The report stated that the idea behind the innovation came when the duo failed to find restaurants that could deliver food late at night in their workplace. Their frustrations created what they like to call the "real life version of "Star Trek’s" ‘replicator’," a device that would create meals instantly on the fictional show. (Watch the video below.)

“We think of a problem in the market, and find a solution,” said Marco according to a report by ISRAEL21c. He added that they sought the "right partner to share it with" and came up with a plan to create a product. Marco also said that they thought it was a great idea to have a "contraption" for making meals materialize with no "fuss."

The "Genie" has already been sold in the thousands, according to the same report. It also added that the next phase was to modify it for individual use at home. The report quoted Marco saying that the cost of the device will be "less than a comparable meal or snack at a café."

The creators claim that "Genie" offers several beneficial functions. According to the duo, while it is an ideal device for the first world nations, it has the potential to function as a life-saving solution for countries that suffer from famines or have high poverty levels.

Video: ★ Star Trek-style replicator serves up meals in 30 seconds [HD]

(Credit: YouTube/Niki Odega)

Video: Food Replicator

(Credit: YouTube/Thomas Baekdal)

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