convenience food food (ready-to-serve) Ready-to-serve (or ready-to-eat, RTE) foods are foods not requiring any further preparation before consumption, except perhaps washing/rinsing, thawing or warming. dish https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/legislation-guidelines/policies/policy-listeria-monocytogenes-ready-eat-foods-2011.html#appa ready-to-eat requires discussion