Plate

A plate assembly comprising:

• a circumferential band of foam material having a top surface that defines an upwardly facing cross-sectional top surface profile and an exterior side facing surface;
• and
• a plate shell comprising:
• a perimeter rim section having a bottom surface that is shaped to define an uncovered, downwardly facing u-shaped cavity and wherein the bottom surface of the perimeter rim section at least partially matingly engages the top surface of the circumferential band of foam material and wherein the bottom surface of the perimeter rim section has a cross-sectional shape that at least substantially corresponds to the upwardly facing cross-sectional top surface profile across at least a majority of the perimeter rim section when the perimeter rim section engages the circumferential band of foam material;
• and
• a food receiving section that is recessed below the perimeter rim section;
• and
• wherein the circumferential band of foam material and the plate shell engage and disengage one another by hand and without the use of tools and wherein the plate shell has a thickness of about 0.008 of an inch or less and the plate shell uses additional support from the circumferential band of foam material spaced within the uncovered, downwardly facing cross sectional U-shaped cavity to provide structural support to the plate shell during use.

A kit comprising:

• a circumferential band of material having a top surface that defines an upwardly facing cross-sectional top surface profile and an exterior side facing surface;
• and
• a plurality of plate shells, wherein each plate shell has a thickness of 0.008 of an inch or less and comprises:
• a perimeter rim section having a bottom surface that is shaped to at least partially matingly engage the top surface of the circumferential band of material within an open, downwardly facing cavity having an exterior side wall and wherein the bottom surface of the perimeter rim section has a cross-sectional shape that at least substantially corresponds to the upwardly facing cross-sectional top surface profile across at least a majority of the perimeter rim section when the perimeter rim section engages the circumferential band of material;
• and
• a food receiving section that is recessed below a top of the perimeter rim section and even with or above a bottom edge of the exterior side wall of the open, downwardly facing cavity;
• and
• wherein the circumferential band of material and the plate shell engage and disengage one another by hand and without the use of tools and the circumferential band of material provides structural integrity to each of the plurality of plate shells when engaged with the perimeter rim section of each of the plurality of plate shells.