Photos: How technology is changing what and how we eat

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The Foodini

The Foodini 3D printer, which will be available later this year and is expected to cost around $1,300, primarily helps with food presentation.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
3D printed goodies

With the Foodini printer, users can easily write messages or design customized food products using the special nozzle that the dough or other food product comes out of.
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Image: Natural Machines
Printing plates

This food divider, which is edible itself, was printed using the Foodini printer. It's marketed as a moderately sized kitchen appliance to help with all types of meals.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
3D printed burgers

These tiny burgers were made using the Foodini. The dough for the buns was used in the Foodini as well, just printed before it was baked.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
3D printing burgers

Ground meat can be used in the Foodini to make real burgers. Simply print out the shape you want and then cook them.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
3D printed pizza dough

Print things like this pizza dough with the Foodini. The 3D printer can print cooked things (like sauces or candy) that can be eaten right away, or you can choose to design them and then bake them after they are printed.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
3D printed vegan food

These cute chickpea nuggets were made using the Foodini. The machine is supposed to be for the everyday kitchen. So instead of buying those animal-shaped chicken nuggets at the grocery that you have no idea where the meat came from, make them at home in any shape you want.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
3D printed quiche

These little dinosaurs were made with a spinach quiche batter. It's not something you will find in stores, and that's the point -- to appeal to those who want to get even more creative and artistic in the kitchen.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
3D printed spaghetti

These spaghetti noodles were made using the Foodini. Making homemade noodles has always been extremely time-consuming, though of course it's much more healthful and fresh than store-bought ones, but with this 3D printer, the process is made much easier.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Natural Machines
Applebee's tablet waiters

Last year, Applebee's announced they would be rolling out tablets to 100,000 tables in their restaurants to provide faster table service and check service to customers. They are using these E La Presto tablets.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Applebee's
TellSpec food scanner

This food scanner is a handheld spectrometer that is combined with a mobile app, giving users an insight into the nutritional make-up of their food and presence of any allergens.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: TellSpec
Scanning all types of food

TellSpec was funded on Indiegogo in 2013. Hardware startups that make food sensors like these have started popping up everywhere as people become more interested in where their food comes from.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: TellSpec
IBM's Cognitive Cooking food truck

The IBM Cognitive Cooking food truck uses computing to come up with innovative, unique recipes.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: IBM
Watson's masterpiece

Those at a dinner hosted by IBM Research at SXSW in March 2014 were given this Italian roast duck. Each of the six dishes was designed by IBM's Watson cognitive computer.
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Image: Daniel Terdiman/CNET
SCiO food scanner

SCiO is a handheld molecular sensor that can tell you about the chemical makeup of food, medicine, or plants. Simply hold it up and scan it, then it sends the information directly to your smartphone.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Consumer Physics
SCiO's big impact

SCiO was just recently fully funded on Kickstarter, where it raised more than $2 million -- well over its $200,000 goal.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Consumer Physics
Robot restaurant

A food delivery robot shows off some goods at a robot restaurant in China.
SEE: Robot restaurants and sci-fi kitchens: How tech is changing the way we eat

Image: Cui Jian/ChinaFotoPress