of individual snack food base pieces each of which is formed from the snack food base mixture on some or all of the surfaces of which the cognitive premix 40 has been applied in the method of fig2 the cognitive premix 40 is surface applied to another non mixed or previously mixed food such as a granola bar trail mix chips crackers sesame sticks or other typical snack food to conform to their shape taste or palatability the food may be or include one or more naturally occurring foods such as fruits nuts or the like or may be or include independently prepared foods or may include both a saleable performance snack food item may include a multitude of comprising another non mixed or previously mixed food on the surfaces of which the cognitive premix 40 has been applied in the method of fig2 pieces of a natural food such as a fruit or nut are prepared separately the cognitive premix 40 is then surface applied to the fruit or nut piece a saleable performance snack food item may include a multitude of individual snack food base pieces each of which is formed from a fruit or nut piece on the surfaces of which the cognitive premix 40 has been applied preferably the snack food pieces are granular in nature and are produced in a size and shape such that they are easily poured from one or more of the containers described herein although in at least one embodiment the final snack food product can be served directly the resultant snack food is in most embodiments then placed in snack packaging 100 for sale and consumption at.