Eco-Products’ latest is tailgate friendly

Now you can hold your cup, hold your plate and throw a football -- all at the same time, and without fumbling.

Boulder, Colorado-based Eco-Products has received an innovation award for its new compostable plates that solve a predicament for party-goers: How to hold their food and drink while shaking hands and greeting other guests.

Eco-Products' Gala Cocktail Plates feature a patented finger grip that allows guests to hold their food and drink in one hand while simultaneously being able to eat and greet with the other. Made from sugarcane, the plates are renewable and certified as compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute.

The plates earned Eco-Products the Innovation in Convenience Award from the Foodservice Packaging Institute.

"The Gala Cocktail Plates stood out for their simplicity and effectiveness," the awards judge said. "They seem to be the perfect solution to the problem of trying to hold a drink and enjoy food while also networking at a reception or gathering. They also included easy-to-understand instructions right on the packaging, which added a playful touch. Overall, they were functional, convenient, and a great conversation starter."

Gala plates can be used with almost any size glass, stemware, can, or bottle. They work well for both right-handed and left-handed guests, and with any finger size.