Cupholder gets a grip on shape of meals.(Chicago Tribune)

It's the latest way to drive and dine.

And if the nation's food giants have their way, drivers may very well be sipping hot soup while navigating a tricky left turn.

Moving to accommodate today's time-pressed consumers, food companies are repackaging old standbys in fancy containers that fit neatly into a car's cupholder. There are cookies in a cup, as well as Cheetos. Ritz Bits as well as Fritos.

For a nation in a hurry, the offerings go beyond snacks. General Mills Inc. is pushing a Yoplait drinkable yogurt in a sleek bottle that it says has all the nourishment of a meal. Meanwhile, Campbell Soup Co. is pitching its trademark product in a 10 }-ounce microwaveable cup that has a slot in the lid for sipping.

"That's the benchmark now: Foods you can eat with one hand and fit in your cupholder," said Ken Harris, an industry consultant at research firm Cannondale Associates in Evanston, Ill.

The idea isn't that far-fetched. People have been dining on wheels for almost as long as there have been cars. Drive-in restaurants made it fun. …