Note 14 - Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]	14. Income Taxes There was no income tax benefit for either the nine months ended September 28, 2014 or September 29, 2013 because there is no remaining potential to carry back losses to prior years and future realization of the benefit is uncertain. The Company’s effective tax rate was 0% for each of the nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013. The effective tax rate differs from the federal tax rate of 35% for both periods primarily due to the limitation of the income tax benefit due to the uncertainty of its future realization. Lakes has recorded income taxes receivable of $2.2 million as of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013 related to the Company’s ability to carry back 2012 taxable losses to a prior year and receive a refund of taxes previously paid. Deferred tax assets are evaluated by considering historical levels of income, estimates of future taxable income and the impact of tax planning strategies. Management has evaluated all available evidence and has determined that negative evidence continues to outweigh positive evidence for the realization of deferred tax assets and as a result continues to provide a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets. As of September 28, 2014, Lakes had approximately $89.1 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards, which will begin to expire in 2022, and approximately $113.4 million of state net operating loss carryforwards, which will expire at various times depending on specific state laws. The Company is currently under IRS audit for the 2009-2012 tax years and the IRS has proposed certain adjustments to the 2009-2011 tax filings. However, Lakes believes it is more likely than not that it will prevail in challenging the proposed adjustments and maintains that the positions taken were proper and supported by applicable laws and regulations. While the outcome of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, Lakes does not believe, when resolved, that this dispute will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. However, an unexpected adverse resolution could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements in a particular quarter or fiscal year. The Company is currently under audit by the State of California for the 2010 tax year. No adjustments have been made as a result of the State of California audit. However, there is no assurance that the taxing authority will not propose adjustments that are different from the Company’s expected outcome and that may impact the provision for income taxes.

Note 14 - Income Taxes

9 Months Ended

Sep. 28, 2014

14. Income Taxes

There was no income tax benefit for either the nine months ended September 28, 2014 or September 29, 2013 because there is no remaining potential to carry back losses to prior years and future realization of the benefit is uncertain. The Company’s effective tax rate was 0% for each of the nine months ended September 28, 2014 and September 29, 2013. The effective tax rate differs from the federal tax rate of 35% for both periods primarily due to the limitation of the income tax benefit due to the uncertainty of its future realization.

Lakes has recorded income taxes receivable of $2.2 million as of September 28, 2014 and December 29, 2013 related to the Company’s ability to carry back 2012 taxable losses to a prior year and receive a refund of taxes previously paid.

Deferred tax assets are evaluated by considering historical levels of income, estimates of future taxable income and the impact of tax planning strategies. Management has evaluated all available evidence and has determined that negative evidence continues to outweigh positive evidence for the realization of deferred tax assets and as a result continues to provide a full valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets.

As of September 28, 2014, Lakes had approximately $89.1 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards, which will begin to expire in 2022, and approximately $113.4 million of state net operating loss carryforwards, which will expire at various times depending on specific state laws.

The Company is currently under IRS audit for the 2009-2012 tax years and the IRS has proposed certain adjustments to the 2009-2011 tax filings. However, Lakes believes it is more likely than not that it will prevail in challenging the proposed adjustments and maintains that the positions taken were proper and supported by applicable laws and regulations. While the outcome of this matter cannot be predicted with certainty, Lakes does not believe, when resolved, that this dispute will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. However, an unexpected adverse resolution could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements in a particular quarter or fiscal year. The Company is currently under audit by the State of California for the 2010 tax year. No adjustments have been made as a result of the State of California audit. However, there is no assurance that the taxing authority will not propose adjustments that are different from the Company’s expected outcome and that may impact the provision for income taxes.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

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