This could be interesting:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/story/2012-02-17/research-mars-food-hawaii/53160760/1

"Volunteers, Hunter says, should be mostly scientists or engineers and "people who are congenial or easygoing, without a whole lot of prickles — people who are interested in food, who know how to cook. And people who are healthy."

Those chosen will go to Cornell this summer to train to prepare meals with the given supplies, Hunter says. There'll be a two-week dry run before the four-month experiment "to make sure everyone gets along and the equipment works," she says.

The deadline for applying is Feb. 29. To apply, go to manoa.hawaii.edu/hi-seas. Researchers say they'll make their choices by the end of May."

Just listening to the same story on NPR. It mentioned you can make "mozzarella" cheese from dry milk and do pizza and all sorts of things.....interesting...

First Strike, MRE's, mainstay, Food Bars, Brownies, survival Tabs, Protien shakes and vitamins.

What they are considering goes well beyond the good ol' MRE, although they are loading up on Tabasco sauce and other hot spices. Apparently in space, most folks develop a taste for spicy foods, and their sense of smell goes south (no gravity). The idea is to provide lots of basic ingredients so that lots of different dishes can be produced.

That may be true during the trip, but on Mars gravity is about 60% of Earth gravity IIRC.

What would I eat for 4 mos on Mars? Mars Bars of course,then Milky ways thereafter

Mars bars Sorry, I couldn't resist. OOps, someone beat me to it! I guess all I get is a little Snicker

I don't understand this. The sense of smell processes the molecules released by food (or anything else with a smell). How can gravity affect it?

I am assuming you are using the expression "going south" metaphorically.

Its an interesting topic.

People who enjoy food (and can cook) should be able to come up with varied and interesting dishes given basic ingredients.

Cooking is, or can be, great therapy and a distraction from other routines; especially if you consider a fairly aesthetically severe environment like a long space trip.

I’m sure there are survivalist folk around who have stocked thousands of MREs and tins of food, but I do wonder how they would fair if they were forced to live on them for a prolonged period. Such foods (and supplements) may meet your nutritional requirements, but I see very little joy in any that food (I’ve just spent a weekend eating commercial freeze dried “meals” – I’m sure you know the type).

I know in some of the Antarctic stations, food and cooking, is the highlight of many people’s day and a lot of attention is given to variety and interest in food to keep people motivated and interested.

I think food is more than just sustenance, it is an important social and personal event. Think of your favourite foods and for many, the smells, taste as well the preparation and sharing with good friends and family are all equally important.

Often a question like “What one thing would you bring to a desert island ?“ is asked. On a trip to mars (or Hawaii), you could do worse that bring your favourite recipes. (And a nice bottle of wine)

Marsbars.

Seems more like a way to burn grant money than to learn anything new. Or is this just a new "reality" show?

The Navy has been feeding people for long deployments since the beginning.

Restricted supplies of food have been dealt with on submarines.

And ground forces have lived on MREs for months as well. (Remember the runup to Gulf War I ?)

The real issue for Mars is - how to safely land there. Followed closely by obtaining air and water. Having tasty fresh food is nice, but not the highest or first priority.

Gravity doesn't, not directly.

What does have an effect is air pressure. Spaceships and habitats are kept at a relatively low air pressure, which has a big impact on the senses of smell and taste. Gravity's effect on air pressure only applies, of course, when out in the open. I assume that our first Mars colony will be in appropriate protective gear when not in habitats.

Spam. Spam,ham and spam. Beans, eggs and spam...

Followed by not telling a guy you hate his guts by the way he holds his fork. Morale and social interation are going to be major factors if you're couped up with the same 1/2 doz people for three years straight. Living on MRE's for 3 years straight ain't going to help, and meals have always been a social ritual.



Interesting take on social events during isolation.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/antarctic-conservation/blog-archive/?cat=11

Was'nt the question what "I" would eat?

I agree. I have livedon MRE's and First Strike for extended periods. If I was on Mars I would be there for a Reason. Fusssing over a stove and being social would be far down my list of priorities. Food would merely be fuel to run this rather sizable machine. Except for brownies. They would be my indulgence. I doubt that a Mars mission would be a social experient. Just my thoughts on the subject. We now return you to your regular programming schedule...

I've gone to sea for months without seeing the outside or really even having much of a break. We were busy. Food was something to look forward to but it wasn't like a cruise ship where you eat out of boredom.

Often I'd eat 1 meal in 24 hrs because I needed it. I needed the little sleep I could catch more.

The Mars explorers would be BUSY. Maybe later parties could have the luxury of boredom.


BTW- I'd volunteer to be in the 1st party to Mars. Even if it was a planned 1 way trip. (Offer not valid for any subsequent expeditions)

Yes, one can live on MRE's for extended periods. I have been impresses at the variety and general tastiness of current offerings, which are far better than the C rats they replaced (and even those were pretty tasty when your options were limited). But MRE's are rather heavy, pretty close to canned goods in that respect.

It seems like the point of the project is to provide good food (defined as nutritionally adequate and at least reasonably tasty). Weight will be a factor. And just like the NOLS experience, they are finding that providing basic staples and enabling variety will provide good nutrition at less weight than preplanned and prepared meals. MREs are great for their purpose, but extended forays into space is something different - one of the differences highlighted in the piece I heard was the universal desire for more spicy food.