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)