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.
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.
So if astronauts someday head there in what's estimated would be a three-year mission — roughly six months travel each way, plus two years on the planet — what they'd take to eat would be among the concerns.
Interesting take on social events during isolation.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/antarctic-conservation/blog-archive/?cat=11
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