# Bachelor Chow redux **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 24, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221 "2013-02-24T03:55:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/1 "2013-02-24T03:55:08Z")
Just wandering through some blogs and I ran across an old post about a patented idea for a [compressed food](http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2012/10/condensed-ration.html). I could see this as bachelor chow, but also fuel for farting contests! Add some sort of minerals and vitamins and assorted amino acids and I think it would appeal to a bunch of people. I sort of wonder what it would taste like, it seems lacking in seasoning. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/2 "2013-02-24T04:03:53Z")
I think that once reconsituted it will taste like a mix of Spam and sawdust. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/3 "2013-02-24T04:28:44Z")
I lived for a year and a half on a product called 2/cal HN. An eight ounce can has four hundred seventy five calories of complete nutrition. I had six to seven cans a day. Tasted like an artificially flavored vanilla milk shake. Of course for most of that time I didn’t have to taste it since I injected it straight into my stomach. It took care of hunger but did nothing for cravings. But was very convenient. And since it was prescription it was covered by insurance and saved lots of money at a time when money was tight. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/4 "2013-02-24T05:29:19Z")
I’ve long thought that People Chow would be quite a hit - I’d keep a bag of it on hand for the times when we need to eat but I don’t feel like cooking. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/5 "2013-02-24T14:01:39Z")
Just so you know, there are at least 3 or 4 threads in GQ regarding the creation of Bachelor Chow, or some sort of perfectly fortified instant human food. It always seems like an idea that needs to be explored, I’ve said it already exists – cold cereal with milk, but adult humans simply demand more flavor and texture variety in their diet. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/6 "2013-02-24T14:53:22Z")
You could call it “Nutriloaf,” but that name is already taken by a similar product used as punishment in US prisons. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/7 "2013-02-24T18:57:25Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’ve long thought that People Chow would be quite a hit - I’d keep a bag of it on hand for the times when we need to eat but I don’t feel like cooking. Isn’t that Soylent Green? ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/8 "2013-02-24T19:28:44Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > I lived for a year and a half on a product called 2/cal HN. An eight ounce can has four hundred seventy five calories of complete nutrition. I had six to seven cans a day. Tasted like an artificially flavored vanilla milk shake. Of course for most of that time I didn’t have to taste it since I injected it straight into my stomach. It took care of hunger but did nothing for cravings. But was very convenient. And since it was prescription it was covered by insurance and saved lots of money at a time when money was tight. Um, you can’t leave us hanging like that man? What happened? ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/9 "2013-02-24T19:47:56Z")
They stuck my head in a microwave everyday till I got better. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/10 "2013-02-24T23:03:50Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > Just so you know, there are at least 3 or 4 threads in GQ regarding the creation of Bachelor Chow, or some sort of perfectly fortified instant human food. It always seems like an idea that needs to be explored, I’ve said it already exists – cold cereal with milk, but adult humans simply demand more flavor and texture variety in their diet. Yup, hence the ‘redux’ 😃 I tend to have oatmeal for breakfast about 90% of the time [with cinnamon and raisins, no sugar] so I have no problem with boring food, as long as it is of good quality and tastes good. ---
**Author:** ![ethelbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ethelbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ethelbert)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/11 "2013-02-24T23:33:37Z")
My version of Bachelor Chow is rice & beans (with onion, garlic & jalapenos). Left to my own devices, I would probably eat this every day. Sometimes I slice up a sausage in it. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/12 "2013-02-25T00:35:04Z")
A division of Purina, LabDiet, makes several varieties of bachelor chow. Well, they call it non-human primate diet, but I think we know what they’re talking about. The [High Protein Monkey Diet](http://labdiet.com/pdf/5045-5047.pdf)looks pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/13 "2013-02-25T03:33:38Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Just wandering through some blogs and I ran across an old post about a patented idea for a [compressed food](http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2012/10/condensed-ration.html). I could see this as bachelor chow, but also fuel for farting contests! Add some sort of minerals and vitamins and assorted amino acids and I think it would appeal to a bunch of people. I sort of wonder what it would taste like, it seems lacking in seasoning. The food in the link sounds suspiciously like the portable soup in the Aubrey-Maturin books (and I presume used in the real Royal Navy of the early 1800s). ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/14 "2013-02-25T03:37:54Z")
I’m just going to leave [this](http://www.angryman.ca/monkey.html) here. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/15 "2013-02-25T15:46:35Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > A division of Purina, LabDiet, makes several varieties of bachelor chow. Well, they call it non-human primate diet, but I think we know what they’re talking about. The [High Protein Monkey Diet](http://labdiet.com/pdf/5045-5047.pdf)looks pretty good. I probably should post it in GQ, but given that this thread exists, and provide all necessary context – Can I surive on Purina Small Primate Chow™? Exactly as given on that page. I mean, I eat nothing except for 2-4% of my body weight in those bars for the 180 days that the Vitamin C content is stabilized. Would I be OK? ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/16 "2013-02-25T16:16:48Z")
Sure like I said I survived for two years on: > [@](#): > > Water, Corn Syrup Solids, Sodium & Calcium Caseinates, Corn Maltodextrin, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Sugar (Sucrose), Medium-Chain Triglycerides, Canola Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Potassium Citrate, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Phosphate, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Choline Chloride, Taurine, L-Carnitine, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, dl-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Cupric Sulfate, Thiamine Chloride Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Chromium Chloride, Sodium Molybdate, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Phylloquinone, Cyanocobalamin, and Vitamin D3. > Contains milk and soy ingredients. [http://abbottnutrition.com/Products/twocal-hn](http://abbottnutrition.com/Products/twocal-hn) ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/17 "2013-02-25T16:49:45Z")
The calorie values are pretty high, probably 1 g/kg body weight is better for a human being. At that you’d be taking in around 2,500 Calories per day for an 80 kg man. I was thinking the fiber might be low, but at 4.9% fiber 800 grams would give you nearly 40 grams of fiber, so actually pretty good. I’d give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/18 "2013-02-25T17:28:34Z")
> [@Glazer](#): > > Sure like I said I survived for two years on: > [http://abbottnutrition.com/Products/twocal-hn](http://abbottnutrition.com/Products/twocal-hn) mmmm better living through modern chemistry! Actually that is pretty true - most everything listed is already found in regular solid foods in one form or another. Just mixing it all together from jars instead of making beef stew makes it look worse than it really is. I was always fascinated by foods developed for the space program. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/19 "2013-02-26T13:52:49Z")
These people make nutritionally balanced pizzas using seaweed instead of salt: [http://www.eatbalanced.com/what-we-make/why-our-products-are-different.aspx](http://www.eatbalanced.com/what-we-make/why-our-products-are-different.aspx) Quote from their site: “Our award-winning range of nutritionally balanced pizzas provides you with the right levels of all the main nutrients you need, with all the flavour you would expect.” ---
**Author:** ![FrankJBN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@FrankJBN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrankJBN)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221/20 "2013-02-27T17:44:04Z")
Bachelor Chow? Honestly I know more single women who do absolutely no cooking than single men. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bachelor-chow-redux/651221.md?page=2)