# Is there a common food that could serve as Bachelor Chow? Or would be close? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 24, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350 "2019-12-24T16:50:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/41 "2019-12-25T18:30:26Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > The point being, even if you found some kind of “bachelor chow”, you would very quickly get so sick of eating it that you would be force to find other kinds of food to eat. Then again, as you discovered, given the appropriate circumstances a society can grow accultured to eating the same thing for every meal or for most meals. I suppose given enough development you would not have Bachelor Chow be one single unvarying product. You could have a \*line \*of Bachelor Chow products with variations in flavoring, consistency, mouthfeel, etc. But if indeed we are talking about something that can be eaten straight from a can/packet with no prep and with no special care for storage, right now most of our techniques are somewhat lacking for achieving this. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/42 "2019-12-26T19:51:09Z")
Dinty Moore Beef Stew - Now with extra self loathing! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2019, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/43 "2019-12-26T20:47:54Z")
I had a roommate in college who ate Dinty Moore Beef Stew, straight out of the unheated can. We thought this was gross, given the congealed fat and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/44 "2019-12-26T23:07:34Z")
i had a can of dinty more beef stew and the other day h its changed so much that you might as well just open a can of the alpo" with veg formula for inside only dogs" ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/45 "2019-12-27T00:27:06Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > I suppose given enough development you would not have Bachelor Chow be one single unvarying product. You could have a \*line \*of Bachelor Chow products with variations in flavoring, consistency, mouthfeel, etc. But if indeed we are talking about something that can be eaten straight from a can/packet with no prep and with no special care for storage, right now most of our techniques are somewhat lacking for achieving this. Haven’t armies and navies worked on this for decades, if not longer? There is even a guy on Youtube who taste-tests all the flavors; for example he said the French army rations were not bad. I have encountered sealed packets of prepared food in supermarkets; just tear open the bag, dump the contents in a bowl, and you have, say, palak paneer for dinner. You may even microwave it so it’s not at room temperature… ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/46 "2019-12-27T03:09:28Z")
Besides delivery pizza? Anyone remember this classic scene from “Repo Man”? I’m surprised nobody ever (to my knowledge) marketed this. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Axq71RFAYgo/hqdefault.jpg "Otto Asks for Some Dough") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axq71RFAYgo) ---
**Author:** ![MarvinKitFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MarvinKitFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarvinKitFox)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/47 "2019-12-27T06:14:40Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Eggs would work, except for lack of vitamin C. Eggs, just eggs, are very very very very very very very lacking in dietary fiber. After a couple weeks of eating _just_ eggs and water, your digestive system will completely shut down, and this leads to some nasty complications, including death. ---
**Author:** ![Sirreal72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sirreal72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sirreal72)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/48 "2019-12-27T14:18:52Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Better yet, [monkey chow](https://newyorkbirdsupply.net/products/zupreem-dry-primate-monkey-chow) Definitely this. Unlike stuff in a grocery store, this stuff sounds like it is designed to keep primates (which man is) healthy. If you discount the “keep healthy” aspect, then literally anything could be “bachelor chow” including just cereal. Which wall all my college roommate ate in the two years I knew him. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/49 "2019-12-27T14:31:12Z")
> [@Sirreal72](#): > > Definitely this. Unlike stuff in a grocery store, this stuff sounds like it is designed to keep primates (which man is) healthy. If you discount the “keep healthy” aspect, then literally anything could be “bachelor chow” including just cereal. Which wall all my college roommate ate in the two years I knew him. I thought I read somewhere that Monkey Chow isn’t complete nutrition because monkeys in captivity are fed fresh fruits in addition to the Monkey Chow? ---
**Author:** ![Sirreal72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sirreal72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sirreal72)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/50 "2019-12-27T14:31:56Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > I don’t think that potatoes and milk really counts. The thing about Futurama’s bachelor chow is that it is ready to eat straight out of the packet. No preparation, no utensils, no washing up is required. Anything that requires preparation doesn’t count. Potatoes require cooking. Well, the bachelor chow was prepared at the factory, right? Instant potato flakes are just dehydrated and put in a box. Sure they would be gross without butter, salt or pepper but nobody said taste was a factor. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/51 "2019-12-27T14:33:20Z")
Yes, monkey chow exists and would work, but the OP is looking for something that could be found in a typical supermarket. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/52 "2019-12-27T14:39:16Z")
I noticed sugar was surprisingly high on the ingredients list. Guess it wouldn’t be palatable enough otherwise for the captive monkeys to eat enough to maintain body weight. Anyone know what the stuff actually tastes like? C’mon, someone here must have volunteered in a zoo or something at one point and snuck a bite. ---
**Author:** ![Sirreal72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sirreal72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sirreal72)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/53 "2019-12-27T15:19:57Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > In addition to the “food as fuel” people there are a sizable number whose palates are so basic that any highly processed chunk o’garbage would do just fine…) One could argue that the “food as fuel” mindset is the most healthy. (Sadly, I do not.) The problem with the “highly processed chunk o’garbage” food is that they are about nothing except flavor. Our bodies evolved to desire salty and sweetness, two things that are somewhat rare in the wild. If you came across them while foraging, your instinct is to chow down for that cheap energy and electrolyte. Now we have mastered agriculture and we no longer need to hunt and forge for food sources…but evolution doesn’t work as fast as technological development. Unfortunately, along with agriculture, we also developed capitalism and a desire to sell all the excess food we now over-produce. And the most successful foods (profit-wise) are the ones designed to hit all our pleasure buttons, while being inexpensive to produce.) The tastiest foods are also some of the cheapest to produce, so the poorest citizens also have the worst possible eating habits…but the problem isn’t just limited to the poor. Advertisers have effectively brainwashed the entire country into consuming too much, just to sell more product and make profit. When I was a kid in the 70’s, a soda was something you drank one or twice a week as a reward or special treat. By the 80’s more families had both parents working and eating fast-food was more than a once-a-week phenomenon and people started consuming soda with their meals, and soda is inexpensive so sellers kept increasing the size of containers to get more customers for cheap. Today eating healthy requires making a conscious effort to chose what to eat, rather than “listening to your body”, because Big Profit has studied what the body craves and creates product to trick your body into over-consumption. Advertisers know how the mind works, so design ads to make you crave the product. And life is so damn busy, who has the TIME to put into making meals? Who want yet another thing to have to THINK about? The fact that people on this very thread think it would “be impossible” to eat the same food for weeks at a time shows just how numb we are vs where our bodies evolved from. People that may actually starve to death still eat the same foods all the time. Boredom with food (and food variety) are luxuries that, until fairly recently, few people have had. Ask yourself, when was the last time that YOU ate a food that you didn’t like? Not something poorly made, but something that is healthy but not tasty? Like unsalted peanuts? I am eating them right now, because the doctor says my sodium consumption is too high and I need to cut down on salt. And they taste horrible, and it makes me ask myself…why am I eating them? Am I hungry? And what else have I been eating lately…when was the last time I actually felt hungry? Etc. When you start THINKING about what you eat and WHY you eat, that’s when you realize how little people like to think about the world and rather focus on the interesting, meaningless things in life. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Onthefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9de053/32.png) [@Onthefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onthefly)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/54 "2019-12-28T00:14:29Z")
In the mid sixties, my dad was getting some of his old WWII stuff from his parents attic and found one of the previously mentioned D ration bars. We ate it. It was bland but somewhat chocolate-like. He told me that was exactly how they tasted during the war. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/55 "2019-12-28T02:05:23Z")
I’ll go with Dinty Moore Beef Stew, a three-pack at Wally’s for $5.88, just 240 calories per pack, microwave for one minute, bring a spoon. Vegans can just slurp down half a jar of 3-Bean Salad. And burritos are usually near beer in the store cooler. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2019, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/56 "2019-12-28T03:57:01Z")
> [@Sirreal72](#): > > Well, the bachelor chow was prepared at the factory, right? Instant potato flakes are just dehydrated and put in a box. Sure they would be gross without butter, salt or pepper but nobody said taste was a factor. In fact, the ad in Futurama says “New Bachelor Chow - now with flavor!”. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2019, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/57 "2019-12-28T08:18:16Z")
> [@MarvinKitFox](#): > > Eggs, just eggs, are very very very very very very very lacking in dietary fiber. > > After a couple weeks of eating _just_ eggs and water, your digestive system will completely shut down, and this leads to some nasty complications, including death. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![NotBob13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e19b73/32.png) [@NotBob13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotBob13)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/58 "2019-12-29T02:31:35Z")
A prepackaged salad ought to work as “Human Chow”. My local, small-town, grocery store has a veggie with cheese and a chef salad always in the cold case, ready to go. The Wal-Mart one town over even has ones with fork and dressing enclosed. No fuss, no bother, minimal clean up. Two or three varieties to stave off boredom. probably only two or three day cold storage shelf life at best, though. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/59 "2019-12-29T04:24:13Z")
That’d easily cover your vitamin needs, and with the dressing, probably has enough fat. But is it enough protein? Maybe the chef’s salad-- Those have, what, cheese, egg, and ham? ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2019, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350/60 "2019-12-29T05:01:36Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I thought I read somewhere that Monkey Chow isn’t complete nutrition because monkeys in captivity are fed fresh fruits in addition to the Monkey Chow? Well, it says “complete”, so I think the reason for the fruit is to stop the primates going stir-crazy (a common historical problem in zoos) > [@Onthefly](#): > > In the mid sixties, my dad was getting some of his old WWII stuff from his parents attic and found one of the previously mentioned D ration bars. We ate it. It was bland but somewhat chocolate-like. He told me that was exactly how they tasted during the war. Chocolate ‘stabilized with oat flour’. That’s the ‘chocolate’ that American soldiers gave to the hungry people they met while liberating France from Germen occupation in WWII. And the reason why they hadn’t eaten their chocolate rations-- I’ve got a recipe in one of my hiking books for emergency response teams. The comment is > [@](#): > > At first it won’t appeal to everyone. But after a few days, it won’t appeal to anyone. Alternatives to plumpy-nut are BP-100, (a wheat & oat bar) and, in the Philippines, nutribun (a fortified bread) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-common-food-that-could-serve-as-bachelor-chow-or-would-be-close/845350.md?page=4)