# Why don't nutritious human food pellets exist **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2013, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795 "2013-05-20T06:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/1 "2013-05-20T06:31:42Z")
If they can make a single all-inclusive food for dogs then why can’t they do the same for humans? It would make life much easier. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/2 "2013-05-20T06:52:25Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > If they can make a single all-inclusive food for dogs then why can’t they do the same for humans? > > It would make life much easier. Thinking of marketing “Bachelor Chow” (as seen on _Futurama_)? The closest is [Nutraloaf](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutraloaf), served to prisoners as punishment. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/3 "2013-05-20T06:55:51Z")
Because we don’t need to? Most of us can afford to choose what we want to eat. Would you really choose to eat some homogenized food pellet for every meal when there are a wide variety of choices available? [Here is a previous thread on the topic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405642). With links in that thread to earlier threads on the topic. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/4 "2013-05-20T06:59:48Z")
You’ve never heard of Pizza Bites? ---
**Author:** ![the\_O](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@the\_O](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_O)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/5 "2013-05-20T07:04:11Z")
I use this: [http://www.nestlehealthscience.us/products/Pages/NUTREN®-2-0.aspx](http://www.nestlehealthscience.us/products/Pages/NUTREN%C2%AE-2-0.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/6 "2013-05-20T07:28:53Z")
This guy is making his own: [This Man Thinks He Never Has to Eat Again](http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/rob-rhinehart-no-longer-requires-food) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/7 "2013-05-20T08:05:00Z")
Semen. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/8 "2013-05-20T08:07:28Z")
Uni students know all about all-inclusive nutritious human food substitutes. It’s called “instant noodles”. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/9 "2013-05-20T09:09:08Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Would you really choose to eat some homogenized food pellet for every meal when there are a wide variety of choices available? I most definitely would. Imagine the time that would be saved! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/10 "2013-05-20T09:24:58Z")
If you’ve ever tasted doggy kibble, you’d know the reason. There’s a reason why most dogs will prefer to eat anything over that stuff. And have you tried just eating the same thing over and over without getting sick of it? The people who can stand anything close to that sort of thing seem to have very particular tastes, and I doubt this kibble would adequately approximate it. I know this board has more than a few people who say they would do it, though, but I have a feeling that’s because they lack the imagination and/or the experience to know what it would be like. They aren’t the type who give food very much thought–as they just eat for sustenance–so it doesn’t dawn on them how much eating the same thing all the time would suck. We’ve evolved as omnivores, and thus naturally seek out variety in our diets. I mean, there are articles about the very few who seem to find one food and stick with it forever, and they are always thought of as freaks. Take the [Coke lady](http://news.discovery.com/human/health/deadly-coca-cola-habit-130212.htm) or the [Ramen Noodle kid](http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/teen-eats-ramen-noodles-13-years-article-1.1312782), to name two recent examples. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/11 "2013-05-20T09:38:48Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > I most definitely would. Imagine the time that would be saved! Time saved for what? ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/12 "2013-05-20T10:22:37Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Time saved for what? Everything else? ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/13 "2013-05-20T10:29:49Z")
Because we already eat too much? What would be the point of such a product, so that we can eat less snacks? People want things that allow them to eat MORE, not LESS. Something that caps your calorie absorption will sell much, much, much better. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/14 "2013-05-20T11:20:05Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > I most definitely would. Imagine the time that would be saved! I’d give you two weeks (probably less) before you’re so tired of it you’d never want to eat it again. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/15 "2013-05-20T11:39:42Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > Everything else? Everything else sounds like a waste of time, too. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/16 "2013-05-20T11:59:21Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> GQ. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/17 "2013-05-20T12:05:12Z")
How about pemmican? It has meat, fat, nuts, berries, and carbs. It is nutritionally dense, so you don’t need much. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/18 "2013-05-20T12:10:09Z")
[Primate Chow.](http://blog.belm.com/wp-content/uploads/foodpills04.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/19 "2013-05-20T12:40:20Z")
NUMEROUS previous threads: > **[Why No Human Chow?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405642)** > > I am a big fan of Futurama. In that show, they have a food called Human Chow, which, as you can imagine, is just like Dog Chow, but for Humans. You pour it in a bowl and you eat it. It’s all you need. Basically what I’m saying is that there are all... > **[Human Chow/People Kibble: Update](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=156949)** > > A little over 2 years ago, MrVisible opened one of the most intriguing threads ever on the SDMB: Why don’t they make People Kibble? The above thread, its companion IMHO thread, and various other discussions have all touched on the desire for a... > **[Could you make a single perfect food for humans? Why isn't there one?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=598628)** > > It occurred to me the other day that trying to put together a balanced diet is a real pain in the ass. I have to worry about how much protein I’m getting, carbs, fibre, vitamins and minerals, and simultaneously ensure that I don’t get TOO MUCH of... > **[Why don't they make People Kibble?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=53966)** > > I find myself getting jealous of my dogs. I mean, they’ve got this miracle foodstuff, that provides them with all the nutrition, fiber, vitamins, etc. that they need, and keeps their coat shiny and their teeth clean as well. Now, I appreciate a... > **[People Chow](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=204612)** > > 'm looking for information and sources for something that I can only describe as ‘people chow’. That is, some inexpensive substance that I could consume which would provide for all of my dietary and nutritional needs without the fuss or bother... ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/20 "2013-05-20T12:46:34Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > If they can make a single all-inclusive food for dogs then why can’t they do the same for humans? > > It would make life much easier. Just spread some lard on hardtack and have a protein shake and a daily vitamin. All of that stuff can be bought in bulk and last a really long time. It should eliminate almost all of the time associated with cooking, shopping, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795.md?page=2)