# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/41 "2013-05-20T21:13:29Z")
The usual reason given for doing this is to have emergency survival rations which can be made in bulk and stored without being refrigerated, potentially for decades, before being moved to wherever people need a complete meal (complete if supplemented with clean water, that is) they don’t even need to heat up first. It’s a couple steps more ‘emergency’ than MREs or C-rations; FEMA and the Red Cross would be the major buyers, and would mainly use them in places where there is no civil society left, only starving people. ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/42 "2013-05-20T21:19:09Z")
Hey, it’s **DrDeth** _and_ **Derleth**! ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/43 "2013-05-20T21:33:57Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Time saved for what? Reading the straight dope. What else? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/44 "2013-05-20T22:03:29Z")
I used to carry dog food with me all the time for my dogs. Sometimes I would get hungry when driving and nibble on the kibble. I actually got to where I was nibbling on it quite frequently. The taste was not a turn off at all once I kind of accepted it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/45 "2013-05-20T22:09:20Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I don’t think the boredom problem would necessarily be an obstacle. There could be seven different flavors of Food Loaf, one for each day of the week. So we already know it’s not going to be compact, and now it comes in different flavours. Congratulations! - you just invented food. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/46 "2013-05-21T03:11:08Z")
A doctor friend of mine said he took injections (nutrition, not stimulants) to satiate his hunger until the end of his shift. I don’t know if this was accurate but, if so, they would certainly save a lot of time in preparing a meal. ---
**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 21, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/47 "2013-05-21T05:20:51Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Reading the straight dope. What else? Not very good at multitasking, are you? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/48 "2013-05-21T09:00:41Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > From memory, it was something like: > 50g smooth peanut butter > 50g skimmed milk powder > 100g banana > 100ml double cream > 2 tablespoons chocolate powder > Soya or oat milk - top up to 500ml > > blend smooth using a hand blender - I also added a teaspoon of a vitamin-enriched drink powder I bought at the Pharmacy, but if you’re not actually restricted to a liquid diet, you could take a pill. > > 500ml of this stuff works out to be about 650 to 700 calories - and it’s not especially well-balanced (short on protein, very short on fibre). I could only manage one portion at lunchtime, plus a can of soup in the evening, as I still wasn’t very hungry. In the US, we have powdered fiber which is sold in drug stores and supermarkets as a laxative. We’ve also got protein powder, which is sold to body builders, though I’m not sure where I’d go to buy it. We’ve also got canned and powdered (to be mixed with liquid) meal replacements and supplements, in a variety of sweet flavors. These are sold to dieters and to people who usually don’t eat enough, respectively. These are actually decent emergency rations, if you avoid the low carb versions, which taste like they’ve gone bad. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/49 "2013-05-21T10:48:07Z")
I don’t know where YOUR feline masters shop, but mine only buys me the BEST human kibble. None of that primate chow I saw up thread either. Who the hell takes care of you people, or are you all . . . FERAL!?!?! :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/50 "2013-05-21T12:12:33Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > 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?[…] Yes!!! I am fat, and unhealthy on account of it. I gave up drinking cold turkey, and I could do the same thing with food if it were possible to not eat. The idea of a black-and-white distinction between eating one single serving bag of Human Chow, versus cheating, really appeals to me. I would like to be able to eat a healthy meal without subconsciously sabotaging myself. Many morbidly obese people would like to have an option that does not test one’s judgement. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/51 "2013-05-21T12:18:43Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > The idea of a black-and-white distinction between eating one single serving bag of Human Chow, versus cheating, really appeals to me. I would like to be able to eat a healthy meal without subconsciously sabotaging myself. That actually makes a great deal of sense. Whether it could be made to work in reality would be interesting, but there is no doubt about the cheating aspect. At least for some people you could probably make this work. Business opportunity? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/52 "2013-05-21T12:21:10Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > In the US, we have powdered fiber which is sold in drug stores and supermarkets as a laxative. We’ve also got protein powder, which is sold to body builders, though I’m not sure where I’d go to buy it. We’ve got those here too (there are high street stores specialising in the body-builder stuff - I think there is a market segment of young males who buy it thinking it’s a substitute for exercise) - trouble is, these have a thickening effect, so you have to add more liquid to a composite shake. To provide the full daily nutritional requirements for a moderately active adult human , it’s probably not possible to get it below about about a litre and a half in drinkable form - any smaller and it will be too thick to drink. ---
**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 21, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/53 "2013-05-21T13:08:25Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Why don’t nutritious human food pellets exist? Because there isn’t enough demand for it to convince anyone that developing, marketing, and selling it would be a profitable endeavor. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/54 "2013-05-21T13:31:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Because there isn’t enough demand for it to convince anyone that developing, marketing, and selling it would be a profitable endeavor. Clearly… I think the real question is why that’s the case. I’m with **Napier** on this one; I think having some sort of food pellet or bar that’s nutritionally complete, not loaded with sugar (i.e. low glycemic index), comes in 5-10 flavors, and is portioned in say… 100 calorie chunks, would be a great thing for people who are wanting to not be quite so obsessed with food, yet lose weight. That’s part of the problem with the diet aspect of weight loss IMO; you just trade one food obsession for another, and either way, you’re still thinking about food and eating all the time. I’d much rather be able to forget about it and do something else and not even think about it until I’m hungry, and a product like this would be a great idea. Plus, it might be really handy for the military and other situations where a shelf-stable, nutritionally complete food source would be handy. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/55 "2013-05-21T13:46:19Z")
You’re probably going to have to eat at least a pound of the stuff a day (quite likely more) - so do you want it to be appetising, or not? If so, you’re going to have exactly the same problems as you have with ordinary food - chiefly the temptation to eat more than you need, and gain weight. If not, eating a heap of it is going to be a chore. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/56 "2013-05-21T14:06:46Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Yes!!! > > I am fat, and unhealthy on account of it. I gave up drinking cold turkey, and I could do the same thing with food if it were possible to not eat. The idea of a black-and-white distinction between eating one single serving bag of Human Chow, versus cheating, really appeals to me. I would like to be able to eat a healthy meal without subconsciously sabotaging myself. Many morbidly obese people would like to have an option that does not test one’s judgement. I’m not sure a liquid would be comparable, but there are beverages like [Boost](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boost_%28beverage%29) made for seniors that are basically the same concept. Something like Boost Plus seems to have decent balance of fat, protein and carbs but I’m not a nutritionist. It does have 360 calories so 3 per day would add up to about 1200 calories. Add in lots of low cal raw veggies and you might be ok. edit: all of the other options are more like 240 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/57 "2013-05-21T14:13:50Z")
The few things like this that I’ve tried (“Ensure”, Carnation, GMC) all tasted bad because of the “vitamin-y” flavor they get. I started buying flaveored protein shakes and just taking a vitamin supplement as well. I also take fish oil, soluble and insoluble fibr pills, and add at least one serving of whole grains per day. Once it develops into a routine, it saves a lot of time and trouble, and I really feel healthier when I do it. I eat normal meals when Celtling is around, but when she’s not home, or not up yet, I use these as meal replacements. I don’t think any more about it than I do about grabbing a ceffeine pill when I don’t have time for coffee. It’s just a way to keep my body moving. If the guy in Post#6 were selling his powders in convenient packaging, and at a good price, I’d go for it. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/58 "2013-05-21T14:25:29Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > If the guy in Post#6 were selling his powders in convenient packaging, and at a good price, I’d go for it. Me too, I dont know if he realizes that by the time he gets done putting it out as a commercial product its going to cost 5x as much to the consumer and basically go right back to one of his own complaints…price. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/59 "2013-05-21T14:28:26Z")
This is without a doubt [the most frequently asked question on SDMB](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=9546643). ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795/60 "2013-05-21T14:29:23Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > . . . would add up to about 1200 calories. Umm. 1100. I will now prepare myself for ritual disembrainment. Oh, wait . . . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-nutritious-human-food-pellets-exist/658795.md?page=4)