Are there any vegetarian astronauts?What do astronauts eat for pre-flight breakfast?Are there any existing technologies, or research, that investigate the sustainable production of food for manned exploration trips?Do astronauts experience any genetic changes?How do astronauts drink or eat in space?How are astronauts protected from radiation in a spacecraft?How many astronauts are left handed?Why are these astronauts green?Did the Apollo astronauts ever take any medications while on their mission in order to calm their nerves?Have any astronauts/cosmonauts died in space?Can there be color blind astronauts?Did any “washouts” of the Mercury program eventually become astronauts?
How to count the number of bytes in a file, grouping the same bytes?
How do I tell my girlfriend she's been buying me books by the wrong author for the last nine months?
Does friction always oppose motion?
Why will we fail creating a self sustaining off world colony?
Having to constantly redo everything because I don't know how to do it
Would skyscrapers tip over if people fell sideways?
Why isn't UDP with reliability (implemented at Application layer) a substitute of TCP?
Is it OK to say "The situation is pregnant with a crisis"?
Can dual citizens open crypto exchange accounts where U.S. citizens are prohibited?
Does it make sense to (partially) create a conlang that you don't intend to actually use in the story?
Is it theoretically possible to hack printer using scanner tray?
What does 5d4 x 10 gp mean?
Customs and immigration on a USA-UK-Sweden flight itinerary
Find the closest three-digit hex colour
What was the first science fiction or fantasy multiple choice book?
Robots in a spaceship
Journal standards vs. personal standards
How do I present a future free of gender stereotypes without being jarring or overpowering the narrative?
Russian equivalents of 能骗就骗 (if you can cheat, then cheat)
Avoiding repetition when using the "snprintf idiom" to write text
How useful would a hydroelectric power plant be in the post-apocalypse world?
Can US Supreme Court justices / judges be "rotated" out against their will?
What does 'in attendance' mean on an England death certificate?
Why wasn't ASCII designed with a contiguous alphanumeric character order?
Are there any vegetarian astronauts?
What do astronauts eat for pre-flight breakfast?Are there any existing technologies, or research, that investigate the sustainable production of food for manned exploration trips?Do astronauts experience any genetic changes?How do astronauts drink or eat in space?How are astronauts protected from radiation in a spacecraft?How many astronauts are left handed?Why are these astronauts green?Did the Apollo astronauts ever take any medications while on their mission in order to calm their nerves?Have any astronauts/cosmonauts died in space?Can there be color blind astronauts?Did any “washouts” of the Mercury program eventually become astronauts?
$begingroup$
Following this question and other food-related questions, including on Quora, I failed to see mention of a meal without meat or fish. I suppose:
- It is technically possible to have healthy vegetarian space food?
- As any other human being, astronauts may have alimentary restrictions (whatever the reason).
Has there already been an astronaut who ate vegetarian for all their journey in space? Let's restrict this question to journeys longer than one day (otherwise, not eating would be valid).
astronauts food reduced-gravity-cooking
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Following this question and other food-related questions, including on Quora, I failed to see mention of a meal without meat or fish. I suppose:
- It is technically possible to have healthy vegetarian space food?
- As any other human being, astronauts may have alimentary restrictions (whatever the reason).
Has there already been an astronaut who ate vegetarian for all their journey in space? Let's restrict this question to journeys longer than one day (otherwise, not eating would be valid).
astronauts food reduced-gravity-cooking
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Following this question and other food-related questions, including on Quora, I failed to see mention of a meal without meat or fish. I suppose:
- It is technically possible to have healthy vegetarian space food?
- As any other human being, astronauts may have alimentary restrictions (whatever the reason).
Has there already been an astronaut who ate vegetarian for all their journey in space? Let's restrict this question to journeys longer than one day (otherwise, not eating would be valid).
astronauts food reduced-gravity-cooking
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Following this question and other food-related questions, including on Quora, I failed to see mention of a meal without meat or fish. I suppose:
- It is technically possible to have healthy vegetarian space food?
- As any other human being, astronauts may have alimentary restrictions (whatever the reason).
Has there already been an astronaut who ate vegetarian for all their journey in space? Let's restrict this question to journeys longer than one day (otherwise, not eating would be valid).
astronauts food reduced-gravity-cooking
astronauts food reduced-gravity-cooking
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
edited Jun 22 at 1:57
uhoh
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
45.2k22 gold badges180 silver badges588 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
asked Jun 21 at 9:17
Manu HManu H
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
1,1269 silver badges27 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Yes, a simple Google query returns a few astronauts who were or are vegetarians:
Kalpana Chawla was a
strict vegetarian and spent a total of 31 days in space.
TJ Creamer - 163
days
Dr Janice Voss - 49 days.
From the answer to my previous question that you linked:
In the shuttle and post-shuttle era, with actual toilets available, astronauts have more options, and can pretty much ask for whatever they want for their pre-flight breakfast -- for example, lobster and baked potato -- but many stick to the steak-and-eggs tradition.
In this modern age of manned space flight, having convenient and working toilets means that crew members can enjoy any dietary requirements they might have, limited only by the olfactory tolerances of the companion crew members and NASA guidelines.
Foodstuff that might cause health issues (oysters, shellfish, etc.) or otherwise might affect the other crew members or equipment/mission might well be denied. However, that's a different question.
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
+1 for "olfactory tolerances" 😂
$endgroup$
– Whelkaholism
Jun 24 at 14:01
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In addition to the vegetarian and even vegan astronauts mentioned elsewhere, there soon may be more. In at least one of many possible scenarios for food on long flights, NASA astronauts on the proposed Mars mission for 2030 will be on vegan diets. The need for sustainable food options and preservability of the food is driving this choice.
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
$endgroup$
30
$begingroup$
"Healthy" is unsourced and doubtful - it's a challenge to supply all the nutrients through a vegan diet, and as humans are hypocarnivores, a healthy mixed diet is much easier than a healthy vegan one. The near-impossibility of an ecosystem more complex than a simple bacterial-plant cycle in confined space quarters is what's driving this choice.
$endgroup$
– Therac
Jun 21 at 19:05
10
$begingroup$
@Therac mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/3/1318/htm The vegan diet has its disadvantages, but it is on the whole the healthiest.
$endgroup$
– called2voyage♦
Jun 21 at 19:20
14
$begingroup$
@called2voyage: “extra items (products such as humus, tofu, quorn and fortified cereals, and fortified soy drinks) that are typically used by vegans and vegetarians were included” (emphasis mine). Of course you can make any diet work if you add supplements. I do think that a vegan diet is best from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it’s hard to get enough protein and some micronutrients from plants only.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 18:04
4
$begingroup$
"it’s hard to get enough protein ... from plants only." Not exactly. The larger problem is getting the right combination of amino acids for assimilation into human proteins. Amino acids are the thing, because all ingested proteins are broken down to their amino acid components by digestion before being reassembled into our proteins.
$endgroup$
– Oscar Lanzi
Jun 22 at 18:22
3
$begingroup$
@OscarLanzi: True, but the amount itself is also a problem. To reach 1.5g protein per kg body mass I’d have to eat half a kg of dried chickpeas or other legumes which would have ~1500kcal on their own. With food such as low fat curd cheese or eggs it’s much easier and they have a better amino acid profile. Sorry for starting this discussion.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 19:11
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice . They have a tasting period of 15 days to eat and choose what foods he/she likes to eat in space and the food choice has to meet the standard for rocket travel though. Of course there will be moderation by nutrition experts to ensure the astronaut is getting the recommended diet value of car/calories and so on.
Kalpana Chawla, a vegetarian stayed in space for close to 31 days. There are a few other people who stayed much longer than this.
P.S.: Not every astronaut is going to be vegetarian but if they are going to Mars they should become vegans. The Mars living room test (underground test) for 1 year included only vegan foods.
Food Options in Space
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
6
$begingroup$
Welcome to Space! Can you support your answer with references? For example, where did you get the information that Kalpana Chawla was vegetarian? Do astronauts have as much choice over their diet as you claim? Why "should" astronauts going to Mars be vegetarians? You need to support these claims in your answer.
$endgroup$
– DrSheldon
Jun 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
I have added links which i know of. Let me know if you need more links.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 13:29
2
$begingroup$
It's incorrect to say that "As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice". There are strict limitations on what can be flown in spacecraft. They are allowed to pick their food choices from the list of allowable foods.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
Jun 24 at 13:42
$begingroup$
good catch @OrganicMarble. I have updated the statement.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 18:11
1
$begingroup$
+1 for link to magazine article corroborating Dr. Chawla's vegetarianism
$endgroup$
– WaterMolecule
Jun 24 at 23:28
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "508"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fspace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f36878%2fare-there-any-vegetarian-astronauts%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Yes, a simple Google query returns a few astronauts who were or are vegetarians:
Kalpana Chawla was a
strict vegetarian and spent a total of 31 days in space.
TJ Creamer - 163
days
Dr Janice Voss - 49 days.
From the answer to my previous question that you linked:
In the shuttle and post-shuttle era, with actual toilets available, astronauts have more options, and can pretty much ask for whatever they want for their pre-flight breakfast -- for example, lobster and baked potato -- but many stick to the steak-and-eggs tradition.
In this modern age of manned space flight, having convenient and working toilets means that crew members can enjoy any dietary requirements they might have, limited only by the olfactory tolerances of the companion crew members and NASA guidelines.
Foodstuff that might cause health issues (oysters, shellfish, etc.) or otherwise might affect the other crew members or equipment/mission might well be denied. However, that's a different question.
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
+1 for "olfactory tolerances" 😂
$endgroup$
– Whelkaholism
Jun 24 at 14:01
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Yes, a simple Google query returns a few astronauts who were or are vegetarians:
Kalpana Chawla was a
strict vegetarian and spent a total of 31 days in space.
TJ Creamer - 163
days
Dr Janice Voss - 49 days.
From the answer to my previous question that you linked:
In the shuttle and post-shuttle era, with actual toilets available, astronauts have more options, and can pretty much ask for whatever they want for their pre-flight breakfast -- for example, lobster and baked potato -- but many stick to the steak-and-eggs tradition.
In this modern age of manned space flight, having convenient and working toilets means that crew members can enjoy any dietary requirements they might have, limited only by the olfactory tolerances of the companion crew members and NASA guidelines.
Foodstuff that might cause health issues (oysters, shellfish, etc.) or otherwise might affect the other crew members or equipment/mission might well be denied. However, that's a different question.
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
+1 for "olfactory tolerances" 😂
$endgroup$
– Whelkaholism
Jun 24 at 14:01
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Yes, a simple Google query returns a few astronauts who were or are vegetarians:
Kalpana Chawla was a
strict vegetarian and spent a total of 31 days in space.
TJ Creamer - 163
days
Dr Janice Voss - 49 days.
From the answer to my previous question that you linked:
In the shuttle and post-shuttle era, with actual toilets available, astronauts have more options, and can pretty much ask for whatever they want for their pre-flight breakfast -- for example, lobster and baked potato -- but many stick to the steak-and-eggs tradition.
In this modern age of manned space flight, having convenient and working toilets means that crew members can enjoy any dietary requirements they might have, limited only by the olfactory tolerances of the companion crew members and NASA guidelines.
Foodstuff that might cause health issues (oysters, shellfish, etc.) or otherwise might affect the other crew members or equipment/mission might well be denied. However, that's a different question.
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Yes, a simple Google query returns a few astronauts who were or are vegetarians:
Kalpana Chawla was a
strict vegetarian and spent a total of 31 days in space.
TJ Creamer - 163
days
Dr Janice Voss - 49 days.
From the answer to my previous question that you linked:
In the shuttle and post-shuttle era, with actual toilets available, astronauts have more options, and can pretty much ask for whatever they want for their pre-flight breakfast -- for example, lobster and baked potato -- but many stick to the steak-and-eggs tradition.
In this modern age of manned space flight, having convenient and working toilets means that crew members can enjoy any dietary requirements they might have, limited only by the olfactory tolerances of the companion crew members and NASA guidelines.
Foodstuff that might cause health issues (oysters, shellfish, etc.) or otherwise might affect the other crew members or equipment/mission might well be denied. However, that's a different question.
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
edited Jun 24 at 14:02
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
answered Jun 21 at 9:42
SnowSnow
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
7504 silver badges13 bronze badges
1
$begingroup$
+1 for "olfactory tolerances" 😂
$endgroup$
– Whelkaholism
Jun 24 at 14:01
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
+1 for "olfactory tolerances" 😂
$endgroup$
– Whelkaholism
Jun 24 at 14:01
1
1
$begingroup$
+1 for "olfactory tolerances" 😂
$endgroup$
– Whelkaholism
Jun 24 at 14:01
$begingroup$
+1 for "olfactory tolerances" 😂
$endgroup$
– Whelkaholism
Jun 24 at 14:01
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In addition to the vegetarian and even vegan astronauts mentioned elsewhere, there soon may be more. In at least one of many possible scenarios for food on long flights, NASA astronauts on the proposed Mars mission for 2030 will be on vegan diets. The need for sustainable food options and preservability of the food is driving this choice.
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
$endgroup$
30
$begingroup$
"Healthy" is unsourced and doubtful - it's a challenge to supply all the nutrients through a vegan diet, and as humans are hypocarnivores, a healthy mixed diet is much easier than a healthy vegan one. The near-impossibility of an ecosystem more complex than a simple bacterial-plant cycle in confined space quarters is what's driving this choice.
$endgroup$
– Therac
Jun 21 at 19:05
10
$begingroup$
@Therac mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/3/1318/htm The vegan diet has its disadvantages, but it is on the whole the healthiest.
$endgroup$
– called2voyage♦
Jun 21 at 19:20
14
$begingroup$
@called2voyage: “extra items (products such as humus, tofu, quorn and fortified cereals, and fortified soy drinks) that are typically used by vegans and vegetarians were included” (emphasis mine). Of course you can make any diet work if you add supplements. I do think that a vegan diet is best from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it’s hard to get enough protein and some micronutrients from plants only.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 18:04
4
$begingroup$
"it’s hard to get enough protein ... from plants only." Not exactly. The larger problem is getting the right combination of amino acids for assimilation into human proteins. Amino acids are the thing, because all ingested proteins are broken down to their amino acid components by digestion before being reassembled into our proteins.
$endgroup$
– Oscar Lanzi
Jun 22 at 18:22
3
$begingroup$
@OscarLanzi: True, but the amount itself is also a problem. To reach 1.5g protein per kg body mass I’d have to eat half a kg of dried chickpeas or other legumes which would have ~1500kcal on their own. With food such as low fat curd cheese or eggs it’s much easier and they have a better amino acid profile. Sorry for starting this discussion.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 19:11
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
In addition to the vegetarian and even vegan astronauts mentioned elsewhere, there soon may be more. In at least one of many possible scenarios for food on long flights, NASA astronauts on the proposed Mars mission for 2030 will be on vegan diets. The need for sustainable food options and preservability of the food is driving this choice.
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
$endgroup$
30
$begingroup$
"Healthy" is unsourced and doubtful - it's a challenge to supply all the nutrients through a vegan diet, and as humans are hypocarnivores, a healthy mixed diet is much easier than a healthy vegan one. The near-impossibility of an ecosystem more complex than a simple bacterial-plant cycle in confined space quarters is what's driving this choice.
$endgroup$
– Therac
Jun 21 at 19:05
10
$begingroup$
@Therac mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/3/1318/htm The vegan diet has its disadvantages, but it is on the whole the healthiest.
$endgroup$
– called2voyage♦
Jun 21 at 19:20
14
$begingroup$
@called2voyage: “extra items (products such as humus, tofu, quorn and fortified cereals, and fortified soy drinks) that are typically used by vegans and vegetarians were included” (emphasis mine). Of course you can make any diet work if you add supplements. I do think that a vegan diet is best from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it’s hard to get enough protein and some micronutrients from plants only.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 18:04
4
$begingroup$
"it’s hard to get enough protein ... from plants only." Not exactly. The larger problem is getting the right combination of amino acids for assimilation into human proteins. Amino acids are the thing, because all ingested proteins are broken down to their amino acid components by digestion before being reassembled into our proteins.
$endgroup$
– Oscar Lanzi
Jun 22 at 18:22
3
$begingroup$
@OscarLanzi: True, but the amount itself is also a problem. To reach 1.5g protein per kg body mass I’d have to eat half a kg of dried chickpeas or other legumes which would have ~1500kcal on their own. With food such as low fat curd cheese or eggs it’s much easier and they have a better amino acid profile. Sorry for starting this discussion.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 19:11
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
In addition to the vegetarian and even vegan astronauts mentioned elsewhere, there soon may be more. In at least one of many possible scenarios for food on long flights, NASA astronauts on the proposed Mars mission for 2030 will be on vegan diets. The need for sustainable food options and preservability of the food is driving this choice.
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
$endgroup$
In addition to the vegetarian and even vegan astronauts mentioned elsewhere, there soon may be more. In at least one of many possible scenarios for food on long flights, NASA astronauts on the proposed Mars mission for 2030 will be on vegan diets. The need for sustainable food options and preservability of the food is driving this choice.
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
edited Jun 24 at 15:01
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
answered Jun 21 at 9:41
Oscar LanziOscar Lanzi
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
1,4751 gold badge3 silver badges14 bronze badges
30
$begingroup$
"Healthy" is unsourced and doubtful - it's a challenge to supply all the nutrients through a vegan diet, and as humans are hypocarnivores, a healthy mixed diet is much easier than a healthy vegan one. The near-impossibility of an ecosystem more complex than a simple bacterial-plant cycle in confined space quarters is what's driving this choice.
$endgroup$
– Therac
Jun 21 at 19:05
10
$begingroup$
@Therac mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/3/1318/htm The vegan diet has its disadvantages, but it is on the whole the healthiest.
$endgroup$
– called2voyage♦
Jun 21 at 19:20
14
$begingroup$
@called2voyage: “extra items (products such as humus, tofu, quorn and fortified cereals, and fortified soy drinks) that are typically used by vegans and vegetarians were included” (emphasis mine). Of course you can make any diet work if you add supplements. I do think that a vegan diet is best from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it’s hard to get enough protein and some micronutrients from plants only.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 18:04
4
$begingroup$
"it’s hard to get enough protein ... from plants only." Not exactly. The larger problem is getting the right combination of amino acids for assimilation into human proteins. Amino acids are the thing, because all ingested proteins are broken down to their amino acid components by digestion before being reassembled into our proteins.
$endgroup$
– Oscar Lanzi
Jun 22 at 18:22
3
$begingroup$
@OscarLanzi: True, but the amount itself is also a problem. To reach 1.5g protein per kg body mass I’d have to eat half a kg of dried chickpeas or other legumes which would have ~1500kcal on their own. With food such as low fat curd cheese or eggs it’s much easier and they have a better amino acid profile. Sorry for starting this discussion.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 19:11
|
show 6 more comments
30
$begingroup$
"Healthy" is unsourced and doubtful - it's a challenge to supply all the nutrients through a vegan diet, and as humans are hypocarnivores, a healthy mixed diet is much easier than a healthy vegan one. The near-impossibility of an ecosystem more complex than a simple bacterial-plant cycle in confined space quarters is what's driving this choice.
$endgroup$
– Therac
Jun 21 at 19:05
10
$begingroup$
@Therac mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/3/1318/htm The vegan diet has its disadvantages, but it is on the whole the healthiest.
$endgroup$
– called2voyage♦
Jun 21 at 19:20
14
$begingroup$
@called2voyage: “extra items (products such as humus, tofu, quorn and fortified cereals, and fortified soy drinks) that are typically used by vegans and vegetarians were included” (emphasis mine). Of course you can make any diet work if you add supplements. I do think that a vegan diet is best from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it’s hard to get enough protein and some micronutrients from plants only.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 18:04
4
$begingroup$
"it’s hard to get enough protein ... from plants only." Not exactly. The larger problem is getting the right combination of amino acids for assimilation into human proteins. Amino acids are the thing, because all ingested proteins are broken down to their amino acid components by digestion before being reassembled into our proteins.
$endgroup$
– Oscar Lanzi
Jun 22 at 18:22
3
$begingroup$
@OscarLanzi: True, but the amount itself is also a problem. To reach 1.5g protein per kg body mass I’d have to eat half a kg of dried chickpeas or other legumes which would have ~1500kcal on their own. With food such as low fat curd cheese or eggs it’s much easier and they have a better amino acid profile. Sorry for starting this discussion.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 19:11
30
30
$begingroup$
"Healthy" is unsourced and doubtful - it's a challenge to supply all the nutrients through a vegan diet, and as humans are hypocarnivores, a healthy mixed diet is much easier than a healthy vegan one. The near-impossibility of an ecosystem more complex than a simple bacterial-plant cycle in confined space quarters is what's driving this choice.
$endgroup$
– Therac
Jun 21 at 19:05
$begingroup$
"Healthy" is unsourced and doubtful - it's a challenge to supply all the nutrients through a vegan diet, and as humans are hypocarnivores, a healthy mixed diet is much easier than a healthy vegan one. The near-impossibility of an ecosystem more complex than a simple bacterial-plant cycle in confined space quarters is what's driving this choice.
$endgroup$
– Therac
Jun 21 at 19:05
10
10
$begingroup$
@Therac mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/3/1318/htm The vegan diet has its disadvantages, but it is on the whole the healthiest.
$endgroup$
– called2voyage♦
Jun 21 at 19:20
$begingroup$
@Therac mdpi.com/2072-6643/6/3/1318/htm The vegan diet has its disadvantages, but it is on the whole the healthiest.
$endgroup$
– called2voyage♦
Jun 21 at 19:20
14
14
$begingroup$
@called2voyage: “extra items (products such as humus, tofu, quorn and fortified cereals, and fortified soy drinks) that are typically used by vegans and vegetarians were included” (emphasis mine). Of course you can make any diet work if you add supplements. I do think that a vegan diet is best from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it’s hard to get enough protein and some micronutrients from plants only.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 18:04
$begingroup$
@called2voyage: “extra items (products such as humus, tofu, quorn and fortified cereals, and fortified soy drinks) that are typically used by vegans and vegetarians were included” (emphasis mine). Of course you can make any diet work if you add supplements. I do think that a vegan diet is best from an ethical and environmental standpoint, but it’s hard to get enough protein and some micronutrients from plants only.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 18:04
4
4
$begingroup$
"it’s hard to get enough protein ... from plants only." Not exactly. The larger problem is getting the right combination of amino acids for assimilation into human proteins. Amino acids are the thing, because all ingested proteins are broken down to their amino acid components by digestion before being reassembled into our proteins.
$endgroup$
– Oscar Lanzi
Jun 22 at 18:22
$begingroup$
"it’s hard to get enough protein ... from plants only." Not exactly. The larger problem is getting the right combination of amino acids for assimilation into human proteins. Amino acids are the thing, because all ingested proteins are broken down to their amino acid components by digestion before being reassembled into our proteins.
$endgroup$
– Oscar Lanzi
Jun 22 at 18:22
3
3
$begingroup$
@OscarLanzi: True, but the amount itself is also a problem. To reach 1.5g protein per kg body mass I’d have to eat half a kg of dried chickpeas or other legumes which would have ~1500kcal on their own. With food such as low fat curd cheese or eggs it’s much easier and they have a better amino acid profile. Sorry for starting this discussion.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 19:11
$begingroup$
@OscarLanzi: True, but the amount itself is also a problem. To reach 1.5g protein per kg body mass I’d have to eat half a kg of dried chickpeas or other legumes which would have ~1500kcal on their own. With food such as low fat curd cheese or eggs it’s much easier and they have a better amino acid profile. Sorry for starting this discussion.
$endgroup$
– Michael
Jun 22 at 19:11
|
show 6 more comments
$begingroup$
As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice . They have a tasting period of 15 days to eat and choose what foods he/she likes to eat in space and the food choice has to meet the standard for rocket travel though. Of course there will be moderation by nutrition experts to ensure the astronaut is getting the recommended diet value of car/calories and so on.
Kalpana Chawla, a vegetarian stayed in space for close to 31 days. There are a few other people who stayed much longer than this.
P.S.: Not every astronaut is going to be vegetarian but if they are going to Mars they should become vegans. The Mars living room test (underground test) for 1 year included only vegan foods.
Food Options in Space
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
6
$begingroup$
Welcome to Space! Can you support your answer with references? For example, where did you get the information that Kalpana Chawla was vegetarian? Do astronauts have as much choice over their diet as you claim? Why "should" astronauts going to Mars be vegetarians? You need to support these claims in your answer.
$endgroup$
– DrSheldon
Jun 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
I have added links which i know of. Let me know if you need more links.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 13:29
2
$begingroup$
It's incorrect to say that "As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice". There are strict limitations on what can be flown in spacecraft. They are allowed to pick their food choices from the list of allowable foods.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
Jun 24 at 13:42
$begingroup$
good catch @OrganicMarble. I have updated the statement.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 18:11
1
$begingroup$
+1 for link to magazine article corroborating Dr. Chawla's vegetarianism
$endgroup$
– WaterMolecule
Jun 24 at 23:28
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice . They have a tasting period of 15 days to eat and choose what foods he/she likes to eat in space and the food choice has to meet the standard for rocket travel though. Of course there will be moderation by nutrition experts to ensure the astronaut is getting the recommended diet value of car/calories and so on.
Kalpana Chawla, a vegetarian stayed in space for close to 31 days. There are a few other people who stayed much longer than this.
P.S.: Not every astronaut is going to be vegetarian but if they are going to Mars they should become vegans. The Mars living room test (underground test) for 1 year included only vegan foods.
Food Options in Space
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
6
$begingroup$
Welcome to Space! Can you support your answer with references? For example, where did you get the information that Kalpana Chawla was vegetarian? Do astronauts have as much choice over their diet as you claim? Why "should" astronauts going to Mars be vegetarians? You need to support these claims in your answer.
$endgroup$
– DrSheldon
Jun 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
I have added links which i know of. Let me know if you need more links.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 13:29
2
$begingroup$
It's incorrect to say that "As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice". There are strict limitations on what can be flown in spacecraft. They are allowed to pick their food choices from the list of allowable foods.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
Jun 24 at 13:42
$begingroup$
good catch @OrganicMarble. I have updated the statement.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 18:11
1
$begingroup$
+1 for link to magazine article corroborating Dr. Chawla's vegetarianism
$endgroup$
– WaterMolecule
Jun 24 at 23:28
add a comment |
$begingroup$
As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice . They have a tasting period of 15 days to eat and choose what foods he/she likes to eat in space and the food choice has to meet the standard for rocket travel though. Of course there will be moderation by nutrition experts to ensure the astronaut is getting the recommended diet value of car/calories and so on.
Kalpana Chawla, a vegetarian stayed in space for close to 31 days. There are a few other people who stayed much longer than this.
P.S.: Not every astronaut is going to be vegetarian but if they are going to Mars they should become vegans. The Mars living room test (underground test) for 1 year included only vegan foods.
Food Options in Space
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
$endgroup$
As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice . They have a tasting period of 15 days to eat and choose what foods he/she likes to eat in space and the food choice has to meet the standard for rocket travel though. Of course there will be moderation by nutrition experts to ensure the astronaut is getting the recommended diet value of car/calories and so on.
Kalpana Chawla, a vegetarian stayed in space for close to 31 days. There are a few other people who stayed much longer than this.
P.S.: Not every astronaut is going to be vegetarian but if they are going to Mars they should become vegans. The Mars living room test (underground test) for 1 year included only vegan foods.
Food Options in Space
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
edited Jun 24 at 18:11
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
answered Jun 21 at 19:00
yogayoga
812 bronze badges
812 bronze badges
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
Some of the information contained in this post requires additional references. Please edit to add citations to reliable sources that support the assertions made here. Unsourced material may be disputed or deleted.
6
$begingroup$
Welcome to Space! Can you support your answer with references? For example, where did you get the information that Kalpana Chawla was vegetarian? Do astronauts have as much choice over their diet as you claim? Why "should" astronauts going to Mars be vegetarians? You need to support these claims in your answer.
$endgroup$
– DrSheldon
Jun 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
I have added links which i know of. Let me know if you need more links.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 13:29
2
$begingroup$
It's incorrect to say that "As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice". There are strict limitations on what can be flown in spacecraft. They are allowed to pick their food choices from the list of allowable foods.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
Jun 24 at 13:42
$begingroup$
good catch @OrganicMarble. I have updated the statement.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 18:11
1
$begingroup$
+1 for link to magazine article corroborating Dr. Chawla's vegetarianism
$endgroup$
– WaterMolecule
Jun 24 at 23:28
add a comment |
6
$begingroup$
Welcome to Space! Can you support your answer with references? For example, where did you get the information that Kalpana Chawla was vegetarian? Do astronauts have as much choice over their diet as you claim? Why "should" astronauts going to Mars be vegetarians? You need to support these claims in your answer.
$endgroup$
– DrSheldon
Jun 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
I have added links which i know of. Let me know if you need more links.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 13:29
2
$begingroup$
It's incorrect to say that "As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice". There are strict limitations on what can be flown in spacecraft. They are allowed to pick their food choices from the list of allowable foods.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
Jun 24 at 13:42
$begingroup$
good catch @OrganicMarble. I have updated the statement.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 18:11
1
$begingroup$
+1 for link to magazine article corroborating Dr. Chawla's vegetarianism
$endgroup$
– WaterMolecule
Jun 24 at 23:28
6
6
$begingroup$
Welcome to Space! Can you support your answer with references? For example, where did you get the information that Kalpana Chawla was vegetarian? Do astronauts have as much choice over their diet as you claim? Why "should" astronauts going to Mars be vegetarians? You need to support these claims in your answer.
$endgroup$
– DrSheldon
Jun 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
Welcome to Space! Can you support your answer with references? For example, where did you get the information that Kalpana Chawla was vegetarian? Do astronauts have as much choice over their diet as you claim? Why "should" astronauts going to Mars be vegetarians? You need to support these claims in your answer.
$endgroup$
– DrSheldon
Jun 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
I have added links which i know of. Let me know if you need more links.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 13:29
$begingroup$
I have added links which i know of. Let me know if you need more links.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 13:29
2
2
$begingroup$
It's incorrect to say that "As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice". There are strict limitations on what can be flown in spacecraft. They are allowed to pick their food choices from the list of allowable foods.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
Jun 24 at 13:42
$begingroup$
It's incorrect to say that "As astronaut is always to choose the food of his/her own choice". There are strict limitations on what can be flown in spacecraft. They are allowed to pick their food choices from the list of allowable foods.
$endgroup$
– Organic Marble
Jun 24 at 13:42
$begingroup$
good catch @OrganicMarble. I have updated the statement.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 18:11
$begingroup$
good catch @OrganicMarble. I have updated the statement.
$endgroup$
– yoga
Jun 24 at 18:11
1
1
$begingroup$
+1 for link to magazine article corroborating Dr. Chawla's vegetarianism
$endgroup$
– WaterMolecule
Jun 24 at 23:28
$begingroup$
+1 for link to magazine article corroborating Dr. Chawla's vegetarianism
$endgroup$
– WaterMolecule
Jun 24 at 23:28
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Space Exploration Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fspace.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f36878%2fare-there-any-vegetarian-astronauts%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
