Soylent

[Menegrothx]

That sounds perfect, as long as it doesn't have an awful taste or texture and it's quick to ingest. Something like that could help mankind tremendously. Although I'm skeptical whether you can truly nurture a human being in the long run with "artificial" nutrition powder.
Edit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_%2 ... 29#Dangers

Soylent in its present form almost certainly lacks some nutrients essential for normal body functioning and/or provides nutrients in inappropriate proportions, potentially causing serious medical problems if used long-term.[4] Partly this is due to the limits of current nutritional science, which likely still hasn't discovered some of the essential nutrients that we normally get from food.[4] Partly this is due to synergy between nutrients that are normally consumed together as part of the same food.[3] Each nutrient affects how much you absorb of other nutrients eaten at the same time; the relationships are complex and vary from person to person.[5] Even small variations in the amount of micronutrients that a person absorbs can have large, deleterious effects, such as kidney damage or altered bone density.[5] And partly there is danger because homemade Soylent is made without the kinds of regulatory safeguards and fine-tunings followed when making accepted artificial diets such as medical food.[1]

[Opa Opa]

I'm waiting for the I Can't Believe It's Not People! fat free products.

[Ivo]

I too would be concerned with the subtleties that we don't really know about very well yet. But most of that subtle nutrients and synergies are not in processed junk food anyway. And you can't need a lot in terms of quantity, or it wouldn't be subtle that you need it.

I think this could be a great thing to make many main meals, and then you eat something else once in a while, and top it off with fresh fruit and stuff like that (some fruits are quite easy to eat - no cooking required!). Which is probably what the inventor and other testers are doing and why they subsist well and healthy for the months they have been trying this.

[MrPopo]

I don't see what's wrong with food. It's not like world hunger is due to insufficient production; it's a logistics of distribution issue.

[Ivo]

I don't see what's wrong with food. It's not like world hunger is due to insufficient production; it's a logistics of distribution issue.

My problem with regular food is that it does not suit my purposes very well.

If what I want is nutrients to survive and be healthy (a philosophy that is dominantly "eat to live"), then having to think about how to balance the nutrient intake with different incomplete sources, buying them (and worrying about expiration dates etc.), and then on top of that preparing them myself so that it does not taste bad simply takes more effort and time away from things I would rather be doing.
If I don't care so much for the taste and enjoyment, regular food is very inefficient for me.

Of course there are many (possibly the majority) that really enjoy food, have "live to eat" as a significant part of their lifestyle philosophy (or even dominant, for "foodies").

A completely separate issue is the global issue of hunger. You are completely correct that it is a question of logistics: distribution and spoilage are the main issues. Which is precisely why something like this could help - a powdered nutrient mix that does not spoil for ages and is easy to transport. Then you re-hydrate and gulp it down locally.

Most foods contain significant amount of water, and water has quite a high density - transporting all that water (which adds to the weight and volume) to get the necessary nutrients is part of the problem.

This particular product is not really new - there are commercial medical powders that amount to basically the same thing - but they are rather expensive. In my opinion part of what these guys want to do is lower the cost.

[Menegrothx]

I too would be concerned with the subtleties that we don't really know about very well yet. But most of that subtle nutrients and synergies are not in processed junk food anyway. And you can't need a lot in terms of quantity, or it wouldn't be subtle that you need it.

Yeah I think I'd be better off if I ate something like that than if I continued with my current diet, but I still don't believe that powder or anything like that can match organic vegetables and meat

I don't see what's wrong with food.

Deforestation
Fertilizers pollute environment (eutrophication)
Ethical issues regarding animals
Impurity (antibiotics in meat, food colors, preservatives and so on), though nutrition powder doesn't sound really that safe either.
Obesity, diabetes and the millions of others health problems that are a huge expenses in first world countries
Cooking is a huge time sink (as is finding out how to prepare dishes that are healthy and have all the required nutrients in them)
Like you mentioned, logistics&distribution.

[Luke]

Cooking is a huge time sink

You must be a terrible cook Cleaning dishes on the other hand isn't much fun.

[MrPopo]

Cooking is a huge time sink

You must be a terrible cook Cleaning dishes on the other hand isn't much fun.

Indeed. Some meals take hours from start to finish, but the majority of that is unattended cooking time (pot roast, turkey, etc).

[Xeogred]

Cooking is a huge time sink

You must be a terrible cook Cleaning dishes on the other hand isn't much fun.

Glad I got that settled awhile back with my roommate, haha. Hasn't been an issue nowadays.

Spoilers, but cooking is... worth it. Definitely thinking of buying a simple starter cookbook sometime soon. Ever since I've been on a healthier kick for the last year or two things just keep getting better and better. I'm not always up for it myself, but man for the taste, it's always worth it. The simple difference between cooking some Pasta Slides vs throwing something in the microwave is crazy enough.

I agree about some of Menegrothx's stuff there though. My mom worries about the future of this stuff more than the economy and such, haha can't blame her I guess. Ever since I've been more conscious about food and reading labels/ingredients, it is kind of worrisome when I see stuff and just have to ask "what da hell is that?"

I haven't gone to any crazy extremes, but cut out fast food entirely, soda, sliced diary down a ton (alternate milks, and my stomach thanks me), get some green in everyday if I can, lean meats, smoothies, etc. It's been so worth it. Years ago I would whine about having to prepare something more advanced, now a few months ago I was pissed when I forgot my lunch at work and decided to go grab Arby's. It literally destroyed me that day, it was so bad I couldn't help but laugh.

It's goofy but I'm a little proud of myself now. Glad I'm at this point and not looking back.

[Ivo]

Cooking is a huge time sink

You must be a terrible cook Cleaning dishes on the other hand isn't much fun.

Spoilers, but cooking is... worth it.

I really believe it is worth it for a lot of people. And I also think most people should know to do at least some of the simpler things.

But trust me when it says for me it is not worth it. People just have different priorities. The time and effort of:
1. buying and maintaining a stock of ingredients
2. cooking (even if it is simple stuff or can be left unattended)
3. the dishes etc. (with Soylent you would have to clean a glass for each meal, I guess)

I'd rather spend that playing games or spending time outside and so on.
I get that for many, meals are spending time with friends and family as well.