Eating in the International Space Station: Here are 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know

It is true that no one goes to space for the food, but have you ever wondered how and what astronauts eat in zero gravity?

While the view is spectacular in outer space, it is not the only fascinating thing that you can see if you are inside a spaceship.

Astronauts have weird food traditions, cooking preparations, and food options, and here are some of them:

1. Steak And Eggs Brekky Tradition

In the olden days, the first astronauts would have a traditional breakfast consisting of steak and eggs before launching into space.

The steak and eggs are often eaten with an orange juice by the side to aid in digestion, but tea is another option for those who might prefer it.

NASA Archive writes that these are the only drink options allowed with the traditional breakfast because coffee is prohibited due to its diuretic properties.

According to Space, NASA's long running tradition actually has a scientific reason behind it as it was designed to have little fiber to lessen bowel movements.

2. Dehydrated Food In Plastic Bags

During men's early days in space, astronauts will consume pureed food stored in tubes and cubes of dry foods, because astronauts were not sure if digestion was harder in space.

However, a few years later, NASA invented the spoon-bowl pack, which are plastic bags that contain dehydrated food "cooked" by adding hot water stored in a valve.

While cooking in space still means pouring hot water into a pouch, the International Space Station has introduced induction ovens that blow hot air over the irradiated meals.

These meals are inspired by the "Meals Ready to Eat" options used by the United States armed forces, but with better taste, texture, and options.

3. Condiments And Culinary Considerations

While astronauts' food is prepared and packed into dehydrated pouches, they can select meals they would like to have in their mission, Kennedy Space Center shares.

The lab creates nutritious and low fiber food, ensuring that not only do the astronauts get their cravings, but also they get food that ensures peak health and performance for them.

However, due to their unusual living conditions certain considerations should be made regarding food preparations such that there should be no condiment that separates into small particles.

4. Booze And Controversial Sandwiches

Alcohol is strictly prohibited in spaceships due to a number of safety and precautionary reasons, including alcohol-containing products like mouthwash and hand sanitizers.

However, this has not been the case as at the start of the space explorations, alcoholic drinks were included in the rations for cosmonauts because they help the immune system.

Today, the International Space Station deliberately receives alcoholic beverages from NASA again as part of an investigation into the effect of microgravity on such, NASA Archive says.

Meanwhile, alcohol is not the only thing banned in space as sandwiches are also not allowed in spaceships after discovering that it easily disintegrates, leaving crumbs floating in space.

5. The Taste Of Space

According to the Kennedy Space Center however, eating is not that fun in space contrary to popular belief because zero gravity can change the taste of your favorite food.

Well, not exactly in the way that you might think, but because the tissues in our bodies disperse, and our nostrils get stuffy or shut down.

This congestion astronauts feel makes smelling a change, and causes food to be bland since smell is essential to acquiring taste.

In the more recent years, NASA has been improving the ways they feed their astronauts as scientists found that food is more than physical fuel, but is also mental fuel for astronauts, too.