Update: 8/5/15
Rob Rhinehart, the eccentric creator of Soylent (see previous entry below) has announced an update to his meal-replacement invention, reports the
Verge. "Silent 2.0", as it has been named, now comes in a ready to drink, bottled form. The previous version of the product required users to mix powders and liquids separately, and store the mixture in the refrigerator. For reasons
that are well spelled out but still unclear, Rhinehart wanted to make a product that did not require refrigeration. The new formula apparently keeps well for year before spoiling. The new bottled drinks each have about
1/5th of your daily calories. The most interesting note about the new Soylent is the new key ingredient. Fully half the half of the fat content in the new Soylent comes from algae oil.
What do you think about Soylent? Do you see a meal replacement having a role in your day to day? Let us know what you think via Google+, Facebook and Twitter.
Previous Entry, Published 5/5/14:
The idea that humans could survive without real food, instead living off supplements and pills, has been alive and well since the science fiction heavy 50s and 60s. Whether it be capsules a-la The Jetsons, or in another form, humans have always had a fascination with food replacements. A new product, called
Soylent, has been making waves (particularly in the technology industry), claiming to be all you ever need in terms of food and nutrition. While the jury is still out when it comes to scientific conclusions, initial anecdotal evidence is promising. A recent article in the
New Yorker takes an in depth look at the product's inception, it's creators, and the future of their business.
With a taste that falls somewhere between
cream of wheat and watered down pancake batter,
Soylent is not likely to be featured on Thomas Keller's next tasting menu. It is, however, aiming to be a popular choice among office workers, construction crews, nurses, and anyone else whose life does not always leave room for a nutritious, homemade meal. The idea began, according to the
New Yorker, with Rob Rhinehart and his two colleagues, who secured funding from investors to create software. After their
original idea flopped, with funds dwindling, Rhinehart turned to Soylent out of necessity, creating a product that could deliver all needed nutrition, without expensive foods (ramen, fast-food and frozen meals weren't sufficient). After some trial and error, Soylent, a combination of raw nutrients, oils and some other stapes, was born. Rhinehart's idea was to cut out the middle man, food, and deliver nutrients straight into the body.
Rhinehart feverishly
studied nutrional textbooks and combed the internet, arriving at a list of 35 nutrients essential for survival. After ordering raw nutrients and supplements, in the form of powder and pills, and experimenting with dosages, Rhinehart spent one month living off of only Soylent, and published his results on his blog. The internet went crazy, with
"lifehackers" all around testing and modifying Rhinehart's formula. Once he realized he had the makings of a company in front of him, Rhinehart and his roommates/colleagues gained the necessary capital through crowd-funding and other investments. Recently, the first
commercially processed shipments of
Soylent have gone out to customers.
What do you think, would you try
Soylent in place of some, or all, of your meals? Or is our attachment to food just too strong to shake? Be sure to check out the source link below for the full article, and let us know what you think via Facebook, Twitter & Google+.
Source:
The New Yorker,
Image Credit (Flickr)
Tablebases.com
