Outer space is pretty cool. Space innovation and its pop culture counterparts have brought us such essential items as moon boots, Dippin’ Dots and Michael Jackson dance moves. The concept of moving through atmospheric gases at an unthinkable velocity is just sweet. In reality, most of us won’t get anywhere near a NASA mission.
When attempting to satisfy your inner astronaut, try some of the alimentary fare eaten by real-live astronauts — only a “tear package” away.
The food quality is surprisingly good. The “official astronaut cinnamon apple wedges,” though absurdly dehydrated, pack a serious amount of real apple flavor into crunchy bites. Think apple chips or apple meringues with a nice cinnamon sugar coating.
We also sampled a “boil in the bag” (or just microwave) cheese tortellini in red sauce with pinto beans (added protein for those long gravity-less days!). Again, the texture was somewhat off, but the pasta itself tasted like a fancier bowl of SpaghettiOs. As well as passing NASA guidelines, these meals are kosher and halal approved!
No real astronaut eats Dippin’ Dots, but they do eat freeze-dried chocolate chip ice cream packaged as a dense brick of dried milk product.
If you’re regretting your current career plans, or you want to feel nostalgic about the times when your glow-in-the-dark solar system wallpaper made the experience so real, try some space food. It’s a tad gross, but no one said exploring the new frontier would be easy.
