General Food synthesizers

[Proneutron]

During TL's 8-9 great strides are made in artificially manufactured food. By TL 10 industrial food synthesizing using only carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and a few other trace elements becomes a reality. The food is of course different in many ways from natural food. E.g. a synthesized grape has no skin but can be made in any size. You can get egg whites and egg yolk. But not as an integrated item as found in an egg. Thus fried eggs are problematic. Meats are one of the foods that are closest to the natural. Breads, pasta, sauces, cheese and other derived food items are pretty much the same as the original.

Recipes are programmed to take advantage the strengths and avoid the limitations of the system. The mass production of food using this technology puts an end to hunger on planets of this TL and above.

At TL 11 this technology is mature and moves into the the average home and star-ship. The “Meal Maker^TM” is two Dtons and Cr20,000 for a unit that feeds 6 people per day. It takes 2 hours to prepare 6 full meals. Time in between is usually used to produce stored food and drinks for on demand consumption. The unit has a refrigerator and freezer for such items.

At TL 12+ the size drops to one Dton and costs Cr30,000.

The programming for the molecular level food synthesizing is hard coded and cannot be changed due to the danger of creating poisonous compounds. One can buy new recipe "cartridges" from certified sources. The cost of the raw materials needed to make the food is negligible.

Ships using these food synthesizers cut life support costs per person by 50%.

 

[Vile]

As a kid watching TOS I couldn't wait for food cubes to become available. Brightly-coloured cubes of homogenous foodstuff with no skin or bones or gristle, what's not to love?

 

[Proneutron]

As a kid watching TOS I couldn't wait for food cubes to become available. Brightly-coloured cubes of homogenous foodstuff with no skin or bones or gristle, what's not to love?

That's why I used that pic. I too wondered and waited!

 

[wellis]

Food pills always struck me as too small to be satisfying.

Like I want meals to last longer.

 

[Proneutron]

Food pills always struck me as too small to be satisfying.

Like I want meals to last longer.

o: What are you talking about?

 

[Condottiere]

 

[coliver988]

Food pills always struck me as too small to be satisfying.

Like I want meals to last longer.

Especially while in jump: depending on your view of maintenance and what else happens while in jump, there is probably a LOT of time. Perhaps the enjoyment of food and company happens

On another thread (the one about jump traditions) the one I started using is that the 1st meal post-jump is quite the lavish affair to celebrate the start of a week together. I would imagine it takes its time to be enjoyed. Kinda hard to enjoy swallowing a pill or eating oddly colored cubes of nutrient.

Bottom line: me too. Plus you actually need a certain amount of roughage and sheer volume for your body to work right.

 

[Proneutron]

Bottom line: Plus you actually need a certain amount of roughage and sheer volume for your body to work right.

As per the explanation in the OP the food is real (and to the needs of the body) has everything more expensive, naturally grown food has. It is simply mechanically produced rather than naturally grown. In FACT, the computer can analyze what you are ordering and ADD any roughage needed that you missed due to your poor menu choices if that is the case. THUS, it is potentially healthier than "normal" food in certain ways. So, that bottom line doesn't apply.

 

[whartung]

Food pills always struck me as too small to be satisfying.

Like I want meals to last longer.

 

[coliver988]

As per the explanation in the OP the food is real (and to the needs of the body) has everything more expensive, naturally grown food has. It is simply mechanically produced rather than naturally grown. In FACT, the computer can analyze what you are ordering and ADD any roughage needed that you missed due to your poor menu choices if that is the case. THUS, it is potentially healthier than "normal" food in certain ways. So, that bottom line doesn't apply.

Sorry - I was referring to the food pills thing. No question about the manufactured food taking the same volume. It is just born in a lab versus the hoof. Still not convinced that a living thing that actually USES the muscles aka meat would be the same as manufactured, but I am thinking 21st century vs the Traveller timeline. I'd just still play up the snob aspect mostly for fluff. Could the noble tell the difference between the two? Reminds of the story where some restaurant accidentally switched bottles of wine: a couple got the $2K bottle of wine, the business men (on expense) got the cheaper one but thought it tasted better. https://nypost.com/2020/10/23/couple-mistakenly-served-2000-wine-at-nyc-restaurant/

 

[Condottiere]

You only switch bottles after the first one, when the party is somewhat inebriated and can't tell the difference.

 

[kilemall]

Especially while in jump: depending on your view of maintenance and what else happens while in jump, there is probably a LOT of time. Perhaps the enjoyment of food and company happens

On another thread (the one about jump traditions) the one I started using is that the 1st meal post-jump is quite the lavish affair to celebrate the start of a week together. I would imagine it takes its time to be enjoyed. Kinda hard to enjoy swallowing a pill or eating oddly colored cubes of nutrient.

Bottom line: me too. Plus you actually need a certain amount of roughage and sheer volume for your body to work right.

I was figuring that there was a tradition of mid passage passengers cooking a meal for the high passage just for variety and traditionally getting some perks, like access for the one meal to higher end ingredients, or the high passage rooms have a special feature like workout gear or movie theater that the mid passage gets invited to share for a few hours.


Helps the atmosphere and entertains people, and gives the steward a meal off.



Hmm, just thought of the title- Steward's Buffet.

 

[BRover]

As a kid watching TOS I couldn't wait for food cubes to become available. Brightly-coloured cubes of homogenous foodstuff with no skin or bones or gristle, what's not to love?

We already have a versions of such foodstuffs, as described in Ian Frazier's Laws Concerning Food and Drink. . .

Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of the sea, and of all foods that are acceptable in my sight you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the hoofed animals, broiled or ground into burgers, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cloven-hoofed animal, plain or with cheese, you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the cereal grains, of the corn and of the wheat and of the oats, and of all the cereals that are of bright color and unknown provenance you may eat, but not in the living room. Of the quiescently frozen dessert and of all frozen after-meal treats you may eat, but absolutely not in the living room. Of the juices and other beverages, yes, even of those in sippy-cups, you may drink, but not in the living room, neither may you carry such therein. Indeed, when you reach the place where the living room carpet begins, of any food or beverage there you may not eat, neither may you drink. (emphasis added)

 

[torus]

A cup of basic is all you need after a rough low passage.

 

[willtron3030]

A cup of basic is all you need after a rough low passage.

Another line that makes me wish for a "like button".

 

[Condottiere]

 

[Proneutron]

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/7a8537c3-5667-42e8-b658-50df68cc0c09
[gm;]edited to note: THis is an HTML page with a meme image[/gm;]

 

[Spinward Scout]

Another line that makes me wish for a "like button".

Click the Scales in the upper right corner of his/her post.