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The Register puts Soylent to the test

theregister.co.uk

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Re: The Register puts Soylent to the test

#51

Post by Anderkent »

DanBC wrote: post #9
jaachan wrote: post #3

I can't find anywhere what it's actually made of (not on the campaign page either). And none of the people listed in the company has any training regarding food or medicine. #slightlyworried Other than that, could be awesome. You could just have a cup with you all day and drink some whenever you feel hungry. Question then remains, why isn't it green?

They do list the ingredients, but not the sources of those ingredients. There are existing alternatives if you want to try liquid feeds but want rigorously tested QAd product from existing reputable manufacturers. Or Soylent, but be aware that it's fun self-experimentation. Here's one of my (grumpy) posts listing alternatives ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5876219 )

It's hard to say which products of listed companies are supposed to be nutritionally complete (i.e. meal replacement, not supplement). Do you know of any?

Browsing through the pages: Complan - explicitly states you should have normal meals in addition to the product ("Avoid missing meals completely − you may not feel hungry but your body still needs nourishment") Medifast - want you to eat at least 1 cooked meal daily Optifast - not available for retail (or at least the webpage claims so)

I'm looking for a replacement for the main meal, not breakfasty/lunchy things, which none of these seem to provide. Though perhaps I misunderstand their ads?

Re: The Register puts Soylent to the test

#52

Post by Shorel »

calinet6 wrote: post #17
bestdayever wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If eating is half the joy in your life you live a miserable life I wouldn't wish on my worst enemies.

Hogwash. If you have the good grace to eat food that makes up half the joy in your life, then you have a good life indeed. In my experience, good food is everything that joy intends: gardening, growing food from nothing, spending time outdoors, connectedness with the land, creativity, quality process, science, creation, enjoyment, collaboration with others, socialization (especially when combined with good booze of m…

As someone who enjoys food a lot, I still think that half of the joy in your life is way too much.

Maybe one third, at best. Reading, traveling, playing sports, driving and videogames are other fun things really fundamental in my life.

I don't want to think about 100 years ago. I want to think about 100 years in the future!

Re: The Register puts Soylent to the test

#53

Post by calinet6 »

Shorel wrote: post #52
calinet6 wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hogwash. If you have the good grace to eat food that makes up half the joy in your life, then you have a good life indeed. In my experience, good food is everything that joy intends: gardening, growing food from nothing, spending time outdoors, connectedness with the land, creativity, quality process, science, creation, enjoyment, collaboration with others, socialization (especially when combined with good booze of m…

As someone who enjoys food a lot, I still think that half of the joy in your life is way too much. Maybe one third, at best. Reading, traveling, playing sports, driving and videogames are other fun things really fundamental in my life. I don't want to think about 100 years ago. I want to think about 100 years in the future!

Sure sure, same order of magnitude though.

Re: The Register puts Soylent to the test

#54

Post by ctdonath »

Anderkent wrote: post #44
ctdonath wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ensure Complete describes itself as "Provides balanced amounts of macronutrients and essential vitamins and minerals." Lacks the micronutrients needed. Strikes me as intended for "we really don't have any other options at this point" and consequential symptoms will be treated as illness. Nutrament describes itself as "This nutritional drink is ideal as a snack, an occasional meal replacement, or a perfect post-workou…

There are solutions that claim to be nutritionally complete (Sustagen Hospital Formula) and anecdotally are sustainable for months: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5399994

I'd first wonder about cost (hence my anecdote about $300 nutritionally complete goo-in-a-bag meals), then about completeness (side effects may be preferable to alternatives). Other products may exist which are what Soylent aspires to.

Seems a big part is that the Soylent guy just decided to DIY for fun, it went viral, and he went entrepreneur. If you've got would-be customers banging down your door, you don't respond with "somebody else makes something like it", you monetize the opportunity.

Re: The Register puts Soylent to the test

#55

Post by raldi »

ctdonath wrote: post #54
Anderkent wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are solutions that claim to be nutritionally complete (Sustagen Hospital Formula) and anecdotally are sustainable for months: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5399994

I'd first wonder about cost (hence my anecdote about $300 nutritionally complete goo-in-a-bag meals), then about completeness (side effects may be preferable to alternatives). Other products may exist which are what Soylent aspires to. Seems a big part is that the Soylent guy just decided to DIY for fun, it went viral, and he went entrepreneur. If you've got would-be customers banging down your door, you don't respon…

I don't think anyone's blaming him for starting the company. The reason I raised this line of questioning isn't to criticize him, but rather to figure out if this is a new idea, in a space that hasn't been explored before, and thus worthy of our interest and excitement... or just an age-old idea with a bit of new marketing.

Re: The Register puts Soylent to the test

#56

Post by dhgisme »

Is anyone else suspicious about the amount of money that they raised in their first day (around $130k)? The company's crowdfunding site doesn't let you see who contributed to its campaign and that's a lot of money to raise in one day.
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