Astronaut food: types, nutritional values and which one is really worth it
Astronaut food - it sounds like weightlessness and eating tubes. In fact, the term refers to a nutritional concept developed by NASA in the 1960s for space missions and which is now used far beyond space travel. In clinics, care facilities and increasingly in the everyday lives of health-conscious people.
Whether after an operation, for seniors with a declining appetite or with a chronic lack of time: astronaut food provides controlled nutrients in a compact, easily digestible form. However, the differences in quality between the products are considerable - some astronaut food is special medical food on prescription, others a wholesome drinkable meal from an online shop. Which types are available, what they cost and for whom which variant is worthwhile.
What is astronaut nutrition?
Astronaut nutrition refers to long-life, nutrient-controlled meals that provide all essential macro and micronutrients in a compact form. Originally developed for space travel, the term now encompasses both medical drinkable food and wholesome drinkable meals for healthy adults.
The origins lie in NASA's Apollo programme. Food in zero gravity was not allowed to crumble, had to last for years and still cover all nutritional requirements. Freeze-drying - a process in which water is removed from food under vacuum - solved precisely this problem. The result: extremely light, long-lasting food that was ready to eat again when water was added.
Today, astronaut food has little in common with these tubes. The spectrum ranges from ready-to-drink bottles and powders for mixing to balanced nutritional drinks from the pharmacy. The common feature of all variants is their high nutrient density. Lots of calories, protein, vitamins and minerals in a small volume. The difference between medical nutrition and a full meal is greater than many people assume - you can find a more detailed categorisation in the article on meal replacement.
Applications: Illness, old age and everyday life
Astronaut food is used wherever normal food intake is insufficient - or temporarily impossible. The three most common areas: medical care during illness, nutritional security in old age and as a practical meal when time is short.
This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice. If your symptoms persist, please consult your doctor.
In hospitals, enteral nutrition - the supply of nutrients via the gastrointestinal tract - is the standard of care for patients who are unable to eat enough. People convalescing after operations, cancer patients or those affected by neurological diseases often receive balanced diets: products with a legally regulated nutrient composition that are used under medical supervision. difficulty swallowing - for example after wisdom tooth surgery - liquid food also offers a reliable alternative to solid food. Those who want to gain weight, for example after a long illness or if they are underweight, also often turn to high-calorie drinkable food.
Astronaut food is playing an increasingly important role for senior citizens. When appetite decreases and cooking becomes a burden, nutritional gaps occur - often gradually, often unnoticed. High-calorie drinkable food can fill these gaps: 200 to 400 kcal per portion, plus protein, which helps to maintain muscle mass. Read more about the risks of inadequate nutrition in old age in the article on malnutrition.
Muscle loss in old age is one of the most underestimated risk factors for the need for long-term care.
But not everyone who uses astronaut nutrition is ill or elderly. Working people without a lunch break, students under exam stress, parents between home office and childcare - there are numerous situations in which a full meal without cooking is useful. No preparation, no washing up, but still all the nutrients.
Four types of astronaut food
Not every astronaut food is suitable for everyone. The products differ so much in terms of purpose, target group and nutrient profile that a generalised comparison is of little use - the difference between tube feeding in intensive care and a drinkable meal at your desk is about as big as the difference between a wheelchair and a racing bike.
Medical drinkable food (balanced diet)
Products such as Fresubin or Fortimel are so-called balanced diets - a legally defined term for foods that are used for certain illnesses under medical supervision. They are available from pharmacies and can sometimes be prescribed on prescription. Typical: small portions (200 ml) with 200-400 kcal and a clinically orientated nutrient profile. Designed for patients with malnutrition, not for everyday healthy people.
Drinking meals: Wholesome even without a prescription
In contrast to medical nutrition, wholesome drinkable meals are aimed at healthy adults. They provide a balanced macronutrient distribution - protein, carbohydrates, fat - plus a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals. Saturo falls into this category. The aim: to replace a real meal, not to treat an illness.
Powder for mixing
The most affordable option. Can be portioned flexibly, but involves more effort - you need water, a shaker and a few minutes' time. A solid option at home. Much less practical than ready-to-drink bottles when travelling or with limited mobility.
When swallowing is not possible: tube feeding
Tube feeding is available for patients who can neither chew nor drink: liquid nutrient solutions that are fed directly into the stomach or small intestine via a tube. This form of enteral nutrition is only medically relevant, requires a prescription and is not available over the counter
Is astronaut food healthy?
A bottle of drinkable food can provide more vitamins, minerals and protein than an average canteen lunch. However, whether astronaut food is healthy in the long term depends less on the concept than on the specific product - and on how it is embedded in the rest of the diet.
The strengths lie in the controlled supply of nutrients. No guessing, no hoping that the plate contains enough micronutrients. If you replace a meal with a wholesome drinkable food, you often take in more vitamins and minerals than with a sandwich from the bakery. The bioavailability - i.e. how well your body actually absorbs the nutrients it contains - is often higher with liquid food than with solid food because less digestive work is required.
The limitations are just as real. Many products lack secondary plant substances and the natural variety of fibre that fresh fruit and vegetables offer. The sensory experience of chewing is also eliminated - a factor that influences satiety and enjoyment of food. The DGE therefore recommends considering astronaut food as a supplement, not as a complete replacement for fresh food. Not every variant is suitable for people with kidney disease or severely impaired digestion - medical consultation is mandatory.
The micronutrient profile varies enormously between products: some provide 15 vitamins, others 26, while protein ranges from 10 g to 36 g per portion. Added sugar? From 0 g to over 20 g.
It is impossible to give a reliable answer to this question without looking at the nutritional table.
Costs and sources of supply: Pharmacy, online shop and retail
Medical nutritional drinks cost between €2 and €6 per portion and are available from pharmacies - some can be prescribed on prescription. Wholesome drinkable meals for everyday use cost between €3 and €5 per bottle. A bottle of Saturo Ready-to-Drink (400 kcal, 36 g protein, 26 vitamins and minerals) costs €4.39, i.e. €1.10 per 100 ml.
In the case of proven malnutrition or certain illnesses, your doctor can prescribe medical nutritional drinks - the health insurance company will then often cover the costs. Drinking meals such as Saturo are not balanced diets and therefore cannot be prescribed. You can order them directly from the online shop or find them in bricks-and-mortar stores. Powdered nutrition is cheaper per meal (often less than 3 euros), but less practical for on the go.
If you want to build up weight in a targeted way, you can find detailed product comparisons with prices in the article on high-calorie drinking nutrition.
Saturo drinkable meal: a wholesome meal instead of emergency food
Classic astronaut food was developed for exceptional situations - illness, crisis, space. Saturo reverses this principle: a drinkable meal for the normal everyday life of healthy people. Not as an emergency solution, but as a full 400-kcal meal when cooking is not an option.
Nutritional value
Per bottle
Calories
400 kcal
Protein
36 g
Vitamins & minerals
26
Fibre
7.7 g
Added sugar
0 g
36 g protein per bottle - as much as five large eggs. Plus 26 vitamins and minerals, which can make individual food supplements superfluous in many cases. No added sugar. 100 % vegan. Gluten-free and lactose-free.
If you think a protein shake is the same as a drinkable meal, you haven't compared the list of ingredients. A shake provides protein - little else. A Saturo drinking meal provides a complete meal with a balanced macronutrient distribution, fibre from chicory root and a complete micronutrient profile.
There are six flavours to choose from - from Cocoa (the bestseller) to Vanilla and Strawberry to Cappuccino with caffeine. If you want to try them all, the tasting pack contains one bottle of each flavour for €29.99.
Over 5 million meals sold. Made in Germany, developed in Austria. Owner-managed and independent.
