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I think this idea will appeal to people who can't eat -- such as those with cancer -- as an alternative to products like Boost and Ensure. I can't see myself o

I think this idea will appeal to people who can't eat -- such as those with cancer -- as an alternative to products like Boost and Ensure. I can't see myself or any of the people I know replacing food with a drink, but I definitely see room in the meal replacement market. Best of luck to Soylent.

DanBC 13y ago
> as an alternative to products like Boost and Ensure. You specifically mention people with medical needs: What does Soylent do that isn't done by existing meal replacements? What extras does Soylent bring? Or is it just nice to see more products in that segment? I guess with the investment Soylent could employ qualified dietitians or nutritionists to write information for medical professionals, and to answer questions from medical professionals.
- vannevar 13y ago
  Soylent is the Kim Kardashian of meal replacements: it is famous for being famous. There is literally nothing else to distinguish it from the dozens of other meal replacements that make extravagant health claims.
- scrabble 13y ago
  In recent history I've had multiple family members suffer from long, drawn out illnesses ending in death. In these cases they generally get tired of what they're drinking and don't want to drink it anymore. It's nice to see more products in that segment for people in that state, so there's the possibility of more variety because I feel like people with medical needs have additional desires from their food/drink other than just being sustained.
  - DanBC 13y ago
    But the existing meal replacements come in a variety of flavours, including sweet or savoury. They come in a variety of textures, thick yoghurty to milk-shake, to thin. They can be eaten hot or cold. So, uh, what does Soylet add? Just one more extra bit of variety?
- Cthulhu_ 13y ago
  I don't know Boost / Ensure, but given how they seem to be (based on the parent) sold as a medical food replacement, I can imagine they're rather expensive. I wouldn't call Soylent cheap, though - $65 a week for one person is quite a lot if you're on a tight budget, and it doesn't scale to family-size who can be cheaper off by buying and cooking food in bulk. Wouldn't feed my kids slop like this either tbh (and I'm pretty sure that they would rebel (if I had them and tried to feed them this for any duration of time)).
  - IanCal 13y ago
    Tight budget? That's more than my grocery budget, and that includes everything like toothbrushes and binbags too. And I'm not being stingy with it, that includes wine and beer and fresh coffee delivered every week. One person will pay almost $3400 per year for this. That to me is just insane, unless you really need this.

DanBC 13y ago

> as an alternative to products like Boost and Ensure. You specifically mention people with medical needs: What does Soylent do that isn't done by existing meal replacements? What extras does Soylent bring? Or is it just nice to see more products in that segment? I guess with the investment Soylent could employ qualified dietitians or nutritionists to write information for medical professionals, and to answer questions from medical professionals.

vannevar 13y ago
Soylent is the Kim Kardashian of meal replacements: it is famous for being famous. There is literally nothing else to distinguish it from the dozens of other meal replacements that make extravagant health claims.
scrabble 13y ago
In recent history I've had multiple family members suffer from long, drawn out illnesses ending in death. In these cases they generally get tired of what they're drinking and don't want to drink it anymore. It's nice to see more products in that segment for people in that state, so there's the possibility of more variety because I feel like people with medical needs have additional desires from their food/drink other than just being sustained.
- DanBC 13y ago
  But the existing meal replacements come in a variety of flavours, including sweet or savoury. They come in a variety of textures, thick yoghurty to milk-shake, to thin. They can be eaten hot or cold. So, uh, what does Soylet add? Just one more extra bit of variety?
Cthulhu_ 13y ago
I don't know Boost / Ensure, but given how they seem to be (based on the parent) sold as a medical food replacement, I can imagine they're rather expensive. I wouldn't call Soylent cheap, though - $65 a week for one person is quite a lot if you're on a tight budget, and it doesn't scale to family-size who can be cheaper off by buying and cooking food in bulk. Wouldn't feed my kids slop like this either tbh (and I'm pretty sure that they would rebel (if I had them and tried to feed them this for any duration of time)).
- IanCal 13y ago
  Tight budget? That's more than my grocery budget, and that includes everything like toothbrushes and binbags too. And I'm not being stingy with it, that includes wine and beer and fresh coffee delivered every week. One person will pay almost $3400 per year for this. That to me is just insane, unless you really need this.