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Oh, I think we all embrace some form of "gray mud" at times. Sometimes a smoothie, sometimes a diet coke and some peanut butter and jelly on toast, things that

Oh, I think we all embrace some form of "gray mud" at times. Sometimes a smoothie, sometimes a diet coke and some peanut butter and jelly on toast, things that are quick and get me going in the day. Or people that do fasts, or weight loss mixes, or some of the crud I eat while on long bike rides (power bars, cliff bars, supplements in water bottles, etc). I think giving up all food for something like Soylent is a bit silly, but at the same time, we do all make different sacrifices at times.

Frondo 12y ago
I wonder how Soylent's uptake would differ if they were pitching it as a quick occasional meal alternative. Everything I've ever seen about Soylent is along the lines of "now you can eat nothing but Soylent!", which, for how much of the world enjoys both cooking and eating, seems like a tough pitch, except for a very, very small niche that, I guess, doesn't actually get any visceral pleasure from food.
- jmspring 12y ago
  As someone posted, it seems like it is catering to those interested in the "quantified day to day life". I can see the appeal, but I'd rather get out and bike, enjoy food, and do what has worked for me. But as you point out, it would be interesting to see what the take would be as the occasional meal alternative. I wonder if it would be seen as things from GNC, etc. where there would be a small but interested market, but nothing larger. They are still relatively young and will likely evolve into markets beyond the one they are targeting now.
- killerdhmo 12y ago
  That's how I use it tbh. I don't eat breakfast and I rarely eat lunch, often from the work cafe so not necessarily the healthiest. something like this ensures more consistency in my diet, and I can do the planning/prepping bit for dinner.
- detaro 12y ago
  > "now you can eat nothing but Soylent!" Why is the message that it is build that you can do that a problem? (If I were to use it as a temporary replacement food I still would like to know that I don't have to take particular care to fix specific things it is missing. One less thing to worry about.) That said, I think the customer base they are aiming for (and getting) right now is the right one for the moment (somewhat reliable demand from those that stick with it, willingness to tolerate hiccups, willingness to talk about it, ...)
  - Frondo 12y ago
    The problem I see is not that it can function as a temporary meal replacement, it's that the PR pieces never seem to describe anyone using it that way. It's always the "Joe hasn't eaten another food in X weeks!" Which, frankly, is going to turn a lot of people off. One other remark--if you're skipping a meal on occasion, and supplementing it with some easy foodstuff, you don't really need to worry about it being nutritionally balanced. Virtually any western diet will get you enough nutrients on a regular basis that you don't need to supplement with vitamins or worry about the diseases caused by a lack of some nutrient, even if your diet is restricted for a while.
    - evilduck 12y ago
      Just skipping a meal every now and then isn't even a problem. Fasting through a mealtime or three isn't going to hurt anyone who is otherwise healthy and well fed for most other meals. It may be uncomfortable, but you don't need to eat every day, the body stores fat for good reason. (and as you said, a less balanced Clif bar or a handful of almonds would carry you through single-instances of missed meals pretty well too). To me, Soylent is only interesting because they're wanting to replace every meal for normal adults living normal lives. Anything less is just better marketing of an Ensure clone.

Frondo 12y ago

I wonder how Soylent's uptake would differ if they were pitching it as a quick occasional meal alternative. Everything I've ever seen about Soylent is along the lines of "now you can eat nothing but Soylent!", which, for how much of the world enjoys both cooking and eating, seems like a tough pitch, except for a very, very small niche that, I guess, doesn't actually get any visceral pleasure from food.

jmspring 12y ago
As someone posted, it seems like it is catering to those interested in the "quantified day to day life". I can see the appeal, but I'd rather get out and bike, enjoy food, and do what has worked for me. But as you point out, it would be interesting to see what the take would be as the occasional meal alternative. I wonder if it would be seen as things from GNC, etc. where there would be a small but interested market, but nothing larger. They are still relatively young and will likely evolve into markets beyond the one they are targeting now.
killerdhmo 12y ago
That's how I use it tbh. I don't eat breakfast and I rarely eat lunch, often from the work cafe so not necessarily the healthiest. something like this ensures more consistency in my diet, and I can do the planning/prepping bit for dinner.
detaro 12y ago
> "now you can eat nothing but Soylent!" Why is the message that it is build that you can do that a problem? (If I were to use it as a temporary replacement food I still would like to know that I don't have to take particular care to fix specific things it is missing. One less thing to worry about.) That said, I think the customer base they are aiming for (and getting) right now is the right one for the moment (somewhat reliable demand from those that stick with it, willingness to tolerate hiccups, willingness to talk about it, ...)
- Frondo 12y ago
  The problem I see is not that it can function as a temporary meal replacement, it's that the PR pieces never seem to describe anyone using it that way. It's always the "Joe hasn't eaten another food in X weeks!" Which, frankly, is going to turn a lot of people off. One other remark--if you're skipping a meal on occasion, and supplementing it with some easy foodstuff, you don't really need to worry about it being nutritionally balanced. Virtually any western diet will get you enough nutrients on a regular basis that you don't need to supplement with vitamins or worry about the diseases caused by a lack of some nutrient, even if your diet is restricted for a while.
  - evilduck 12y ago
    Just skipping a meal every now and then isn't even a problem. Fasting through a mealtime or three isn't going to hurt anyone who is otherwise healthy and well fed for most other meals. It may be uncomfortable, but you don't need to eat every day, the body stores fat for good reason. (and as you said, a less balanced Clif bar or a handful of almonds would carry you through single-instances of missed meals pretty well too). To me, Soylent is only interesting because they're wanting to replace every meal for normal adults living normal lives. Anything less is just better marketing of an Ensure clone.