I love home-cooked meals. Especially if there is a stew, a vegetable dish, or some crusty bread to dip into the sauce.
But astronauts cannot eat as comfortably as we do. That’s because there is no gravity in space. A drop of soup doesn’t fall down like it does on Earth—it can float through the air! Even tiny bread crumbs can drift around inside a spacecraft.
For this reason, astronauts’ meals are specially prepared. Some foods are dried, some are turned into purées, and others are stored in special packages. This makes them easier to carry and prevents food from floating around the spacecraft.
Astronauts also need to pay extra attention to their nutrition. In space, muscles and bones do not work as hard as they do on Earth. Over time, they can become weaker. That is why astronauts exercise every day and eat foods rich in protein. They also need carbohydrates for energy, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals to keep their bodies working properly. So even in space, astronauts need a balanced diet to stay strong and healthy.
Mini Challenge : If you were an astronaut, which home-cooked meal would you miss the most?