[opportune]

One thing I don't understand about soylent is how it can be so expensive and yet still so flawed.

First, as a male I am concerned about isoflavones. I've read sources that go either way on how much it actually affects hormone levels, but since I suspect there is a lot more pressure from the agriculture / vegetarian community to make it seem safer than it is than from any other community to not, I lean towards it not being that good for you.

Second, the consistency is absolutely terrible. They don't need to make it too seedy, but leaving some of the nuts and seeds at least somewhat coarse would improve its texture beyond "slime that makes your teeth feel terrible and gross".

As is, it doesn't even make economic sense, because I can feed myself much tastier food than soylent for like $3-6 a day. Like, why would you choose soylent over food such as eggs, chicken, spinach, broccoli, oatmeal, etc?

What I really wish someone would do, is make a milk-based soylent with stuff that is actually good for you like sunflower seeds. That would actually taste good and probably be much better for you.

[cropsieboss]

You are worried about phytoestrogen from plants but not worried about real estrogen from female mammals like cows, chickens and other's we eat?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19524224

Any kind of food demonizing is not good.

[fermuch]

I think the selling point of soylent is how easy it is to consume. You just drink it and done. Cleaning is as easy as washing your cup. That's an attractive point if you don't enjoy the ritual of eating, or simply want to spend the time doing something else.

I agree it is too expensive for what it offers, though.

[aembleton]

I've never tried Soylent, but I do have the UK equivalent - Huel [1]. This isn't as simple as drinking it, because you need to measure it out, add water and mix it for a minute or two. Then when it comes to cleaning, it isn't just a cup. There is also this grid like piece of plastic that helps to break up chunks of Huel but is hard to clean.

I like the idea; but in reality I'd rather jut have some toast if I want something quick. I know it's not as good for me but food is more than just getting calories and nutrients in. I get pleasure from eating a variety of textures and flavours.

1. https://huel.com/

[djhworld]

I have Huel for breakfast on work days only. I agree that the preparation and cleaning isn't that much different from say, having a bowl of cereal.

It works for me though, I wake up at 6:40, get a shower, iron some clothes, drink some Huel and am out the door at 7:20 to get the tube to go to work.

Other meals during the day are "normal", but it ticks the box for breakfast for me (quick to consume, fits in with my routine etc)

[majewsky]

So you're using that plastic cup that comes with the first order? I always thought that cup's just a gimmick that people use when trying it out for the first few times [1], and if they like it, they would start preparing it with a blender.

[1] I still have to try it out. I can't quite get myself to order the smallest pack (a full week's supply) when I don't even know if I like it.

[DanBC]

Even easier to use Ensure - just drink from the bottle and throw it away.

[Willamin]

Soyent is also sold in prepared bottles that have a shelf life of a year. There’s also 6 flavors to choose from: original, cacao, nectarine, cafe coffiest, cafe vanilla, and cafe chai.

[DanBC]

If you trust the Ensure manufacturing process -- how many recalls have they had?

Ensure comes in more flavours, btw.:

Banana, Chocolate, Coffee, Fruits of the Forest, Neutral, Orange, Peach, Raspberry, Strawberry, Vanilla

And the Ensure juice style drinks.

[beagle3]

If you spend just 1 hour per week on purchase and preparation (and you likely spend two or three), you need to add your hourly rate (or the value you assigned to a loat hour of hobby, unless making these meals is your hobby)

It is not easy to account for "time spent doing X", but assigning $0 to eat is most definitely wrong.

If you do the components+time math properly, it is likely soylent and even McDonalds is cheaper. It is only when you add "enjoying food" and "future health" that you may (or may not) win against them.