why do astronauts eat the 'traditional' breakfast of steak & eggs?

Question

i know they'll want a decent meal before going but why steak & eggs? i like steak and i like eggs, but together..euh! if i was about to fly into space i'd have a cuppa and a few slices of toast.nice and easy! what would you have?

Answer 1

Aviators have for a long time eaten high protein meals before a mission (hence it is nowadays described as "traditional"). For example, in WWII RAF bomber crews were frequently given eggs for "breakfast" (as they were flying night missions their breakfast was in the evening). There are two main benefits from eating a high protein meal such as eggs, ham, steak, etc:-

1. Protein is digested more slowly than carbohydrates such as would be derived from toast. This means that it acts as a "slow release" energy source whereas carbs would give the crew a high-energy "spike" which would soon wear off leaving them hungry and less able to concentrate. Eating to replenish this energy lack may not be possible (and would be an unnecessary distraction) during a flight or during the initial stages of a space mission.

2. High protein foods contain very little fibre, which again slows the passage of food through the gut, inducing mild constipation. While this may sound uncomfortable and undesirable, the last thing aircrew or astronauts need during a mission is the need to go to the toilet at some crucial moment. Later in the mission there will be less need to store human waste if almost all of it is digested, as would be the case with a mainly protein-based diet.

Answer 2

Yes they do eat steak & eggs for breakfast, so do the Canadians but usually if they are eating in a restaurant as they never seem to have time to eat at home before leaving for work. Obviously if they were trying to copy the British they would be eating bacon & eggs as well and a lot do. Try not to forget that there are a great many ex-pats around the world. There are those, many in fact, that don't eat pork. In fact, there are a lot of people in the UK that don't eat pork and many that won't eat beef. It's not really revolting and maybe you could try Steak & eggs for dinner or supper sometime. As I recall in the British movie 'Shirley Valentine", Joe expected Steak & Eggs for his supper on Tuesdays but Shirley fed the steak to the bloodhound and he had chips & eggs instead that night and Joe said that chips & eggs were for Thursdays (well it was Tuesdays & Thursdays not exactly which day was which now - I saw the movie a while ago). People get set in their ways and often don't realise that it's happened.

Answer 3

THis is why they call it tradition. all space flights from John Glenn on have had Steak and Eggs. That was requested a long time ago and now it is tradition, Just like drinking a fresh bottle if Milk after the indy 500. the 500 was sponsoed by the local milk producers way back and it is now tradition.....Get it

Answer 4

I think that they would have preferred Wheaties, the Breakfast of Champions, but in zero gravity all those corn flakes floating around would drive them crazy.

I tend to skip breakfast no matter where I am.

Answer 5

Stake and eggs is a low residue meal which is needed because of limited bathroom facilities.

Answer 6

First off. It is because it is TRADITIONAL.
Second. I love steak and eggs.

Answer 7

Maybe they last a while in space...we all know how well steaks lasts both cooked and uncooked.

Answer 8

dubbelpaw