I'm not worried about calories, it's almost all about convenience. I am happy to eat like a normal person once a day, but aside from that, I want to minimize shopping, prep, consumption, and clean up time, and maximize nutritional value. Soylent does this reasonably well. I'm going to look into creating a bar. If I can create one month's worth (20 servings) of lunches in a couple of hours, it would probably be worth it. I'll post.
Once more, with feeling: there's a lot of these out there. I had only to go as far as my pantry to find a Pro Bar "Meal replacement bars" are hardly uncommon, and there's plenty of discussion about them. The thing about Soylent is it was created by a man who, for reasons I don't fully understand, hates food. He wanted a way to never have to taste it again. Okay, good on ya, mate... but it's not like finding things to eat that are quick, easy and full of nutrition is that tough. I mean, the original powerbar is like 20 years old now. Sure - cook sumpin' but at the same time, there are plenty of choices out there.
Probar looks good, but it seems I'll have to eat the occasional multivitamin too: Also, no cholesterol, and not enough sodium. Granted, I haven't done extensive research, but every replacement that I have encountered seems to come up short when compared to Soylent. Soylent can't avoid its joylessness because it tries to put it all in there. When I was a kid, we used to mix all of the pop at a party together, root beer, coke, sprite, ginger ale, red pop. It always tasted terrible. Considering that Soylent is attempting the same, it's a wonder it is even palatable. Yes, I am that fucking ill-motivated when it comes to food. PowerBars are basically candy now.
It's also a little under your calorie count, if that's what you're shooting for. Tell you what: I'll make you a deal. The goal is what? 600 calories, 33% of RDA, under $4? My wife's on a business trip right now, but gimme a week or so and I'll find you a selection of berzerkitreats within your parameters. I may even throw them in a box and send them your way. Put a couple servings of Soylent in it and send it back 'cuz I'll admit I'm morbidly curious. Powerbars are candy but when you're looking for "carbs" and "low volume" you're gonna get sugars. Delicious, delicious sugars. Here's my breakfast: So which is crazier: a meal replacement bar with sugar in it or killing off your microflora so you don't poop? I'm goin' with the poop. ;-)
You've got a deal. PM me when you need an address. Killing off your gut microflora is insane. But to be fair, that was the antibiotic he took. IMHO Rhinehart does it for control issues, and I believe that many diets are largely about that. For me, it's attempting to be lazy and health conscious at the same time. I'm totally open to alternatives.