“Astronaut food” is not a technical term, but colloquial language: It usually refers to high-calorie nutritional drinks, i.e., shakes or powders that pack many calories into small quantities. It has little to do with what astronauts eat today. Such food can help with weight gain because it provides additional calories. Whether you gain weight depends on whether the total calories exceed your requirements.
This article is aimed at relatives, older people, people recovering from an illness, and young people who are underweight. If someone is losing weight unintentionally, please consult a doctor first to clarify the cause.
The most important things in brief
- Colloquial language: Astronaut food is not a legal term. Legally, it counts whether a product is a normal food or a food for special medical purposes.
- Calories: According to Valentini and Weimann (2014), high-calorie nutritional drinks have 1.2 to 2.5 kcal per ml. CaloDrink Vanilla has 1.5.
- Weight gain: Nutritional drinks provide additional calories. They should be taken between meals, not instead of them.
- Powder or ready-to-drink: Powder can be adjusted in quantity and flavor, while ready-to-drink is precisely dosed.
- Vegan and lactose-free: CaloVital Vegan is purely plant-based and lactose-free. CaloDrink Vanilla is low in lactose.
- Health insurance: Only medically prescribed nutritional drinks, and only when normal food and fortification are not sufficient.
Contents
- Where the name comes from and what astronauts really eat
- What is sold as astronaut food in stores
- How to read the label
- Does astronaut food help with weight gain?
- Who it is suitable for and when you should see a doctor
- Powder or ready-to-drink? Vegan and lactose-free
- Where to buy, how much does it cost, are there samples?
- Suitable products in the CaloShop
- Frequently asked questions
Where the name comes from and what astronauts really eat
The Pharmaceutical Journal wrote in 2011: “Astronaut food” was developed for NASA spaceflight starting in the 1960s, originally for healthy people under extreme conditions. The term is considered unsuitable today, but lives on as a synonym for nutritional drinks and tube feeding. The DocCheck Flexikon lists “astronaut food” colloquially as another word for tube feeding. The Duden only knows the spaceflight meaning for “astronaut food”: food that is suitable for astronauts. Our classification: For nutritional drinks, the word is colloquial language; it is not a legal term.
What astronauts actually eat sounds less futuristic. A 2006 NASA fact sheet states: The food does not come in tubes, and it is not bland either. Rehydratable, thermostabilized, and irradiated foods, as well as food in its natural form, are mentioned. Tubes, cubes, and freeze-dried powders were used during the early Mercury flights. The European Space Agency (ESA) states on its children's page that the International Space Station menu now offers over 100 options. The spaceflight image is therefore only suitable as a hook. Anyone looking for “astronaut food for weight gain” usually means nutritional drinks.
What is sold as astronaut food in stores
Four types of products are collected under this term.
| Type | Typical energy | Legal classification | For whom | Health insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-drink high-calorie nutritional drink (bottle) | 1.2 to 2.5 kcal per ml (Valentini and Weimann 2014). CaloDrink: 1.5 kcal per ml | Food for special medical purposes (balanced diet), if indicated on the label: only under medical supervision | Medically determined need | Possible, only by medical prescription and only if the product and requirements are suitable |
| Nutritional drink powder, calorie shake to mix | Depending on the product and preparation. CaloVital: 194 kcal per 50-g serving with water, around 354 kcal with 250 ml whole milk | CaloVital: normal food. Check the label for other powders | Anyone who wants to drink additional calories and control the quantity themselves | No |
| Weight gainer, sports nutrition | Depending on the product, see label | Without the indication “Food for special medical purposes,” it is a normal food | Active people, see Buying guide for weight-gain shakes | No |
| Self-mixed | Depends on the ingredients | Normal foods | Anyone who likes to mix themselves, see Make your own nutritional drinks | No |
Valentini and Weimann (2014) classify energy density as follows: Normocaloric standard foods have 1 to 1.2 kcal per ml, high-calorie foods have 1.2 to currently 2.5 kcal per ml. CaloDrink lies in this range with 1.5 kcal per ml. Nutritional drinks sold as food for special medical purposes follow Regulation (EU) No. 609/2013 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/128. According to the LGL Bayern and the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), they are to be used under medical supervision and must be notified to the BVL before their first placing on the market.
How to read the label
Many things look the same on the shelf. Five glances at the package clarify what you have in your hand.
- Look for the category. If it says “Food for special medical purposes,” it is a balanced diet and belongs under medical supervision. If the indication is missing, it is not a balanced diet, but for example a normal food.
- Read the purpose. For a balanced diet, the sentence “For diet management in …” usually follows.
- Compare calories. Pay attention to kcal per serving or per ml. For powders, it states whether the figure applies to water or milk.
- Look at the protein and ingredients. Anyone who lives vegan or has to avoid lactose reads the list of ingredients. Allergen information is on the label.
- Observe the usage instructions. CaloVital, for example, does not replace a meal and is not suitable for exclusive nutrition.
Whether “Astronaut food” is in the product name says nothing about the classification. The label is decisive.
Does astronaut food help with weight gain?
It can help because it packs a lot of energy into a small quantity. With a small appetite, every serving counts: A 200-ml bottle with 1.5 kcal per ml provides 300 kcal. Gaining weight, however, requires that you consume more calories during the day than your body uses. How much that is, the calorie requirement calculator estimates.
- Between meals, not instead of. If the next meal is skipped, nothing is gained.
- Fortify first, then drink. Cream, butter, oil, and nut butter bring energy into familiar dishes, which can be read about in the article Fortifying food in care.
- Without a schedule. The pace at which weight changes is different for everyone. It depends on requirements, overall nutrition, and the reason for being underweight.
Further suggestions can be found in the guide Healthy weight gain.
Who it is suitable for and when you should see a doctor
Older people with a small appetite, people recovering from an illness, and young people who are underweight use additional calories to drink. Before the bottle becomes a permanent solution, it is worth looking at the cause. See your doctor if one of these points applies:
Your weight is dropping without you wanting it to. Even slowly. Have the cause medically clarified.
Your appetite is gone for longer. There may be causes behind this that can be medically clarified, such as pain in the mouth or medications.
The European ESPEN guideline for older people (Volkert et al. 2022) states: In cases of malnutrition or the risk thereof, nutritional drinks should provide at least 400 kcal and at least 30 g of protein per day for at least one month. The effect is regularly checked. This only applies to this group, not to healthy people and not to athletes. How the doctor's conversation succeeds is explained in the Nutritional drinks for seniors guide.
Powder or ready-to-drink? Vegan and lactose-free
- Ready-to-drink means: open, drink. The quantity is fixed, no spoons or shakers needed. CaloDrink is available in packs of 4, 8, 12, and 24.
- Powder gives you a choice: you determine the quantity, liquid, and flavor. CaloVital is available in 20 flavors, made in Germany.
Vegan: CaloVital Vegan is purely plant-based, lactose-free, and gluten-free, with pea protein. A 50-g serving has 195 to 199 kcal with water. There are five varieties: strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, banana, and pistachio. Allergen information is on the label.
Lactose-free: CaloVital Vegan is lactose-free. CaloDrink Vanilla is low in lactose, but not lactose-free. If you cannot tolerate milk sugar at all, ask at the practice in case of doubt.
Where to buy, how much does it cost, are there samples?
- Pharmacy: CaloVital can be ordered in pharmacies with a PZN. In the Lauer-Taxe, the product directory of pharmacies, CaloDrink is listed as a balanced diet according to § 31 SGB V.
- Online: Powder and ready-to-drink nutritional drinks are available online, also in the CaloShop.
- Drugstore: Drugstores mainly carry nutritional meals and diet shakes, partly also medical nutritional drinks in their online shop.
- Price: Prices change, so we do not state them. Current prices are on the product pages. Compare the price per serving, not per package.
- Samples: The CaloVital Sample Pack contains 50-g serving pouches. One pouch is one serving. This way you can try many varieties individually.
Buying guide: Check this beforehand
- Clarify the reason: More calories or a medical reason? In the latter case, speak to the practice first.
- Read the category: “Food for special medical purposes” or normal food?
- Compare calories and protein per serving, with the same liquid for powders.
- Check the variety (vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free) and try it first, then take the large package.
Does it pay? CaloVital is a normal food and is not prescribable. For medically prescribed nutritional drinks, the pharmaceutical guideline of the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA), § 21, in force since October 3, 2026, applies: It is prescribable if normal nutrition is not sufficient and a modification of nutrition or other measures are not enough. Fortification with normal foods comes first. From 18 years, a statutory co-payment applies according to § 31 SGB V. More about this in the article Nutritional drinks on prescription.
Suitable products in the CaloShop
CaloDrink Vanilla
Ready-to-drink and fully balanced: 200 ml provide 300 kcal and 12 g of protein (1.5 kcal per ml). Gluten-free, low in lactose, made in Germany. As a supplement to nutrition, 1 to 3 bottles per day are intended, chilled or stirred into coffee, pudding, and porridge.
Food for special medical purposes (balanced diet) for diet management in existing or imminent disease-related malnutrition. Use only under medical supervision.
If existing or imminent disease-related malnutrition is diagnosed, CaloDrink Vanilla can be prescribed on a prescription with health insurance coverage according to § 31 SGB V; details under CaloDrink on prescription.
Anyone who wants to get more calories into their day without medical reason will find a normal food in the powder CaloVital: 388 kcal and 16 g of protein per 100 g, with 12 vitamins and 9 minerals. It does not replace a meal and is not suitable for exclusive nutrition.
Calorie shakes at a glance
All shakes, powders, and nutritional drinks at a glance.
To the calorie shakesDirectly to CaloVital Vanilla (powder, normal food) or the ready-to-drink CaloDrink Vanilla (food for special medical purposes, use only under medical supervision).
Frequently asked questions
What is astronaut food?
Astronaut food is a colloquial term, usually for high-calorie nutritional drinks. The Duden only knows the spaceflight meaning, the Pharmaceutical Journal calls “astronaut food” an unsuitable synonym for nutritional drinks and tube feeding today. It is not a legal term.
How many calories does astronaut food have?
It depends on the product. According to Valentini and Weimann (2014), high-calorie nutritional drinks have 1.2 to 2.5 kcal per ml. CaloDrink Vanilla has 1.5 kcal per ml, so 300 kcal per 200-ml bottle. A 50-g serving of CaloVital has 194 kcal with water and around 354 kcal with 250 ml whole milk.
Is astronaut food available vegan or lactose-free?
Yes. CaloVital Vegan is purely plant-based and lactose-free and comes in five varieties. CaloDrink Vanilla is low in lactose and gluten-free, but not lactose-free. Allergen information is on the label.
Where can you buy astronaut food?
Online, for example at CaloShop, and in pharmacies: CaloVital can be ordered there using its PZN. Drugstores mainly stock drinkable meals and dietary shakes, and some also offer medical nutritional drinks in their online shops. Only if the label states "food for special medical purposes" is it a balanced diet.
Does health insurance cover astronaut food?
Only for medically prescribed nutritional drinks. If a doctor determines that a patient has or is at risk of developing disease-related malnutrition, CaloDrink Vanilla can be prescribed with a prescription covered by statutory health insurance under Section 31 of the Social Code Book V. Fortification and other measures must first be found insufficient. Only use CaloDrink under medical supervision. CaloVital cannot be prescribed.
Can you make astronaut food yourself?
Yes, for example as a shake made from whole milk or a plant-based drink, supplemented with nut butter, oats, and fruit. The calorie content depends on the ingredients and quantities, and a homemade shake is not a balanced diet. You can find recipes in the post Make Your Own Nutritional Drinks.
Astronaut food may sound high-tech, but it is usually a shake. Whether it is right for you depends on the label, your needs, and your tolerance. If you experience unintentional weight loss, please speak with your family doctor.
- Voigt V (2011): From space to the bedside. Pharmazeutische Zeitung, issue 03/2011. Accessed on 19 October 2026. pharmazeutische-zeitung.de
- Duden (n.d.): Spelling of "Astronautennahrung". Accessed on 19 October 2026. duden.de
- DocCheck Flexikon (2025): Tube feeding. As of 23 January 2025, accessed on 19 October 2026. flexikon.doccheck.com
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (2006): Space Food. NASA Facts FS-2006-11-029-JSC. PDF, accessed on 19 October 2026. nasa.gov
- European Space Agency (ESA) (n.d.): Food in space. ESA Kids. Accessed on 19 October 2026. esa.int
- Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) (n.d.): Dietary foods. Accessed on 19 October 2026. lgl.bayern.de
- Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) (n.d.): Food for specific consumer groups, medical purposes. Accessed on 19 October 2026. bvl.bund.de
- European Union: Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 eur-lex.europa.eu and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/128 eur-lex.europa.eu, cited as legal bases by the LGL and BVL.
- Valentini L, Weimann A (2014): Nutritional drinks. When and how? Internist Prax 54:285-292. PDF, accessed on 19 October 2026. hs-nb.de
- Volkert D, Beck AM, Cederholm T et al. (2022): ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition and hydration in geriatrics. Clin Nutr 41:958-989. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2022.01.024. Accessed on 19 October 2026. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) (2026): Pharmaceutical Directive, Section 21 Medically necessary cases. Version in force since 3 October 2026. Accessed on 19 October 2026. g-ba.de
- Fifth Book of the Social Code (SGB V), Section 31. gesetze-im-internet.de
The sources cited above concern general nutritional issues and not CaloDrink or other CaloShop products themselves. The product information is taken from the labels and nutritional information of the respective products.
This post is for general information purposes and does not replace medical or nutritional therapy advice. If you experience unintentional weight loss or have an illness, please seek medical advice. The cover image is an AI-generated symbolic image. As of October 2026.
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