Sustenance vs art

A nutrient slurry like Soylent is an act of engineering. It costs $X, has Y nutritional impact, requires Z effort. It is not unpleasant to consume, or shouldn’t be, but that is not its purpose.

The nutrient slurry in my bag.
80% of my lunch today.

That doesn’t mean sensory pleasure is absent from life, it just means it doesn’t come from the slurry. You are drawing a line between nourishment and sensory pleasure.

For fun you add a side dish or dessert. A bit of melon. A piece of chocolate. A small serving of sashimi. Not a lot – this isn’t to fill you up.

It’s a new template for your meal. The main course is neutral and functional. The side dish is interesting and frivolous.