During her nine-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS), Sunita Williams followed a highly specialized diet crafted by NASA to meet the nutritional demands of life in space. Her meals primarily consisted of pre-cooked dishes like pizza, roast chicken, and shrimp cocktails. These meals, prepared and packaged on Earth, were reheated aboard the ISS for easy consumption.
Dehydrated foods such as soups, stews, and casseroles also formed a vital part of her diet. These items were rehydrated using water supplied by the ISS’s advanced water recycling system. While fresh fruits and vegetables were available in the initial months, they eventually ran out, and Williams relied on freeze-dried or packaged options for the remainder of her mission.
Breakfast options were equally versatile, with cereals paired with powdered milk and protein-rich items like tuna being popular choices. Every meal was carefully planned to ensure it provided the necessary balance of nutrients and calories required for the demanding conditions of space.
NASA's meticulous planning ensured that astronauts consumed approximately 3.8 pounds of food daily, tailored to meet their caloric needs. This diet not only kept Williams healthy but also energized, enabling her to perform her duties effectively during her extended stay in orbit.