Eating is a piece of cake for us earth-bounded terrestrials, but it is not that easy for astronauts. How can astronauts eat in space where it is difficult just to stand still?

First of all, you have to prepare them. There are different preparing methods for different space food. Astronauts add water to dehydrated food (hot and cold water are available on the International Space Station) and use food warmers to reheat food.

In the weightless space, food would not stay on the table stably. Therefore, after preparing meals, astronauts need to fix the food and cutleries on trays or tables to prevent them from floating around. Tables and trays have magnets or straps to attract or tie cutleries such as knives, forks and spoons, and food. Astronauts also need scissors to open food packages. Astronauts can then use seat belts to secure themselves on chairs to sit down and eat.

To prevent food crumbs and bits flying around, some space foods are cut in bite-size so that astronauts can eat them in one bite to avoid producing bits. When astronauts drink beverages, soups, jams, etc., they squeeze them gradually into their mouths from the pouches.

Do you want to try how astronauts eat in space? Let's make space pudding! First, add pudding powder into a Ziplock bag and add drinking water (just like astronauts adding water to dehydrated food!). Then, seal the bag and mix the ingredients by squeezing the bag until they are even. Refrigerate until ready to serve. When you want to eat, cut off a corner of the Ziplock bag, squeeze the pudding into your mouth or on a spoon (no flying around though), this is what eating pudding in space is!