Thinking about entering the space program, but can't bear the thought of Tang and freeze-dried ice cream?
In a new series of videos from the European Space Agency (ESA), Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti offers some tips on eating healthy in zero gravity.
"Snack time is a great opportunity to put the right kind of rocket fuel in your body," Cristoforetti, the first Italian woman in space, said in the video.
Stored in Node 1 of the International Space Station (pictured), some foods look the same in space as on Earth, like dried apples, macadamia nuts, or a pumpkin-seed bar. Others, like dehydrated strawberries, require special measures before eating.
Cristoforetti also showed off nosh like citrus fruit salad—packed in a thermostabilized pouch—and a special power bar made by Italian chef Stefano Polato.
All treats must come with a fairly long shelf life, since there is no refrigeration on the orbiting lab, and, as Space.com pointed out, cargo shipments are not a frequent occurrence.
"[A]s always, don't panic—eating healthy is not rocket science," she quipped.
But what happens once you've digested those deliciously wholesome nibbles? Well, you float on over to the toilet, which consists of a suction tube for No. 1, and an airplane-like seat for all other excretions.
In another ESA video, Cristoforetti gives a tour of the complex equipment that allows space explorers to do their business, including hoses, fans, tiny seats, and the equivalent of a replaceable pet waste bag.
The solid waste container, she explained, gets changed when it's full, which is roughly every 10 days. Urine, meanwhile, is processed and recycled into potable liquid.
That water is then used for drinking, bathing, and other washing needs, as detailed in Cristoforetti's "bathroom tour" video, in which she highlights how to brush your teeth, clean your skin, and clip your nails while from the lower Earth orbit.
For more of Cristoforetti's Futura mission videos, filmed over her six month stay on the ISS between November and May, check out the ESA's YouTube channel. The Italian astronaut is set to end her cosmic stay and return to Earth tomorrow.