Explorers in the past had great problems with food supplies, and making sure they had enough to eat and drink. Food and drink are still very important for modern explorers.

Antarctica is extremely cold, and in such conditions, the body burns fuel very fast. You need to eat more food than you usually would in order to keep warm, and if you are working hard, you need to eat even more. Also, the air is very dry, which means that you get very thirsty, and have to drink a lot more water than you would usually. Again, if you are working hard, you need to drink a lot.

Eating food inside the wannigan. Note the radio hanging up by the window.

The menu is planned to provide a balanced diet, but some people do tend to feel tired and run down during the winter when it is constantly dark, and there are no fresh fruit and vegetables because the planes cannot fly in. Some people choose to supplement their diet with vitamins, and the orange juice has added vitamin C. Most scientists work during the summer, and only a small team winter over on the ice.

Questions & Answers

What is a normal meal if you are out in the snow and how do you cook it?

Last night we had macaroni, a Maggi sauce, Surprise peas and corn and a tin of tuna, which was frozen! If I'd cooked the same meal at home, it would have taken me about 20 minutes. Outside in Antarctica cooking on a primus stove, it took more than 2 hours. Boy, were we pleased to eat it (at 9 pm!) We had to melt snow for our water, and that took quite a long time because you need lots of snow to make a little water.

Do you have to eat quickly so the food doesn't get cold?

As soon as the food was dished, ice crystals started forming on the edge of the plastic bowl and we had to eat quickly before the food went cold and froze. You have to make sure that you put your fork into the hot food before you put it in your mouth, or else it sticks to your lips.

How do you do your dishes?

Usually the story is that you wipe them clean with paper towels, but last night it was so cold that food froze very quickly. Even the last bit of milo in the bottom of the cup froze and stayed there.