Observations about Voyager

[Tosk]

They had limited power resources, necessitating replicator rations.

And even with their utterly idiotic "dedicated incompatible generators" excuse, the crew never seems to just use the holodeck to properly supplement or completely take over their food requirements.

Somehow the holodecks never run out of power in seven years, but they don't have a mess hall program?

 

[Oddish]

Somehow the holodecks never run out of power in seven years, but they don't have a mess hall program?

Holographic food would cease to exist the moment you left the holodeck. Not a bad dieting trick, actually. Glom down a 3" steak and 15 Hostess cupcakes, then say 'exit' and it never happened.

 

[Tosk]

Holographic food would cease to exist the moment you left the holodeck.

The holodeck also uses replicated matter. Food that is consumed is real.

 

[Oddish]

The holodeck also uses replicated matter. Food that is consumed is real.

But it probably uses the replicators to produce it, which would use "actual" power.

But then, Voyager's replicator physics was nuts anyway. Neelix had to beg Janeway not to make a cup of coffee... but they were able to produce a dozen shuttles, two Delta Flyers, and a highly experimental quantum slipstream warp drive, no problemo.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

But the bar program made no sense at all. They could drink and play pool in the Mess Hall, or set up a makeshift bar in a cargo bay. Wasting holodeck power (and their own holodeck time slots!) on simple things they could do anywhere was goofy.

I gather it was more about the imaginary surroundings and fictional people they could interact with than simply having a place to eat.

They could have installed a holo-emitter in their actual mess hall. Then they could dine in whatever atmosphere they wished, while still saving power by using real furniture.

 

[at Quark's]

Holographic food would cease to exist the moment you left the holodeck. Not a bad dieting trick, actually. Glom down a 3" steak and 15 Hostess cupcakes, then say 'exit' and it never happened.

Can't imagine that would be good for your stomach though (assuming it's replicated food that does down through your gullet and into your stomach, only for it to suddenly vanish just as your stomach is going into overdrive to start digestion on the food. And if it only would be 'holograms and forcefields' you wouldn't taste any of it).

 

[WarpTenLizard]

They could have installed a holo-emitter in their actual mess hall. Then they could dine in whatever atmosphere they wished, while still saving power by using real furniture.

Ok that is an awesome idea. Not just for "Star Trek" But scifi in general.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

B'Etor's name sounds as though the Enderprizians from PRO heard of B'Elanna Torres.