Living and working in the extreme environment at the South Pole requires a lot of energy. And with temperatures at or below 0℉ year-round, the freezer storage capacity is no issue. The South Pole, at an altitude of over 9,000 ft., is the world’s driest desert. And with summer temperatures reaching highs of only 0℉, the people who live and work at the South Pole require a lot of energy from food. Add in the fact that the station is thousands of miles away from other people, and food becomes an important part of keeping morale high and building community. Luckily for me, the NSF Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is equipped with everything needed to bake and cook a wide variety of foods for every meal. Our kitchen staff are pros and efficient — each year, 24,354 meals are served here!
My favourite foods here are the fresh ones. Luckily, it is summer, so we occasionally get some "freshies" in as we call them. I have eaten salad a handful of times this month, there were some apples, oranges and still a few brown bananas. Most mornings I make myself a smoothie with yogurt, protein powder, milk and then add in some other fixings (like applesauce, cinnamon, orange juice, banana, and avocado). It's fun to be creative and the only way I feel like I can 'cook' down here. We do not have access to a kitchen, so that is something I miss.
