Soylent got its start back in 2013 when a software engineer, sick of the hassle associated with feeding himself, decided to assemble the core ingredients to keep his body alive into a single, easy meal. He called the flavorless slurry “Soylent,” referencing the 1970s movie about government-sponsored cannibalism, in an attempt to make the product seem halfway interesting. It caught on: people across the country (particularly tech bros, writers, editors, and other workaholics) jumped at the opportunity to eliminate the inconvenience of having to prepare or taste their food.

Fast forward to 2020, and Soylent can be purchased as a powder to mix at home, a pre-mixed drink delivered in a bottle, and in several different flavors—a few of which are available right now on Amazon for 30 percent off:

• Soylent Original, Cacao, or Strawberry 12 pack — $27.30
• Soylent Variety Pack — $29.40
• Cafe Soylent Vanilla, Mocha, or Chai 12 pack — $27.30
• Cafe Soylent Variety Pack — $29.40
• Soylent Meal Replacement Powder, Original or Cacao, 36.8 ounce — $23.80
• Soylent Meal Replacement Shake, Cacao or Vanilla Tetra Pack, 4 pack — $7.69
• Soylent Squared 30-pack, 100 Calorie Protein bar, Chocolate, Citrus or Salted Caramel — $21.00
• Soylent Bridge, 180 Calorie Nutrition Shake, Chocolate, pack of 12 — $18.20

You might notice that adding flavors to Soylent goes against the minimalist, “everything you need and nothing you don’t” ethos that built Soylent in the first place. One might chalk that up to the simple pressures of the market; most people want more convenient meals, but not everyone is willing to drink something that tastes like “bland nothingness” (and that’s the people who like it).

So are the flavors actually any good? According to Amazon reviews, yes: The Cacao is described as “freaking delicious,” and the cafe varieties got even more praise: “I just love Soylent. I’m losing weight, it’s affordable, it’s easy, and it’s fast.” But then again, you’re trusting an person who is writing reviews on Amazon for a meal-replacement drink named after cannibal science fiction.

Incidentally, “affordable, easy and fast” are the three best things you could associate with a New Year’s Resolution. If yours was losing weight, having time to hit the gym, or saving money, then Soylent’s your in… provided you can stand being reminded of Charlton Heston’s mournful vocal fry every time you get hungry.

SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Joshua Sargent is an editor for Hearst Newspapers. Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com.