Food and drink dispenser

Summary
The Food and Drink Dispenser unit is designed and constructed for easy transactions rather than the usage of onboard cooks on-ship. This is also used to lower, as opposed to the extent of the cost of building and such. It is first found on the Pillar of Autumn, and probably most other UNSC ships. Earth has several throughout its cities built for civilian use, similar to vending machines. These are equipped with holographic clerks to help communicate to customers, but the automations are very simplistic and can't respond to every question it is asked. Because of this, and the fact that the systems were becoming too expensive to run, they were soon replaced by more domestic vending machines like those of the earlier 21st century, though this is not confirmed.

Food

 * Turkey Dinner

Turkeys are commonly consumed as food by humans, farmed for its meat and eggs. Though humans have been consuming turkeys for centuries, they are still common and popular in human eateries and in Food & Drink Dispensers. Turkeys are also eaten on Thanksgiving which is an American holiday in November. Avery Johnson compared his first encounter with the Flood, in which the rest of his unit was slaughtered, to a turkey dinner.


 * Hamburger and Cheeseburger Dinner

The name is derived from the town it is originally believed to have been created in, Hamburg, located in Germany. When cheese is added to a hamburger, it is called a "cheeseburger". The food has been consumed for centuries, but is apparently still very common and popular among humans. Hamburger and Cheeseburger dinners are common choices on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy.


 * Hot Dog Dinner

It is created from meat of various animals which are indigenous to Earth, such as pigs and cows. The food is centuries old but still very common and popular among humans. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the Naval ships. It was originally made of pork parts, but now made with beef and eaten with Ketchup and/or Mustard.


 * Meat Loaf Dinner

Meat Loaf is a food consumed by humans, created from the meat of various animals indigenous to Earth. The food is centuries old but still very common and popular among humans. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy.


 * Chef's Special

Chef's Special is a food consumed by humans. Mysterious in nature, it is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy. This is, however, unconfirmed.

It is likely that the meat in most Food & Drink Dispenser meals was actually a soy-based substitute: by 2552, meat was heavily rationed within the UNSC, and usually only available to the very wealthy.

Drink

 * Cola

Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants and vending machines. It is found on many ships in the year 2552 in food dispensers in the mess hall's of ships.


 * Lemon/Lime

Lemon/Lime is a human beverage, which is centuries old but still very common and popular among humans. It is made from the citrus fruits lemons and limes, with carbonated or mineral water. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Naval Fleet.


 * Root Beer

Root Beer is a human beverage, which is centuries old but still very common and popular among humans. It is the non-alcoholic substitute of beer with the same taste. Since servicemen on active duty in the UNSC are prohibited from drinking alcohol, because it clouds the thinking of humans and most other species (much the way the inhalation of Benzene clouds the thinking of Grunts), this beverage serves as a decent-tasting virgin (non alcoholic) drink.


 * Orange

Orange Juice is a human beverage, which is centuries old but still very common and popular among humans. It is made from oranges, a citrus fruit native to Earth; and carbonated or mineral water. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy.


 * Water

Water, chemical name dihydrogen monoxide, is a common chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or state, but the substance also has a solid state; ice, and a gaseous state; water vapor and steam. Its chemical make-up is a covalent bond of two Hydrogen atoms and a single Oxygen. It is also one of various choices from a UNSC Food & Drink Dispenser.


 * Iced Tea

See Hot Tea.


 * Water (Repeated on dispenser)


 * Lemonade

Lemonade is a human beverage, which is centuries old but still very common and popular among humans. Lemonade is made from mixing the juice of lemons with water. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy.


 * Coffee

Coffee is a human beverage, created with ground coffee beans that are grown by plants which are native to Earth. The beverage has been widely popular for centuries among humans, primarily because it naturally contains the drug caffeine, a stimulant that helps to keep humans alert. The coffee is cultivated very easily in warm and wet climate. Coffee is served in numerous restaurants and businesses such as Jim Dandy roadside diners and it is almost always served hot.


 * Hot Tea

Tea is a type of beverage created by mixing hot, or cold, water with certain leaves or herbs, which absorbs some of the contents of these leaves, giving the tea flavor and sometimes medicinal value. Sometimes, milk and/or sugar are added to make tea sweeter. Tea drinks are very common and popular among humans, mostly for their taste and caffeine. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers, which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy. It is served both hot and cold. When served cold, it is known as iced tea.


 * Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate is a human beverage, which is centuries old but still very common and popular among Humans. It is made by combining ground cocoa powder (made from the cacao bean) and hot water. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy.


 * Chef's Surprise

Chef's Surprise is a human beverage of unspecified type. It is a standard choice on Food & Drink Dispensers which are standard throughout the UNSC Navy. Though no one knows what it is, it could just be a random selection from the above list of drinks.