on Jane Friedman site:

If you’re a foodie, chances are you’re reading fiction through an added lens, be it spotting a character who complains about an overdone steak, anticipating a family feud over a treasured recipe, or wondering how come a certain character is still alive when they haven’t eaten since chapter two.

Food is a powerful storytelling element that can help develop and build characters. Not only is it relatable and versatile, it’s also a power tool for putting “show, don’t tell” into practice. If your protagonist fusses about a specific dish, this tells the reader something about their psychological makeup or it hints at a backstory.

What kind of food do your fictional people reach for when in distress? Do they have a culinary weakness or a food allergy that someone might take advantage of? If so, this can help drive tension or foreshadow conflict. The fact that they always eat on the go because they’re too busy to stop? That says something, as well.

There are different ways storytellers can use food to bring their characters to life: here are a few.