Many people have a favourite food, so it makes sense that our novel characters would too. Now, what can we as writers and readers learn about characters based on their favourite foods? A great deal!

I really, really like cheese now, even though I used to dislike it as a child. During my teen years, I made it a point to eat it so I could overcome my dislike of it. Sounds strange, I know. However, this displays the headstrong and over-comer attitude I have, which can allow other people to understand me better.

For characters, it might work the same.

But first, we need to know what their favourite food is and why.

Does it taste just that good? Did a person they love make it for them? Is there a special memory attached to it? There are many questions about it here.

What it says about the character

Now, this does not apply to all characters but picture this:

Scenario 1: A petite, rose-haired girl that lives in a giant flower garden, tends to animals and enjoys spending time in the sun. Her favourite food is the freshly picked strawberries that grow around her little farm.

Scenario 2: A battle-hardened pirate sinks his teeth into the last bit of salted fish they had onboard, relishing the dry flaky food as he waits for the storm to calm.

Does that mean that these characters couldn’t enjoy other forms of food? No, of course not but it is much more likely that the farm girl will appreciate the fragrance and texture of her favourite food while the pirate only cares about filling his stomach.

Our eating habits affect our looks, moods and cultural identities.

Also, in Narnia Edmund is willing to betray his friends for some Turkish delights. A small part of that could be that it was something he had never eaten before nor had access to as a young boy during the war in his real world.

Why is it their favourite food

Though there may be many other reasons, here are three that you can easily use for your story:

Brings back good memories

In Pokemon, Brock is the eldest and the designated meal chef. Later, if any of his travelling companions eat another of his meals or a similar one, they will remember the time they have spent travelling together on their adventures. Favourite food is a time travel method like that.

Connects them with their loved ones

Maybe your parents or guardians weren’t the greatest cooks growing up, but there is just that one meal that takes you back and envelops you with a soft blanket. Whether it reminds your character of the loving touch of their mother, the first date with their love interest or the bonds they share with their found family, sharing a meal with someone is a common way to show that they have been accepted into the family.

Their personal identity

As Christians, we regularly consume the Eucharist. Though some food details have changed throughout the millennia, the core belief remains the same. Through the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup of wine, we proclaim Jesus’ death until He returns.

It symbolises the forgiveness of our sins and the new testament through Jesus Christ and how He gave His Life instead of ours so that we could live.

For a faith-filled character, this is a big deal and can contribute to their journey and how they view food.

How it relates to their backstory or upbringing

Growing up I never wanted for food, but that actually makes me a rarity.

Often writers forget that hundreds of thousands of children go without regular meals and depending on the worldbuilding of your novel, your characters might too.

Different backgrounds will have different availability of food items and even the types of food (fresh, frozen, canned, rotten).

If character A was raised as the next head of an empire, with hundreds of personal servants at their command, they probably never really lacked food. On the other hand, what if character B was also the next leader of a forest-dwelling tribe but their customs dictate that the weakest gets served first and the highest last, and when food rations are low they see it as an honour to go hungry so others can eat.

This is a great way to add depth to your worldbuilding and character in one go!

What ingredients are available and how that affects your world building

Climate, History and Location

Your character’s favourite food can also be affected by your worldbuilding.

In the early 20th century, many European countries raced each other to lay claim to the coveted spices of the East. This war for food would have lasting effects on both the economy and the way different countries viewed each other.

Another example is salt. It used to be worth its weight in gold and now you can buy a kilo for less than 5 Euro at the store.

If your character lives in an icy tundra with no fertile soil then fresh fruits and vegetables would be a luxury to them, while salted and dried meat, fish and fats would be common. On the other hand, if they are from a sweltering desert then water, hardy animals and plants would be desirable.

Level of fantasy

The percentage of fantasy also plays a role.

Are there new hybrid plants and animals? New biomes? New recipes?

Then maybe your character’s favourite food would be glowberry jam, harvested from the glowing berries that only winged jackals that live in the purple-sanded deserts can find.

As we discussed, there is a lot that goes into the favourite food of your character. From emotions to environment, there are many factors to consider but it can make your storytelling so much richer.