Here's What It Means If You Dream About Food

The spread in front of you looks delicious. A juicy cheeseburger, a bucket full of fries, cheesy pizza, tossed salad, a bowl of fresh berries, and ice cream galore are resting on the table, just a few inches away. You gently take a steaming slice of pizza and raise it to your mouth. You're just about to take a bite when ... you wake up.

Why do we dream about food? While it's tempting to think that it's just because we're hungry, the food in our dreams may have hidden meanings. Dream Moods goes so far as to list foods alphabetically, and provide different interpretations for each food. Apricots, the publication claims, are a sign that you are in denial about something. A birthday cake means that your most important wishes will come true, and flour means that you live a frugal but happy life. But how much should we believe? According to Dr. Veronica Tonay, a psychologist and author of several dream books, explained to The Daily Meal that the interpretations provided by dream dictionaries don't necessarily mean anything. However, food in general may have a metaphorical meaning, and could be indicative of the ways in which we nurture ourselves.

As noted by Dr. Veronica Tonay for The Daily Meal, food doesn't necessarily appear in your dreams because you want to eat it. Different meals can often offer deeper meanings about the ways we self-pamper when our minds and bodies need extra care. "If in dreams you feel deprived of or tempted by a certain food, you may actually need the specific kind of 'nurturance' that food represents," she says. "For example, you love donuts, and dream while you're eating a salad, that you long for a donut. Beyond the obvious wish-fulfillment motive of the dream – 'I would love to eat a donut!' – consider that what you really need is what donuts represent to you."

Journey Into Dreams points out that food commonly appears in dreams and could symbolize your desire for something or someone. It's also important to note whether you were eating alone or with someone in the dream, as the meaning of the dream may be more closely tied to your need for human connection. If you were preparing a meal, this could suggest that you enjoy sharing your knowledge and wisdom with others. Of course, it's important to note that not every dream is symbolic. If you were particularly unsettled by a strange nightmare of talking sandwiches or pickles chasing you down a hill, don't let it ruin your day. It could mean nothing at all.