Aitareya Upanishad, 1.1.2–1.3.10 narrates and interesting story on food.
The Creator, after creating the worlds, created the protectors
of the world — the gods — and subjected them to hunger and thirst. The gods
said, ‘Provide an abode for us, where we can stay and eat food.’
The Creator then brought them a cow, which they rejected,
then a horse, which was also rejected. The Creator then brought them a man. The
gods were all praise for it. ‘Enter into your respective abodes,’ the Creator
commanded them.
Agni (fire) entered speech, Aditya (the sun) entered the
eyes, Vayu (air) entered the sense of smell, the god of directions, the ears.
The other gods also entered into their respective functions of governing the
body.
The gods of hunger and thirst were left out and asked the
Creator to provide them also an abode.
These gods were commanded to enter the body. The Creator
then deliberated, ‘Let me create food
for them all.’ From this deliberation evolved a form. This form was food. Food
turned and attempted to run away. The Creator tried to take it up with the
various organs — of speech, smell,
sight, hearing, touch, and mind — but failed each time. Otherwise, one would
have been merely satisfied by talking of, smelling, seeing, touching, hearing,
or thinking of food. The Creator then tried to take food up by apana and
succeeded. This is the devourer of food. This is the vital energy.
Source – excerpts from article titled ‘Food for All’ published by Swami Satyamayananda in Prabuddha Bharata Magazine May 2008 Issue.