Human needs can be categorized into different levels as Maslow (1954) states in his famous model. The original model from the 1940s and 1950s includes 5 levels: Biological and physiological needs, Safety needs, Belonging and love needs, Esteem needs and Self-actualization.
Food is often considered to belong to the most basic biological needs. This is certainly correct, but why do people then visit fancy restaurants where a small amount of food is sold at high prices? From a physiological point of view, one would get the same amount of nutrition from a meal from the freezer. The answer is probably that food also applies to higher needs such as belonging and esteem needs.