Food and Drink

Food is a major theme in The Hunger Games trilogy, and it manifests in a variety of ways: descriptions of meals, whether simple or elaborate, are a regular feature of the narrative; for several years, putting food on her family’s table was the primary focus of Katniss Everdeen’s existence; and it was through food (specifically bread) that Katniss and Peeta first made the connection that set many later events of the series in motion.

On a more symbolic level, descriptions of food often help to set the tone for a particular scene, or reveal something about the general society of Panem. In poorer areas, such as the Seam in District 12, the people have a very hardscrabble existence, and the foods listed tend to be very basic and/or low in quality, such as bread made from ration grain and dishes made from whatever ingredients can be found in the surrounding woods. In contrast, cuisine in the Capitol is very over-the-top, made with an endless variety of expensive and high quality ingredients, and served in large portions or buffets. Aside from this basic distinction, different types of food are associated with individual districts of Panem, depending of the district’s industry, climate, and economic/demographic makeup.

Breakfast with Gale in the woods

 * Fresh bakery bread


 * Goat cheese with basil leaves


 * Blackberries

Pre-Reaping breakfast (74th Hunger Games)

 * Goat’s milk


 * Ration grain bread

Post-Reaping dinner (prepared, but unknown if eaten)

 * Fish stew with wild greens
 * Bakery bread
 * Wild strawberries

“Rough times” (after Mr. Everdeen’s death)

 * Boiled water with dried mint leaves
 * Raisin-and-nut bread (burned)
 * Tea
 * Dandelion salad
 * Rabbit stew with wild greens
 * Fish and katniss roots

Courtesy of Greasy Sae

 * Soups
 * Mincemeat, pig entrails, and tree bark (a “winter specialty”)
 * Gourd and bean
 * Wild dog and rhubarb


 * Eggs, toast, and bacon (made for Katniss during her recovery)

Mellark bakery specialties

 * Apple and goat cheese tart
 * Cheese buns
 * Cinnamon-and-dill bread
 * Cookies
 * Iced cakes

In the woods

 * Beavers
 * Deer
 * Fish
 * Lynx
 * Plums
 * Squirrels
 * Strawberries
 * Wild dog
 * Wild greens
 * Turkey

Miscellaneous

 * Brightly colored candy in "flat round disks" (from the district's tiny sweet shop)
 * Purchased at the Hob
 * Coffee
 * Buns
 * Eggs
 * Oil
 * White liquor
 * Hunting rations (several weeks after 74th Hunger Games)
 * Cold chicken
 * Cheese
 * Bakery bread
 * Oranges
 * Cheese sandwiches (eaten by District 13 propo team while filming)

Dinner, 74th Hunger Games

 * Thick carrot soup
 * Green salad
 * Lamb chops and mashed potatoes
 * Cheese and fruit
 * Chocolate cake

Breakfast, 74th Hunger Games

 * Eggs
 * Ham
 * Fried potatoes
 * Chilled fruit
 * Rolls
 * Orange juice
 * Coffee
 * Hot chocolate
 * “Red juice” (thinned with white liquor by Haymitch Abernathy)

Dinner, 75th Hunger Games

 * Soup of pureed vegetables (served cold)
 * Fish cakes with creamy lime paste
 * Small roasted birds filled with orange sauce
 * Served with wild rice and watercress
 * Chocolate custard dotted with cherries

Warm milk with honey and spices

 * Ordered by Katniss to soothe her nerves

74th Hunger Games

 * Chicken with oranges in creamy sauce
 * Served over “pearly white grain” (rice?)
 * Green peas with onions
 * Flower-shaped rolls
 * Honey-colored pudding

75th Hunger Games

 * Pheasant
 * Served with “jewel-colored jellies”
 * Tiny vegetables in melted butter
 * Mashed potatoes with parsley
 * Fruit dipped in melted chocolate (i.e. fondue)

Dinner after the Tribute Parade, 74th Hunger Games

 * Goose liver and puffy bread (eaten by Katniss as an appetizer)
 * Wine (described as dry and tart)
 * Mushroom soup
 * Bitter greens with tiny tomatoes
 * Rare roast beef
 * Noodles in "green sauce" (pesto?)
 * Cheese and blue grapes
 * Cake “flambé” (soaked in alcohol and lit on fire)

First breakfast in the Capitol, 74th Hunger Games

 * Eggs
 * Sausages
 * "Batter cakes" (pancakes?) covered with "orange preserves" (marmalade?)
 * Pale purple melon
 * Beef stew served over "hot grain" (porridge?)
 * Rolls
 * Hot chocolate

Dinner after private training session, 74th Hunger Games

 * Fish soup
 * Rolls (with butter)
 * Pork chops and mashed potatoes
 * Wine

Breakfast, interview coaching day, 74th Hunger Games

 * Lamb stew with dried plums served over wild rice (Katniss' favorite dish)
 * Orange juice

Dinner after interviews, 74th Hunger Games

 * Only dish mentioned was "cream and rose-petal soup"

Dinner after the Tribute Parade, 75th Hunger Games

 * Only dish mentioned was peas in a "buttery sauce"

First breakfast in the Capitol, 75th Hunger Games

 * Sausages
 * Eggs
 * Potatoes
 * Bread
 * Juice
 * Hot chocolate

At least 20 varieties of soup

 * Creamy pumpkin with slivered nuts and tiny black seeds (poppy seeds?)
 * Clear green broth described as “tasting like springtime”
 * Frothy pink soup with raspberries

Whole roasted animals

 * Cows
 * Pigs
 * Goats

Fowl stuffed with fruits and nuts

 * Small roasted birds filled with orange sauce

“Ocean creatures” (i.e. seafood) with various sauces

 * Table of shellfish (mentioned in passing)
 * Oysters? (Katniss mentions in passing that she had only tried oysters once, at some point in the Capitol. Maybe it was here?)

Many varieties of bread, cheese, vegetables, and sweets

 * Table of cakes (at least one decorated with chocolate flowers)

Drinks

 * Wine and flaming spirits


 * Glasses of clear liquid (allows one to vomit up their previous meal in order to eat more)

74th Hunger Games

 * In Katniss' backpack
 * Crackers
 * Dried beef strips
 * Hunted game
 * Rabbit
 * Groosling
 * Courtesy of Rue
 * "quite a collection of nuts, roots, greens"
 * "Starchy root" (similar to parsnip)
 * Berries
 * Fed to Peeta
 * Hot broth (received as gift from sponsor)
 * Groosling stew with roots and chives
 * Berry mush (spiked with sleep syrup)
 * Picnic in the cave
 * Rolls
 * Goat cheese
 * Apples
 * Lamb stew with wild rice

75th Hunger Games

 * First night's meal
 * Charred tree rat meat
 * Roasted nuts
 * Tree water
 * Last meal
 * Fish/shellfish (oysters)
 * District 3 bread
 * "Spicy red sauce" (cocktail sauce?, fra diavlo?)

In the hospital

 * Clear broth
 * Applesauce
 * Glass of water

Training Center

 * Roast beef
 * Soft rolls
 * Peas

Breakfast

 * Bowl of "hot grain" (porridge?)
 * Cup of milk
 * Scoop of fruit/vegetables
 * Mashed turnips
 * Mushy beets
 * Stewed squash w/garlic

Lunch

 * Sliced bread


 * Cup of Water
 * Stews
 * Bean and onion
 * Greyfish and okra
 * Fish and beet

Dinner

 * Stew with minced venison
 * Beef with potatoes, turnips, and onions
 * Pea soup

Miscellaneous

 * Coffee (served with cream and sugar, only dispensed as an "emergency stimulant" following the bombing of District 13)
 * Apple cider (served at the wedding of Finnick Odair and Annie Cresta)