Search for food, reproduction, sleep; the primordial need of all uni- and multicellular organisms is to consume in order to survive and, in doing so, ensure the continued existence of its own species. Consequently, eating and drinking are not only an individual necessity but also a common necessity; it is the basis of a civilization (Keeling 5). But food is much more than just nutrition; it can be a pleasure or a temptation, and how or what is consumed is always also a “mark [for] the morality of humanity” (quoted in ibid.: 6). It is therefore not surprising that the universal experience of food occupies an important place within every culture (Katz 197-8). It was Eve's vigorous bite of an apple which, according to Christian belief, caused the Fall and introduced evil into the world of men. Other beliefs required religious offerings – whether food, valuables, or even human sacrifice – to appease the gods. A myth equivalent to the Land of Plenty, the Land of Milk and Honey, can be found in paintings, poems and literary works. in almost all regions of the planet. From Homer's big parties in The Iliad to Harry Potter's solitary dinners in a cupboard under the stairs; literature of any genre originating from any period and any cultural tradition can be analyzed through the lens of food (Keeling 4). In his essay “Food and Power,” Nicholson emphasizes that food in literature always has a symbolic function since “the characters […] do not eat to live, since they are not alive” (38). Analyzing the manner of consuming food and the type of food consumed therefore allows researchers to draw conclusions about the manners and morals as well as the social relations of a specific period (Daniel 1). Such an analysis is particularly relevant when it comes to the child...... middle of article ......1980): 192-199. Keepling, Kara K.; Pollard, Scott T.: “Introduction: Food in Children’s Literature.” » Critical approaches to food in children's literature. ibid., ed. NY, London: Routledge, 2008, 3-18. Labbe, Jaqueline M.: “Eating and being eaten in 19th century children's literature. » Critical approaches to food in children's literature. Kara K. Keepling and Scott T. Pollard, eds. NY, London: Routledge, 2008, 93-103. Nicholson, Mervyn: “Food and power: Homer, Carroll, Atwood and others. » Mosaic. Vol.20/3 (1987): 37-55. Sinclair, Catherine: Holiday home. A book for young people. London and Melbourne: Ward,Lock & Co. December 9, 2013collection/childrens-literature-collection/holiday-house/Grand%20feast.pdf>