In her book "Hunger," Roxane Gay expresses a deep ambivalence towards food. Although she has a love for it, she struggles to fully embrace the joy of eating due to the societal pressures and personal insecurities related to her body image. Food becomes a source of distress rather than pleasure, tainted by her feelings of inadequacy and self-criticism.

Gay's reflection reveals the internal conflict many face regarding food and body acceptance. She highlights the difficulty of reconciling her passion for eating with the pervasive belief that she does not deserve to enjoy it. This struggle underscores the broader theme of how food can symbolize personal battles and societal expectations surrounding body image and worth.