I thought vampires didn't eat food?

[This Year's Girl]

Can anybody give me an explanation for this?

In Fool for love Spike says he wants Buffy to order him chicken wings 'cause he's feeling pekish (which I takes as he's going to eat them). But in I will remember you when Angel turns human he talks about how much he has missed food.

So which is it, do vampires eat or not? Or is it just that they doesn't feel any taste/get hungry so they don't get that much out of it, but they can eat if they wanted to?

 

[xaphania]

They can obviously eat - Spike does all the time. I'd guess that they can taste and enjoy the texture of the food, but it does nothing to nourish them.

No idea why Angel never ate human food yet Spike did, though. I've seen it fanwanked that Angel didn't like to do anything too "human" (such as eat food) as a kind of self-punishment but that doesn't really make much sense to me.

I'd guess that it's one of those things where the writers play fast and loose with the continuity - they wanted Angel to be amazed by food in IWRY, so that's what happened.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

I guess it depends on a vampire. I don't think the food can harm them or anything, they just don't eat it because blood is their thing. They're dead, they're cold, blood keeps them warm. I remember Angel said he loves coffe, and Spike loves onion rings ^^

 

[caitaintdead]

I think I heard in a commentary for an episode, or perhaps read somewhere, that vampires can eat food but they can't taste it the same way humans can. I've kinda assumed from that that they can feel the food, the texture and warmth, but can't taste it the same way humans can.

I think I heard in the same commentary that Spike eats almost out of habit, as a comfort thing.

I really wish I could remember where I had heard it!

 

[This Year's Girl]

I think I heard in a commentary for an episode, or perhaps read somewhere, that vampires can eat food but they can't taste it the same way humans can. I've kinda assumed from that that they can feel the food, the texture and warmth, but can't taste it the same way humans can.

I think I heard in the same commentary that Spike eats almost out of habit, as a comfort thing.

I really wish I could remember where I had heard it!

That's really interesting, I love if Spike eats out of comfort, it kinda adds even more to his character. Let me know if you remember where you heard it, I love to hear it myself!

---------- Post added at 01:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 AM ----------

I've seen it fanwanked that Angel didn't like to do anything too "human" (such as eat food) as a kind of self-punishment but that doesn't really make much sense to me.

I'd guess that it's one of those things where the writers play fast and loose with the continuity - they wanted Angel to be amazed by food in IWRY, so that's what happened.

I think it makes kinda sense now that you mention it, after all Angel was big on the self punishment front, lol.

 

[TaylorSwift]

I think I heard in a commentary for an episode, or perhaps read somewhere, that vampires can eat food but they can't taste it the same way humans can. I've kinda assumed from that that they can feel the food, the texture and warmth, but can't taste it the same way humans can.

I think I heard in the same commentary that Spike eats almost out of habit, as a comfort thing.

I really wish I could remember where I had heard it!

I agree with this explanation. It makes total sense. I also remember in The Prom Joyce asks Angel if he drinks coffee and he says no because it makes him jittery (even though he drinks it on Angel).