Eating

Eating is a game mechanic that allows a player to gain hunger points using food.

Importance
Previously, eating was a useless mechanic, as health would regenerate by sleeping. After the release of Update 0.9.0, however, sleeping no longer regenerated health (except on peaceful mode), making food important for survival.

How to eat
In order to eat, the player must hold the food on a surrounding block- an animation will occur and the player will restore hunger points (different amount for each type of food).

Trivia

 * It is only possible to eat in Survival mode.
 * Even though there is food in Creative Mode, they are only for breeding or decorational purposes.
 * In Update 0.7.0, there was a bug where the player could eat but couldn't see the animation.
 * Milk was the only food that has a drinking animation, until the 0.12.1 update came out. Now you can drink water bottles too.
 * It is also the only food that cures status effects.
 * Bug: Sometimes, incorrect particles are produced while eating.