Sherlock eats of course (he has to or his mind would be absolutely out of balance), but I just don't think we ever actually see it on screen.  He can go, and does go, days without eating as he said he hasn't eaten in 2-3 days in the "A Study in Pink"?  But at the end he brought to John's attention that 'There's a good Chinese place open until 2am'.  

I rarely eat 3 meals a day, most of the time I eat one meal a day (if that) and that messes me up more, but since I have gotten use to that schedule.....it's just a normal patter now.

I think Sherlock probably has more snacks rather than meals.  It is true about what Mysteria says, most cases take place under 24hrs, so when we don't see him eat remember it's not really that long for the characters in the series.  Sherlock seems to have a fast metabolism and he is more obsessed with his work than anything (it keeps him occupied).  When you become occupied with something or someone you tend to focus less on eating and more on that thing/person.

It's kind of like when you have a crush on someone and they keep you from eating haha.  Your mind and body is still working normally (other than day dreaming ;p), but you are consuming less 'matter' because your mind is busy focusing on something other than food and hunger.

His cases are a kind of his food, so... ;P

But seriously, I think not everyone must eat often to function normally and feel well.. It seems Sherlock is one of them.
I just recalled how in one of the books, when Sherlock accounces that he has to go out, Mrs Hudson asks him what time he wants to have a supper, and Sherlock answers something like (if I rememebr rightly) "Friday, at 7.30pm", while Friday was going to be in not until a few days (I might have paraphrased a bit, but I think general sense has been kept). xD

Last edited by Deilenn (July 12, 2013 11:01 am)

'Fasting' is the word you want here. 'Evil AND delicious' ...like Andrew Scott's Moriarty! 

He probably grazes throughout the day instead of sitting down to meals.  He just seems the type.  We've seen him grab a pastry out of Mrs. Hudson's fridge in ASiB, and we've seen him drink coffee and tea, and talk about eating the same things as John in THoB.

butterfly grl wrote:

Sherlock doesn't bother to eat or sleep while on a case.
I'm not at all certain how he does that without a brain numbing headache. I'm bad about eating enough, and I'll call an energy drink and a power bar breakfast and lunch. Sometimes, I may skip dinner as well.


Mind over master goes only so far.

And I've done the not eating for 2-3 says in a row. It messes up your GI track somethingsomething awful.

I agree. I am the worst at eating regularly. I don't have normal hunger or thirst, so I have to set an alarm (especially now with hypoglycemia - goody!)

But have we seen Sherlock go much more than 24 hours without food? I actually think the pilot hinted that he might fast for several days - but if he slowly eases back into normal eating, who knows? It also depends where he gets his calories from...if it's largely shakes and drinks and soft foods like soup, it wouldn't be as shocking for him.
 

Manticone wrote:

But have we seen Sherlock go much more than 24 hours without food?

I'm not sure if we've actually seen him without food for more than 24 hours, but what we have seen more than once is John eating while he is with Sherlock - and Sherlock doesn't eat. It's that contrast that makes it even more noticeable that Sherlock doesn't seem to eat on a regular basis.