eat, food
食 centers on taking in nourishment: eating and food itself. The meanings are tightly linked, with 'eat' as the action and 'food' as what is eaten.
to eat
meal (e.g. lunch, dinner)
to eat
food; foodstuff
food; food products; foodstuffs
food
food and drink; eating and drinking
food
breakfast
dining room; dining hall; cafeteria; canteen; messroom
foodstuff; ingredient
evening meal; dinner
appetite (for food)
to eat; to drink; to wolf; to knock back
provision of lunch (e.g. at office, school, etc.); providing a meal; lunch service
food; foodstuff
lunch; midday meal
eating out; dining out
set meal; special (of the day)
meat eating; eating of meat; meat diet
food (esp. staple food such as rice or wheat); provisions; rations; food supply
tableware
dining table
eating habits; diet; dietary pattern
食 is a pictograph of a food vessel with a lid. The top 亽 represents the lid, and the bottom 艮 represents the container holding food.
The top 亽 looks like a lid covering a container 艮 filled with food. Imagine lifting the lid to eat the food inside.
For ショク, picture a shock of flavor when you eat the food: shock -> ショク, and the delicious taste surprises you.