While not quite a deserted desert island,Sons Of The Forestdrops players right into the middle of the wilderness, with nothing but the clothes on their backs and whatever supplies they can scavenge from the wreckage to work with. To survive, players mustfind their own source of water, food, and shelter.
With a wide variety of different consumables to choose from, players will be wondering which items can sustain them the best during their time on the island, and which should be skipped over. Here are thebest foods inSons Of The Forest, ranked by usefulness.
Updated on June 10, 2025, by Taylor Pittman:Players can test their survival skills in Sons of the Forest, especially with the 1.0 update adding new content and gameplay systems. While there are hostile cannibals and mutants to worry about, players are also fighting against nature. Food and water are essential to living on the island, and some meals have stat-boosting effects. So, this guide has been updated to include even more of thebest food players can get in Sons of the Forest.
12Limbs
Putting aside the ethical qualms of following in the footsteps of the player’s not-so-friendly neighbors, becoming a cannibal is not all that worth it. Not only does it require the player to kill an enemy, but if witnessed by others, it willmake the inhabitants even more hostiletowards them, which will come back to bite in the long run.
It’s probably better to just burn the cannibal’s corpses to acquire their bones. That being said, arms and legs do provide some emergency food if players are starving, so it’s better than nothing.
11Mushrooms
Found Growing Around the Forest
Mushrooms can either help or hinder the player. Some types, like the Shiitake Mushroom, are perfectly edible and can be eaten to modestly boost hunger levels. Others, like the Fly Amanita Mushroom, are poisonous and will damage the player’s health if consumed.
Their most helpful aspect is that they can be grown on a farm, providing players with a steady and available supply of food.
10Berries
Picked From Berry Bushes in The Forest
Like Mushrooms, there are edible types, such as Blueberries, Blackberries, and Salmonberries, and poisonous types, such as Twinberries and Snowberries. They can also be grown and farmed in the same way.
While they don’t provide a whole lot of nourishment, Berries are an ideal snack if players become hungry whileaway from the base, and there are plenty around to keep them well-fed. Just be careful to eat the right ones, as eating poisonous berries can quickly drain the player’s health.
9Non-Perishables
Picked Up From Campsites and Other Man-made Structures
Non-Perishables are packets of food that have been left behind by previous occupants and include Canned Food, Ramen Noodles, MREs, and Crunchie Wunchies. These can be looted from bags, containers, and chests and are usually found inside bunkers.
While they are useful due to their inability to go rotten, players must go scavenging for them, meaning they won’t always provide a reliable source of food. Additionally, eating Ramen Noodles will restore hunger levels but also make the player thirsty, and Canned Food requires a can opener to access. Overall, not the most convenient food source.
8Energy Mix
Crafted Inside the Inventory
A consumable that is crafted from several herbs, Energy Mix gives the player a boost to energy levels, especially useful if they arerunning low on sleep. The base version can be crafted by combining Chicory and Arrowleaf, whereas an upgraded Energy Mix + requires Chicory, Fireweed, and Devil’s Club.
While this mix will not provide much sustenance, it helps when journeying far away from base and hence being unable to rest, and is a strong overall item to have at a player’s disposal. The only downside is having to collect the various herbs needed to craft it.
7Health Mix
Similar to Energy Mix, Health Mix is a crafted consumable that restores a portion of the player’s health. It is crafted from Aloe Vera and Yarrow, and the upgraded Health Mix + requires the addition of Horsetail and Fireweed while removing the Yarrow.
Once again, Health Mix won’t provide any nourishment, but it helps players heal after a particularly nasty fight and acts as a decent replacement for meds. They are well worth taking the extra effort to collect the herbs needed to craft them.
6Oyster
Harvested on Beaches in Water
Unique because they’re the only meat that doesn’t turn rotten, oysters are about the closest players will get to fine dining inSons Of The Forest. These mollusks are found underwater, meaning they are slightly annoying to obtain, butif players have picked up the Rebreather, it shouldn’t pose too much of a challenge.
They can be a good source of food if living right by the coast – otherwise, there are probably more convenient options.
5Raw Meat/Fish
Meat and Fish can be acquired by hunting game in the woods or fishing in rivers or ponds. While players can eat them raw, it’s usually best tocook them by placing them on a fireand waiting for a change in color. Consuming these plentiful sources of protein can then give players a healthy boost to their hunger level.
It’s important to note that Meat and Fish eventually go rotten, which will damage the player’s health, stamina, and thirst levels if eaten. Players should place their cooked food on a hook on the drying rack to avoid this and wait until it dries. Dried food will never go rotten, allowing players to consume cooked meat without fear.
4Energy Bar/Energy Drink
While Energy Bars and Energy Drinks must be scavenged for and cannot be grown or caught near base like other items, they are nevertheless the best “raw” food in the game. Both restore hunger/thirst levels and give a temporary energy boost.
These are great for keeping the player fed and energized on the go. This can come in handy in a sticky situation or if the player simply needs that bit of extra time toloot, scavenge, or harvest the important resources that the island has to offer. Players would do well to keep one or two of these items on hand throughout the game.
3Boiled Meat
Made Using a Cooking Pot
Players can cook mealsif they have the right time and equipment and gain health and stamina boosts. Cooking requires a cooking pot found at many campsites and a small fire. Players can boil water to get clean water, but they can also boil proteins. Boiling meat is one of the easiest recipes in the game.
Boiled Meat grants players a strength boost, healing, 100% Hydration, and 100% Saturation. The recipe consists of a full pot of water and two pieces of any type of meat.
