Reports of disturbing dreams were associated with a pathological constellation of measures that includes poorer sleep, binge-eating, and eating for emotional reasons. Those who perceived food-dependent dreaming differed from others by reporting more frequent and disturbing dreams, poorer sleep, higher coffee intake, and lower Intuitive Eating Scale scores. The perception of food-dependent dreaming had a prevalence of 17.8% with dairy products being the most frequently blamed food category (39–44%). Items queried whether they had noticed if foods produced bizarre or disturbing dreams and if eating late at night influenced their dreams. Three hundred and ninety six students completed questionnaires evaluating sleep, dreams, and dietary habits and motivations. The present study examines three aspects of the food/dreaming relationship it attempts to: (1) assess the prevalence of the perception of food-dependent dreaming and the types of foods most commonly blamed (2) determine if perceived food-dependent dreaming is associated with dietary, sleep or motivational factors and (3) explore whether these factors, independent of food/dreaming perceptions, are associated with reports of vivid and disturbing dreams. But apart from case studies, some exploratory surveys, and a few lab studies on how hunger affects dreaming, there is little empirical evidence addressing this topic. Today, the perception that foods disturb dreaming persists.

In the early 1900s, the Dream of the Rarebit Fiend comic strip conveyed how the spicy cheese dish Welsh rarebit leads to bizarre and disturbing dreams.

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