Children's literature has long been regarded in mainstream culture as frivolous and light, until recent scholarship began to reveal the theories, concepts, and depth underneath the surface. Likewise, contemporary society's obsession with food movements and awareness of what sustains the human form has reached an all-time high. By exploring the role that food plays in children's literature using a psychoanalytic lens, it is possible to understand how the hunger hegemony -- a power structure that dictates food laws and policies -- has permeated modern culture. This thesis explores the omnipresence of food in children's literature ranging from the mid-20th century through present; from classics like Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are and Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to current bestsellers such as Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games trilogy. Ultimately, the goal is to raise both awareness and questions about how early children are indoctrinated into the hegemonic mentality, and how this can be damaging to both the child as an individual and society as a whole.