Food and Water

Food and water are the core survival needs in 7 Days to Die, tracked as fullness and hydration meters. Letting either run low harms your ability to fight and work, so managing them is a constant priority, especially in the early game.

Fullness (Food)

Your fullness meter drops steadily as you perform activities, and it drains faster during heavy exertion like running or mining. When fullness gets low, your maximum Stamina shrinks and regeneration slows, making every task harder. If it empties completely, you begin taking Health damage from starvation.

You raise fullness by eating. Options range from raw scavenged items to cooked meals prepared at a campfire.

• Foraged foods like berries, corn, potatoes, and mushrooms.
• Cooked meat and eggs, which restore more than raw versions.
• Prepared recipes such as stews and grilled meals that give large, lasting boosts.

Avoid eating raw or spoiled food when possible, since it can cause food poisoning that drains your stats.

Hydration (Water)

The hydration meter behaves similarly and drains alongside your food, again faster when you exert yourself or endure heat. Low hydration reduces Stamina performance, and reaching zero causes dehydration damage.

You restore hydration by drinking. Clean sources are important because unsafe water carries risk.

• Bottled or purified water is safe to drink directly.
• Murky water gathered from the environment should be boiled or purified first, as drinking it raw can cause dysentery.
• Some foods, drinks, and recipes also provide hydration.

Cooking and Preparation

A campfire is your gateway to reliable nutrition. With a cooking pot and grill you can boil water, cook meat, and craft more advanced recipes that restore far more than their raw ingredients. Investing perk points into cooking unlocks better recipes and reduces resource costs.

Practical Tips

Always keep a buffer of cooked food and clean water in your pack. Boil murky water in batches, cook meat rather than eating it raw, and plan meals before long mining or looting trips so hunger and thirst never catch you off guard.

Updates Needed

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