The OP's friend might be thinking of starchy foods (today more commonly known as foods high in carbohydrates, carbs) compared to other types of food. She probably considers that "rice" = filling, but "food" = nutrition/taste.

Starchy foods include bread, pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes, breakfast cereals, oats and other grains like rye and barley. Although these starchy foods are often referred to as 'carbs', this is a little misleading as carbohydrates include both starch and sugars, as well as fibre.

Maybe she is thinking that rice, potatoes and bread alone are not meals by her standards. But the terms meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) and food have distinct meanings.

To sum up, even insects, worms and leaves are "food". Anything ingested for energy is considered "food" in English.

The OP's friend might be thinking of starchy foods (today more commonly known as foods high in carbohydrates, carbs) compared to other types of food. She probably considers that "rice" = filling, but "food" = nutrition/taste.

Starchy foods include bread, pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes, breakfast cereals, oats and other grains like rye and barley. Although these starchy foods are often referred to as 'carbs', this is a little misleading as carbohydrates include both starch and sugars, as well as fibre.

Maybe she is thinking that rice, potatoes and bread alone are not meals by her standards. But the terms meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) and food have distinct meanings.

To sum up, anything ingested for energy is considered "food" in English. In many cultures, even insects (entomophagy), worms, caterpillars, and leaves are "food".