Does Superman need to eat?

So Superman is powered by the yellow sun, so that would mean that he could get everything he needs for energy just by a few hours of sunlight a day (and why isn't being a beach bum part of Clark Kent's character?) So, it would stand to reason that he doesn't need food as human's do because unlike humans he doesn't get his energy from food.

Also does Superman need to sleep to or do any human bodily function at all?

Well, when you can fly above the cloud layer where the most direct sunlight imaginable is...

For eating, I'm not sure about the mainstream comics, but I do know that in the DCAU he didn't HAVE to eat, but, being someone who likes food, it was a habit that "died hard" for him, as he put it.

For that other question, I dunno.

Those are some interesting questions, I'm not sure about the later questions but as post above states, he doesn't need to eat.

Pre-crisis superman once eating a moon

No, he can live on solar energy alone

@consolemaster001 said:

I don't think that's been said in the comics, has it? At least not since the New 52, I don't think. I do know that in Lois and Clark (TV show) he said that he doesn't have to eat, but that he likes to. That's not exactly canon though. In Superman: The Movie, he said that he eats "when he's hungry," which means that his body has an urge and a response to a lack of food, although that could be a vestigial function from before yellow sunlight, and it could mean that he does not NEED to eat, but feels hunger when he doesn't. Again, not canon, though.

I think he's capable of surviving on just solar energy alone. It's just imprinted in his upbringing to eat and sleep even though he doesn't need to do such things.

@lvenger said:

That's what I figure, too. It just hasn't been said :/

In some incarnations he needs to eat in others he doesn't.

Personally I would prefer it he does need to. I also prefer it if he needs to breath and other normal functions or his body goes dormant.

I don't think he needs to do anything, eat, breathe, nothin'.

It seems like the most logical one. I'm trying to think of instances where Superman has gone without food or sleep for some time but I can't think of any.

Hippie!

@lvenger said:

I mean, any of the many times in which he went on a prolonged trip into space would probably count. It just goes unsaid because it would be ridiculous to mention that a person as strong and resilient as Superman "went days without food or sleep" or something to that effect.

Agreed. It's just something that's never really focused on I guess.

Of course he has to eat. If Superman doesn't eat he'll starve to death.

No, Superman has no need to sleep, eat or drink anything by human standards. He only does so to fit in.