Food for thought is an idea worth chewing over in your mind. Give you food for thought, plenty of food for thought, that is food for thought.
It is a compliment that commits you to nothing — saying something gives food for thought accepts the idea as interesting without agreeing with it. The metaphor of chewing over an idea is old and runs through ruminate and digest as well.
1phrasefood for thoughtAn idea worth thinking over.
“The talk on sleep and memory gave me plenty of food for thought.”
food for thought is an idea.
Practised in Idioms, Thinking & Memory