With the global surge in interest in healing following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing interest in the concept of healing within the context of food. However, a clear understanding of how consumers perceive and define healing food is lacking. This study aimed to investigate consumer perceptions of healing food and the underlying elements that constitute the concept. Eighty subjects, evenly distributed across genders and age groups (19 to 65), conducted Q sort of 35 statements related to healing foods. Additionally, they sorted 46 food items into categories according to whether they considered them healing foods. The subjects were categorized based on their perceptions of healing foods. Group 1 emphasized physical health benefits of healing foods, identifying dairy, nuts, and functional beverages as healing foods. Group 2 valued the emotional benefits, choosing foods for sensory pleasure to alleviate negative emotions. Group 3 prioritized seasonal ingredients and eco-friendly preparation methods, with an older average age compared to the other groups. The results revealed a multidimensional nature of healing food, encompassing both physical and mental aspects. Interestingly, different consumer groups placed emphasis on distinct facets of healing foods and selected different items as representative of such foods. These findings highlight the nuanced nature of the healing concept and provide a valuable insight for deeper investigations into strategies for understanding and promoting healing foods.