“Don’t be eye candy, be soul food”

“Don’t be eye candy, be soul food” is a saying that has been printed on many images. “Eye candy” involves pleasing looks, “soul food” involves soul-satisfying food (or other things).
 
“Don’t be eye candy. Be soul food” was posted on Twitter  by Alexis Jakobs on December 10, 2014. The saying probably originated with an image.
 
       
Twitter 
Alexis Jakobs
@AlexisJakobs1
Don’t be eye candy. Be soul food.
❤T
12:30 PM - 10 Dec 2014
       
Twitter
L O 💋
@Aniweta_
Use to be eye candy now you gotta learn to just be soul food 🙌🙇
3:21 AM - 27 Dec 2014
   
Twitter
Toya From UNT
@_Trinara
I used wanna be eye candy now I’m tryna be soul food
8:36 PM - 4 Jan 2015 from Hewitt, TX
   
Twitter
NIC 🌹
@thekeytobre
“You want to be eye candy, I’d rather be soul food”
6:18 PM - 17 Jan 2015
   
Twitter
STEEVESAM
@BOXESDONTEXIST
Don’t be eye candy be soul food
2:53 PM - 20 Jan 2015
 
Slate
When Did Sidewalk Café Chalkboards Start Trying So Hard to Make Jokes?
By HEATHER SCHWEDEL
MAY 26, 2015 8:02 AM
(...)
There was this koanlike imperative outside one café: “Don’t be eye candy, be soul food.” A little bossy for a chalkboard, no?
 
YourTango
50 Positive Quotes To Make You Feel Happy
Emily Van Devender
September 26, 2018
(...)
5. Looks aren’t everything.
“Don’t be eye candy. Be soul food.”
 
Elite Daily
28 Instagram Captions For Halloween Nail Art That’s Sparkly & BOOtiful
BY MARISA CASCIANO
October 23, 2018
(...)
27. “Don’t be eye candy, be soul food.” — Unknown