If an effect refers to a Food, it means any Food artifact, not just a Food artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Tough Cookie (an Artifact Creature — Food Golem) to activate Maraleaf Rider's ability (an ability with "Sacrifice a Food" in its cost).
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Food is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some creatures, it's never a creature type.
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You can't sacrifice a Food to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Food token to activate its own ability and also to activate Maraleaf Rider's ability.
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Whatever you do, don't eat the delicious cards.
When this creature enters, create a Food token. (It's an artifact with ", , Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.")
Whenever this creature attacks, you may sacrifice a Food. If you do, attacking creatures get +1/+1 and gain trample until end of turn.
, 
, Sacrifice this token: You gain 3 life.")