Food, feed, victuals, viands, provisions, comestibles, provender, fodder, forage are comparable when meaning things that are edible for human beings or animals.
Food is the most general of these terms and is typically applicable to all substances which satisfy hunger and build up or repair waste in the body of men or animals. It is sometimes distinguished from drink or applied specifically to human needs and then distinguished from feed, which normally denotes food for domestic animals.
Victuals and viands basically denote food for human beings, especially food that is prepared and ready for eating.
Victuals is a racy or pungent word used for special effect.
Viands is bookish or affected and occurs chiefly where daintiness, rarity, or an especially fine quality is to be suggested.
Provisions applies to food in general as offered for sale in a market or kept in store as supplies.
Comestibles, which stresses edibility, is now found chiefly in playful use for victuals or provisions.
The remaining three terms, provender, fodder, and forage, basically denote feed for animals, but all may occasionally be used, typically derogatorily, of human food.
Provender in its basic use applies to food (as hay, oats, or corn) for horses, mules, or asses.
Fodder applies to food for domestic cattle and especially to coarse food (as hay, silage, and straw) that is harvested and fed out, as distinguished from forage, food consumed by grazing or browsing.