It is a time for Christians to identify with Christ when he sat on the mountaintop for forty days with the devil. The devil tempted him but he didn't succumb. During the time that Christ spent in the wilderness, he didn't eat much if anything. During Lent Christians usually give up something they value, like a certain kind of food that they like in order to deny themselves a necessity and identify with Christ's suffering.
'Man does not live by bread alone'
'Man does not live by bread alone'