The Use of Alethes
"For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink." (John 6:55)
The Greek word for 'true' in this verse is alethos (#230). Its definition means "truly, of a truth, in reality, most certainly". Where alethos is found elsewhere in John it is used to state that Jesus is truly the Christ or the Prophet (4:42, 6:14, 7:26, 7:40), who are truly Jesus' disciples (8:31), and that Jesus truly came from the Father (17:8).
One additional use comes in John 1:47. "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed [alethos], in whom there is no deceit!" Some will suggest that this is evidence for a symbolic understanding of John 6:55, with alethos meaning "true" as in "ideal". However, while Nathanael may have been an ideal Israelite (as the food and drink Jesus describes are the ideal substinance), Nathanael was really an Israelite, implying that Jesus' food and drink are real as well.
It is worth noting that alethos is not the word used in the following verses from John:
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. (John 1:6)
Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven." (John 6:32)
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1)
In these, the word used is alethinos (#228). It has the same root as alethos (alethes #227), but its main definition is quite different. "[T]hat which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine". The word selection of "truly" (alethos) over "ideally" (alethinos) points to a literal intent.
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(Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.)
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