When I first started gardening, I was thinking the same thing you are "why waste garden space by growing flowers when I am trying to grow food". I quickly realized no flowers means no food. The number one reason people are not successful growing fruit or vegetables is no pollinators. I learned that you must have a varieties of flowers that can bloom at different times, so you have food for pollinators all year long. I now recommend to people who are new to gardening to plant flowers first, then food. If you bring in more diversity, you will be more successful in your garden.