Roman Diet
Posted on 26th December 2020
Much of the staple Roman diet is the same as we eat today, however the food of the poor and the wealthy varied greatly.
Vegetables
Cabbage, Broccoli and Kale
Onion, Celery, Carrots and Leeks
Turnip and Parsnips
Endive, Asparagus and Lettuce
Garlic
Meat
Pork
Hare and Dormice
Snails
Songbirds and Thrushes
Chicken, Pheasant, Ducks and Geese
Fish
Tuna and Sea Bass
Mullet and Mackerel
Sardines and Anchovies
Fish was plentiful and more common than meat for the poor. It was dried to preserve it and also used to make a sauce called Garum.
Fruit
Blackberries and Strawberries
Grapes and Damson
Pomegranate and Peaches
Apples and Pears
Figs, Dates and Quince
Olives
Fruit was eaten fresh when in season or dried and preserved.
Poor - Ate as a family seated at a large table. Their diet consisted mainly of cereal, porridge and bread; they made a thick stew called Pottage that contained corn or wheat. Some fruit was eaten, but fish and meat were a luxury unless they could kill it themselves. Some people owned goats, chickens or cows giving them a supply of eggs and cheese.
Wealthy - Served by slaves eating their food while lounging on sofas. Their diet consisted of bread, cheese, varied fruit and vegetables. Meat and fish were plentiful and cooked in rich sauces. A speciality at this time was Dormice, but they also ate Oysters, Snails, Songbirds and Peacock Tongues.
Romans ate three meals a day.
Breakfast (Ientaculum) – Bread and fruit.
Lunch (Prandium) – Meat, cheese, eggs, bread and vegetables.
Main Meal (Cena) – Fish, meat, vegetables, fruit and cheese.
There was also a late meal named a Vesperna, but this meal went out of fashion.
Tagged as: Junior Ancient Rome
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