What did people in the middle ages eat?

Answer 1

In medieval Europe, there was a lot of dependence on cereal grains, wheat being important in some areas, but there were a lot of places where oats and rye were more efficiently grown. Grains were usually used for bread.

People ate vegetables. Leafy vegetables were important, and it is known that romaine lettuce was eaten, especially in southern areas. Cabbage, and such related plants as kale and broccoli, were grown for fresh use, storage. Onions and leeks were widely grown. Beans were important, but not so much as they were after New World varieties came along. Carrots, beets, and turnips were important also. Many vegetables were used for making pickles.

There were areas where better cuts of meats from cattle and sheep were often reserved for the nobility, as were game. Serfs were allowed to hunt animals regarded as vermin, such as rabbits, and were usually allowed poorer cuts of meat that could be cut for stew.

Eggs and poultry were important for all classes.

Fish were dried, smoked, or salted and shipped far inland. It was especially important in northern Europe.

Dairy products include many kinds of cheese, and some of these were very much as they are today. In fact Swiss cheese dates from antiquity and was produced throughout the Middle Ages.

Sweets were for wealthy people. Also wealthy people had better access to protein, and poorer people less.

Answer 2

Peasants would normally have some hard whole wheat bread with some cheese for breakfast. Then for lunch they would have pottage which is like modern Day porridge with scraps of vegetables or meat. Then for supper they would have pottage again with more meat in it than at dinner. Sometimes they might be able to sneak some food from the lord's kitchen. The only thing peasants drank was ale.

Lords ate very well. For breakfast they would have three fish dishes, three meat dishes, some white bread, and ale. For dinner they would have meat and fish, no vegetables or grains, with some wine. At supper time they would eat exotic meats such as swan or pigeon. If they had swan or peacock they would leave the feathers on it and put a crown up on its head. There was a huge difference between social class cuisine.

Answer 3

Mostly Wine Bread and alot of foods made from barley