Food in the Middle Ages

Summary

In this video, Mama Natural explores the food habits of the Middle Ages in Europe, contrasting the diets of the rich and the poor. The poor mainly ate barley, vegetables, and almonds, while the wealthy indulged in meat, wheat, and spices like saffron and black pepper. While peasants consumed high-calorie meals to fuel manual labor, the rich and monks often faced obesity due to their calorie-dense diets. The video offers an insightful look into the food culture of medieval Europe, comparing it to modern dietary trends.

Takeaways

• 😀 The diet in the Middle Ages varied significantly between the rich and the poor.
• 🍞 Poor people ate primarily barley-based foods like bread, porridge, and gruel.
• 🍖 The rich had access to wheat, meat, and wild game, which were seen as prestigious foods.
• 🥕 Vegetables like carrots, cabbage, beets, onions, and garlic were common among peasants.
• 🍇 In Southern Europe, fruits like pomegranates, lemons, and grapes were common, while the North favored apples, pears, and plums.
• 🍺 Clean water was scarce, so many people drank up to a gallon of wine or beer a day.
• 🍽️ Plates were not commonly used, and forks had not yet been invented in the Middle Ages.
• 🧀 Cheese, particularly varieties like parmesan and brie, was a key protein source for the poor.
• 🌰 Almonds were widely used to thicken soups, stews, and sauces, and almond milk was very popular.
• 🍷 Cow's milk wasn't as common because it spoiled quickly, making almond milk a better alternative.
• 🍽️ The diet of monks consisted of high-calorie meals, around 6,000 calories on normal days and 4,500 during fasting.
• 🥂 The wealthy and monks were often overweight, as plumpness was considered a virtue, while peasants were generally thin due to hard labor.

Q & A

What food did the poor people eat in the Middle Ages?

The poor primarily ate barley-based foods like barley bread, porridge, gruel, and pasta, along with vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, beets, onions, and garlic.

What kind of diet did the wealthy people in the Middle Ages have?

The wealthy enjoyed a diet that included wheat, meat, wild game, pork, chicken, and various spices. They also had access to luxury items like black pepper, saffron, and ginger.

Why were vegetables considered peasant food in the Middle Ages?

Vegetables were considered peasant food because they were cheap and commonly eaten by the lower classes, while the wealthy preferred meats and more expensive ingredients.

What fruits were commonly eaten in the southern part of Europe during the Middle Ages?

In the south of Europe, common fruits included pomegranates, lemons, bitter oranges, and grapes.

What fruits were more common in northern Europe during the Middle Ages?

In northern Europe, fruits like apples, pears, plums, and strawberries were more common.

How did people drink in the Middle Ages when clean water was scarce?

Due to the scarcity of clean water, most people drank up to a gallon of beer or wine every day.

What seasonings were popular among the wealthy in the Middle Ages?

Black pepper, vinegar, saffron, and ginger were common seasonings for the upper class.

How did the poor people get their protein in the Middle Ages?

The poor mostly relied on cheese as their primary source of animal protein, with varieties like parmesan and brie being common.

Why was almond milk so popular during the Middle Ages?

Almond milk was popular because cow's milk was less common and spoiled quickly. Almonds were also used as a thickener in soups, stews, and sauces.

How many calories did monks consume on a daily basis in the Middle Ages?

Monks consumed about 6,000 calories a day during normal times and around 4,500 calories when they were fasting.

Why were the common people in the Middle Ages thin compared to the wealthy?

The common people were thin because although they consumed about 4,000 calories a day, they burned much more through manual labor, while the wealthy and monks consumed higher-calorie diets, leading to obesity.

What was considered a virtue for the wealthy in the Middle Ages?

Plumpness was considered a virtue for the wealthy in the Middle Ages, as it signified abundance and good health.