{"id":1378,"date":"2023-02-25T10:30:28","date_gmt":"2023-02-25T09:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=1378"},"modified":"2023-02-25T10:30:28","modified_gmt":"2023-02-25T09:30:28","slug":"what-did-the-poor-ancient-romans-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-did-the-poor-ancient-romans-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"What did the poor ancient romans eat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ancient Romans were a poor people. They ate mostly bread and vegetables. Sometimes they had meat, but it was usually very tough and not very tasty.<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans were not a wealthy society, so the poor would have eaten simple meals consisting of grains and beans, with the occasional piece of meat or fish. There was no refrigeration, so food was preserved by pickling, salting, or smoking.<\/p>\n

What foods did the poor ancient Romans eat? <\/h2>\n

Poor people typically ate a simple porridge known as puls, made from boiled grains (spelt, millet, or wheat), which could be livened up with herbs and vegetables.<\/p>\n

The Roman diet was simple but effective. They ate a variety of foods that provided them with the nutrients they needed to stay healthy and active. bread and wheat were the staples of their diet, and they supplemented these with other foods like dates, honey, fish, meat, and vegetables. The leftovers from their meals were often used to make the next day’s meal, ensuring that nothing went to waste.<\/p>\n

What did Roman peasants eat <\/h3>\n
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The Romans were a people who primarily ate cereals and legumes. These were usually accompanied by sides of vegetables, cheese, or meat. The food was often covered with sauces made out of fermented fish, vinegar, honey, and various herbs and spices.<\/p>\n

Pork was the most popular meat in ancient Rome, followed by seafood, game, and poultry. Beef was less common, as it was more expensive and not as widely available.<\/p>\n

How many meals did poor Romans eat in a day? <\/h2>\n

The Romans generally ate one main meal (the cena) a day, around sunset. Originally this was eaten around midday, preceded by a light meal, often just a piece of bread, early in the morning. This was called ientaculum (or breakfast). Supper or vesperna was a smaller meal in the evening.<\/p>\n

The core staples for slaves were low-quality bread and cheap wine, but was also supplemented by average fruits and vegetables, as well as soups, stews, and other hot meals. This diet was not adequate to maintain good health, and many slaves were malnourished.<\/p>\n

What did poor Romans eat for lunch? <\/h2>\n
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As you might expect, the poor people in Rome did not eat the same food as the wealthy. The main food of the poor was a porridge call “puls”. Puls was made by mixing ground wheat and water. Sometimes they might get some vegetables or fruit to eat with their puls. The poor ate very little meat.<\/p>\n

Did you know pizza took the United States by storm before it became popular in its native Italy? Pizza has a long history. Flatbreads with toppings were consumed by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks (The latter ate a version with herbs and oil, similar to today’s focaccia).<\/p>\n

Why did the Romans only eat one meal a day <\/h3>\n

It is interesting to note that the Romans believed that eating only one meal a day was healthier. This was likely due to their obsession with digestion and their belief that eating more than one meal was a form of gluttony. This thinking impacted the way people ate for a very long time.<\/p>\n

A typical breakfast for a Roman looks like a quick coffee and a pastry, eaten standing at the bar. A frothy cappuccino and a warm cornetto is the most common combination. Italian cornetti are sweeter than French croissants and come vuoto (plain) or filled with jam, custard or Nutella.