{"id":1799,"date":"2023-03-02T01:32:03","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T00:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=1799"},"modified":"2023-03-02T01:32:03","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T00:32:03","slug":"did-the-ancient-romans-eat-potatoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/did-the-ancient-romans-eat-potatoes\/","title":{"rendered":"Did the ancient romans eat potatoes?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ancient Romans are known for their many contributions to civilization, including their impressive engineering feats and impressive literary works. However, one aspect of Roman life that is often overlooked is their diet. While the ancient Romans did not eat potatoes, they did enjoy a variety of other fruits and vegetables. The ancient Romans also had a taste for meat, which they typically cooked in a simple manner. This healthy and hearty diet was one of the reasons that the Roman Empire was able to thrive for so many centuries.<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans did not eat potatoes.<\/p>\n

What did Romans eat instead of potatoes? <\/h2>\n

The Mediterranean diet is typically high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil, and low in meat and dairy. This diet has been associated with many health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.<\/p>\n

Roman delicacies were snails and dormice. The Romans also liked pastries and tarts, sweetened with honey. Vegetables, which formed an important part of the diet, included cabbage, parsnips, lettuce, asparagus, onions, garlic, radishes, lentil, beans and beets.<\/p>\n

What food did the ancient Romans not eat <\/h3>\n
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The expansion of the Roman Empire led to the introduction of new fruits and vegetables to the Roman diet. These new foods included aubergines, peppers, courgettes, green beans, and tomatoes, which are now staples of Italian cooking. The introduction of these new foods allowed the Romans to diversify their diet and enjoy a wider variety of flavors and textures.<\/p>\n

The Roman diet was based on grains, legumes, vegetables, eggs, and cheeses. Fruit and honey were used for sweetness, and meat (mostly pork) and fish were used sparingly. As the empire expanded beginning in the 3rd century BC, Romans welcomed new flavours from India and Persia.<\/p>\n

Why did the French not eat potatoes? <\/h2>\n

The potato was introduced to Europe from South America by the Spanish in the 16th century. At first, the French considered potatoes to be the cause of leprosy. In fact, it was illegal to grow or eat potatoes in France between 1748 and 1772. However, eventually the French came to see the potato as a valuable food source and began to grow it themselves. Today, potatoes are a staple food in many parts of the world.<\/p>\n

Dinner consisted of three parts. The first course, called “gustum,” was the appetizer consisting of salads, eggs, cheeses with herbs, mushrooms, truffles, and various fruits. Next was the “mensa prima” (main course), which was a variety of meat, game, or fish. Most of those were served with sauce.<\/p>\n

Did Romans eat oatmeal? <\/h2>\n
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The Roman diet consisted of many staples, including wheat, barley, oats, rye, and millets. Among these staples, wheat and barley were the most common, and were used to make bread and porridge. Bread and porridge were the most common foods found in a Roman home.<\/p>\n

The Roman soldiers ate garlic and onions to give them strength. This was because the Roman’s would plant fields of garlic in conquered territories, perhaps to symbolize their dominance. In the middle-ages, onions were so important that they could be used to pay ones’ rent or given as gifts.<\/p>\n

Did the Romans eat pasta <\/h3>\n

Despite some similarities, the Romans ate neither pizza or pasta. That said, descriptions from ancient sources do reveal a popular food made from flour and water that, on the surface, resembles the ingredients for making pasta. At the risk of being pedantic, however, that is where the similarities end.<\/p>\n

Some of the foods that the Ancient Romans ate would seem strange to us today. At fancy banquets they sometimes ate things like flamingo’s tongues, roast peacock, and stewed snails. Perhaps the strangest thing they ate was dormice. Dormice were considered a delicacy and were sometimes eaten as appetizers.