{"id":4747,"date":"2023-04-07T02:08:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T01:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=4747"},"modified":"2023-04-07T02:08:22","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T01:08:22","slug":"what-food-did-the-ancient-rome-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-food-did-the-ancient-rome-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"What food did the ancient rome eat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The term “ancient Rome” can refer to the city of Rome, which was founded in 753 BC, or to the empire it ruled, which began in 27 BC. For the purposes of this essay, we will focus on the dietary habits of people living in the city of Rome during the height of the empire, from about the 1st to the 4th centuries AD.<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans were not vegetarians, but they were not big meat-eaters either. The average Roman probably consumed about two pounds of meat per day, which is less than half of what the average American consumes today. The most common meats eaten by the ancient Romans were pork, poultry, and beef. Mutton was also eaten, but was considered to be of lower quality. Fish was also a common part of the Roman diet, and was often seen as a cheaper and more plentiful alternative to meat.<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans were not above eating insects, either. Grasshoppers, locusts, and beetles were all considered to be delicacies, and were often served fried or roasted.<\/p>\n

Fruit and vegetables were an important part of the Roman diet as well. Common vegetables include cabbage, onions, garlic, leeks, and beans.<\/p>\n