Medieval Daily Meals

 

Medieval Daily Meals

 

Medieval Crusaders

Medieval Crusaders

Step back into history get Medieval facts and information about the types of food in Medieval Times

Medieval Daily Meals

  • Medieval Food, period, life, age and times
  • Medieval Food and Diet
  • Different types of Medieval Food
  • Foreign influences on Medieval Food
  • Medieval meals, cooking and Medieval recipes
  • Medieval Times - Medieval Daily Meals
  • Information for research into Medieval Food
  • Medieval Daily Meals

 

 

Medieval Daily Meals

Facts and interesting information about Medieval Food and meals,
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Medieval Daily Meals

Medieval Daily Meals
The quantity, quality and type of food consumed by Royalty and Nobility differed considerably from the diet of the Lower Classes. The number of courses and variety of Middle Ages foods consumed by the Upper Classes included ingredients which were far too expensive for the majority of English people. The nobility had acquired a taste for spicy and also sweet foods and they could afford the expensive spices and sugar required to create these exotic recipes. Both the Upper and Lower classes generally had three meals a day but the commoners obviously far less elaborate than the Upper Classes. Menus for the wealthy were extensive, but only small portions were taken. A  change in society emerged during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages when the travel prompted by the Crusades led to a new and unprecedented interest in beautiful objects and elegant manners. This change extended to food preparation and presentation resulting in fabulous food arrangements and exotic colors and flavorings.

Medieval Daily Meals
Royalty and the nobility would eat their food from silverware, and even gold dishes. Lower classes would eat their food from wooden or horn dishes. Every person had their own knife. Spoons were rarely used as any liquid food, such as soups, were drunk from a cup. Forks were introduced in the late 14th century. The kitchens in large houses or castles were usually situated some distance from the Great Hall and therefore food was often served cold. The number of daily meals eaten during the day by the Upper Classes were as follows:

  • Breakfast - Food and drink generally served between 6 -7
  • Dinner - Food and drink generally served at mid-morning between 12 - 2
  • Supper - Was a substantial meal and food and drink was generally served between 6 -7 and accompanied by various forms of entertainment

Medieval Daily Meals for the Upper Classes
The daily meals for the Upper Classes during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages provided a huge variety of different types of food. Vegetables were limited for the Upper Classes. Only Lords and Nobles were allowed to hunt deer, boar, hares and rabbits and these foods were therefore used in the daily meals of the nobility.  Food items which came from the ground were only are considered fit for the poor. Only vegetables such as rape, onions, garlic and leeks graced a Noble's table. A type of bread called Manchet, which was a bread loaf made of wheat flour, was consumed by the Upper classes. Food was highly spiced. These expensive spices consumed by the wealthy included Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Ginger, Saffron, Cardamon (aka Cardamom ), Coriander, Cumin, Garlic, Turmeric, Mace, Anise, Caraway and Mustard.

Medieval Daily Meals for the Lower Classes
The staple diet of the lower classes were bread, pottage ( a type of stew), dairy products such as milk and cheese products and meats such as beef, pork or lamb. The punishment for poaching could result in death or having hands cut off, so the Lower Classes would only poach if they were desperate. The Lower Classes ate rye and barley bread. The poor could not afford to buy the spices so enjoyed by the wealthy. Biscuits were invented by the Crusaders and these were eaten as a convenience food by the workers of the Middle Ages. The 'Ploughman's Lunch' of bread and cheese was also a staple diet of Lower Class workers. Communal ovens were available in villages for baking.

Fasting during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages
People of the Middle Ages were highly religious and at certain times the eating of meat was banned. This was not an occasional ban. Certain religious observances banned the eating of meat on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Meat was also banned during the religious seasons of Lent and Advent. Meat was also declined on the eves of many religious holidays. Fasting and abstaining from eating meat was practised for over half the days of the Medieval year.

Medieval Daily Meals
The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about Medieval times including Medieval Daily Meals. The Medieval Times Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts about the fascinating subject of the lives of the people who lived during the historical period of the Middle Ages. The content of this article on Medieval life and times provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history coursework.

 

 

Medieval Times - Medieval Daily Meals

  • Medieval Food, period, life, age and times
  • Medieval Food and Diet
  • Different types of Medieval Food
  • Foreign influences on Medieval Food
  • Medieval meals, cooking and Medieval recipes
  • Medieval Times - Medieval Daily Meals
  • Information for research into Medieval Food
  • Medieval Daily Meals

Helpful information for history courses and history coursework - Read History Books - Medieval Society - Realms - Medival - Lives - Medival Era and Period - Medieval Daily Meals - History - Foods - Meals - Cooking - Medieval Recipes - Spices - Information - Facts - Info - Medieval Period - Medieval - Middle Ages Food - Dark Ages - Information about Medieval Daily Meals - Medieval Daily Meals Facts - Medieval Daily Meals Info - Medieval Times - Medieval Daily Meals - Foods - Meals - Cooking - Medieval Recipes - Spices - Medival Era and Period - History Channel DVDs - Written By Linda Alchin