Food in European Middle Ages

What do we understand by Medieval times?

What type of food did Europeans use to eat?

Did they eat very different things compared to present times?

What is the Medieval era?

It is a period of time between the Ancient times and the Modern era.

Aproximately, it begins in 476 AD, and lasts until 1453 AD

What is the Medieval era?

476 AD: The fall of the Western Roman Empire.

What is the Medieval Era?

1453 AD: Byzantium is conquered by the Ottoman Empire.

And what did people use to eat in the Medieval Era?

Peasants had a hard life

Sometimes, they didn't eat enough.

They very seldom ate meat.

Rich people ate too much

They usually ate too much protein and fat, because their meals consisted basically of meat.

So they often had health problems because they were too fat.

Look at these pictures, and guess if you think these foods or drinks were consumed in the Middle Ages.

Circle Y (yes) or N (no) on your paper

Did they eat ...?

POP CORN

Did they eat ...?

CHICKPEAS

Did they eat ...?

STRAWBERRIES

Did they eat ...?

CHICKEN

Did they eat ...?

PEPPERS

Did they eat ?

HOT DOGS

Did they drink ...?

ORANGE JUICE

Did they eat ...?

FRENCH FRIES (CHIPS)

Did they drink ...?

CHAMPAGNE

Did they eat ...?

WHEATBREAD

Did they eat ...?

CHOCOLATE

Did they eat ...?

KETCHUP

Well done!Now, compare your answers with your neighbour!

These foods were brought into Europe from America later

They were not eaten in the Middle Ages

However, these were essential for medieval people

Rich people usually ate

Meat:

LambPork (only Christians)PoultryVeal

They used several spices such as...

Pepper

Cinnamon

Cloves

Saffron

Ginger

Nutmeg

Fish

Fish was eaten widely

Mainly at lent time

They ate trout, sturgeons, eels,sole fish, cod, etc.

Vegetables were eaten every day

These were brought by Arabs into Europe

Now, you write two sentences like these:

Strawberries used to be eaten in the Middle Ages, but they didn't eat peppers at that time.

Poor people ate a lot of bread, because they couldn't afford to buy meat.