Tag: Roman diet

According to the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, butter was considered the "choicest food among barbarian tribes," reflecting a widespread Roman prejudice against certain dairy products. The question, 'Did Romans eat dairy?' reveals a complex story, distinguishing between their love for aged cheeses and their surprising disdain for fresh milk and butter.

While archaeological evidence shows that the Roman diet was primarily plant-based, did the ancient Romans eat meat is a question with a complex answer. Meat was a marker of wealth and status, enjoyed frequently by the elite and only occasionally by the poor. This class divide shaped everything from the type of animals consumed to the ways they were prepared.

Archaeological findings from Roman settlements like Pompeii offer incredible insight into the daily lives of ancient people, providing clear answers to the question: what food does Roman eat?. The diet was a complex mosaic of social class, regional variation, and seasonal availability, revealing a cuisine far more diverse than often imagined.

Based on archaeological evidence, early hunter-gatherer diets were much more varied and plant-rich than traditionally portrayed, often including wild grains and legumes. This discovery leads many to ask: what was the healthiest ancient diet, and what lessons can we apply today?