I. Social Classes. A. Diet of a Peasant. 1. Peasants ate small portions of milk, whey, cheese, bacon, bread and peas. 2. The poor ate whatever they could grow or raise that they owned. a. The poorer peasants were going hungry because the prices of food kept getting higher. b. Poor people were allowed to raise their animals on common land. B. Diet of the Rich. 1. The rich ate varieties of the best bread, meat, and fish. 2. They ate 2-3 meals a day. a. At feasts they would try to impress by ordering the best foods. b. Wine was reserved for the rich/nobles to drink.
II. Royal Feasts. A. Food and Drink. 1. At feasts people would drink ale and wine heavily. 2. Delicate meats were served along with florentiens, jellies, and tarts. a. Swans and peacocks were served whole and their beaks were painted gold. B. Layout of Feasts. 1. Feasts were served as buffets or in a messe (meal for 2-4 people). 2. There would be music, dancing, bullbaiting, bearbaiting, and cockfights. a. Everyone would eat together. b. Children and women ate less than men.
III. Daily foods. A. Bread/Meats.