Meat was a staple of the Tudor diet, but it was only on rare occasions that people would eat beef, mutton or pork. These were expensive and reserved for special days, such as Christmas. Instead, people would eat cheaper meats such as venison, rabbit and poultry.
The poor would often eat salted fish, and there was a great variety of fish preserved in this manner. In country areas people could hunt small animals such as squirrels and rabbits, and eat birds like pigeons.
Bread and Cereals
Bread was the most important part of the Tudor diet. The poor ate a coarse rye bread, while the wealthy ate a finer wheat bread. Other grains were used to make porridge, stews and soups.
Vegetables
The Tudors ate a lot of vegetables, but they were usually boiled. Carrots, parsnips, turnips, cabbage and onions were all commonly eaten, as were peas and beans.
Fruit
Fruit was mostly available to the wealthy, as it had to be imported or preserved. Grapes, pears, apples, oranges and lemons were all popular, but the most commonly consumed fruit was probably figs.
Drinks
The main drink of the Tudors was ale, which was brewed in all households. Wealthier people also drank wine, but the Tudors did not drink spirits, as they were considered to be the food of the devil.
Spices
Spices were extremely expensive, and were used sparingly. They were thought to be very healthy and were used to prevent illness and cure sickness. Some of the spices used by the Tudors included ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and mace.