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The
Middle Ages for Kids
Medieval Foods
and Feasts
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On the manors, most peasants had ample food, prepared simply. After a long day of hard work, people ate quickly and then slept. But they did not go hungry. It was important to the manor to keep peasants healthy so they could work. For most nobles, dinner was an elaborate affair. Several dishes were served includes game, fish, vegetables, fruit, and deserts. Foods were sweetened with honey. Spoons and forks were not used. Instead, people used their fingers and knives. Things could get pretty messy. Scholars are still arguing whether or not they used napkins. If the nobles had guests for dinner, they would hire entertainers - minstrels, magicians, jugglers - or perhaps one person would perform several feats. Although both peasants and nobles on the manors had ample food, they had limited understanding of how to prepare food safely. For example, people handled cattle and then directly handled food. The peasants slept and worked in the same clothes for days and even weeks at a time without washing themselves or their clothes. The need to wash their hands before they prepared food did not seem important to them. The nobles were not much better. Toothpaste and toothbrushes did not exist in Medieval Europe. After a meal, nobles used watered spices on their lips, but all that did was briefly hide the smell of rotting teeth. Only the strong survived in Medieval Europe. But the people did have a strong code of behavior. Long after the Middle Ages were over, a book was published, called the Babees Book. It lists the customs and manners of the Middle Ages. It's truly interesting. If you would like to take a look, click here: Babees Book.
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