The Tudor diet

By Henry’s reign, the price of fresh meat had fallen sufficiently so that when it was available, the average Tudor family could afford it.

The century before, poorer families would have rarely enjoyed meat, eating a diet of stewed vegetables and pulses.

But the norm for ‘average’ people was stored or preserved meat – the luxury of the court was fresh meat.

Tudor courtiers enjoyed a much wide variety of food, with freshly, slaughtered, roasted meat every day and the luxury of being able to choose from a 'menu' of dishes.

Courtiers were served a menu of dishes containing around 5000 calories a day!