kiboka/iStock/Getty Images

The diet of medieval peasants differed greatly from that of the modern American eater. Although there's no denying modern diets allow us better access to energy and nutrition, books such as "Greek Revival" and "In Defense of Food" put forth the idea that we would be healthier if we took a page or two from our ancestors' peasant cookbook.

Caloric Intake

In general, the medieval peasant had much greater caloric needs than modern man. According to research published at Eastern Kentucky University, an average medieval person burned between 4,000 and 5,000 calories per day, as compared the USDA recommendation of 2,000 for modern Americans. A typical diet for peasants delivered between 3,500 and 4,500 calories, about or just under the need. Americans typically eat 3,000 to 3,500 daily calories -- more than 150 percent what they burn through the day.

Kinds of Food

Peasant diets were simple and repetitive, consisting of bread and cheese, some protein and whatever vegetables were in season. Noticeably missing were cooking oils, sweets and refined grains -- all foods frowned on by the modern nutrition establishment.

Nutrition

Although the peasant diet was healthy in terms of avoiding unusually unhealthy foods, the unvaried foods available often resulted in health problems. Winters, with a lack of fresh fruit and vegetables, often included cases of boils, rickets and scurvy as a result of going too long without vitamin C, vitamin E and other basic dietary nutrients.

Drinking

Ale, beer and wine were regular table beverages during medieval times, because local water sources were often not safe to drink from. Although drinking as much as three pints of ale every day risked certain health problems of its own, that paled in comparison to the real risks of dysentery and cholera present in the water supply.

Modern Peasant Eating