Ancient Greek Food

Alessio Sarraf

Dave Whitson

Humanities 9 R

12/3/09

Ancient Greek Food

In classical Greece, food was an important part of life. Around 500 B.C. the Greeks diets consisted of healthy meals. Their food was raised in rocky terrains of Greece. Depending on their life style, different foods were eaten by the rich, the lower class and athletes. Most Greeks kept a healthy way of eating food.

The Greek athletes ate much differently than other Greeks. They ate a huge amount of meat in their heavy diet. The athletes usually ate pork and other rich meat to fill their strong appetite. The need to have protein to build muscles and carbohydrates to have energy was extremely important. Fish was the main source of protein for athletes so they would have good stamina. Once they became an Olympic athlete, they no longer had to depend on eating bread, fruits, and vegetables. Food was essential to the athletes of Greece.

The privileged in ancient Greece had more options to better foods. The wealthier Greeks would mostly eat lamb, pork, olives, and cheese. A minor cereal was a basic food in ancient Greece, especially for the Athenians. The cereals were mostly made from wheat. “The two most common cereals in ancient Greece were einkorn and emmer.” (Joan P. Alcock). The Greeks also ate barley and used olive oil in their foods. For lunch the Greeks would eat bread dipped into wine. Olives were also a huge part of the Greeks’ food diet. Supper was the main meal of each day, consisting of fruits, fish, vegetables, and honey cakes. The wealthy class enjoyed an abundant amount of food.

The lower class didn’t have much money to eat meals so they lived on little food. They mainly ate maza which is a type of bread that was created at the bakery. Beef and pork were only available during religious festivals. During the festivals, the cows and pigs were sacrificed to the gods. Then the meet was cooked and passed out to the people. Many meals were without wine because it was too expensive. Although the poor Greeks didn’t eat well, they were able to survive.

Today, many of the recipes and traditions we know of came from ancient Greece. Greek food has been popular all the way back to ancient times. There was a distinct difference between the classes of people as to what they were able to eat. “The elite ate more and better food than the poorer classes.” (Joan P. Alcock). Even though the wealthy people enjoyed elaborate food, the lower class was able to eat as well. Food was a time of celebration, and all Greeks celebrated life no matter what they ate.