The Medieval Menu: A Study of the Church’s Impact on Dining Practices
During the medieval era, the Roman Church, Europe’s preeminent legal authority, wielded significant influence over the diets of the time. Its liturgical calendar dictated strict dietary rules, particularly regarding the practice of fasting. During these periods, the consumption of animal products, including cheese and eggs or any food containing them, was strictly forbidden. However, fish remained an acceptable dietary choice. Fasting was observed during Lent and Advent, on all Wednesdays and Fridays, the eve of most Holy Days, and in some regions, Saturdays too. On specific days such as Good Friday, fasting was so stringent that only one meal was consumed during the entire day. Interestingly, these fasting rules didn’t extend to beer or wine. Additionally, most fruits and bread-based foods were not subject to any restrictions, allowing for some reprieve in the otherwise austere fasting periods.
On non-fasting days, the church’s doctrines still held sway over eating habits. A certain moral code discouraged individuals from indulging in breakfast too soon after waking up – a directive more feasible for the affluent and the clergy than the working-class folks. Throughout the Middle Ages, the ill and the young were exempted from fasting restrictions. However, most children, save for infants, were compelled to adhere to these dietary constraints due to economic conditions, particularly in impoverished and laboring households where meals were not always readily available. The church consistently cautioned against the sin of gluttony, an admonition that seemed somewhat ironic considering the lavish feasts frequently hosted by popes, high-ranking ecclesiastical dignitaries, and bishops during that period.