What do the Romans eat for breakfast lunch and dinner?

It's difficult to give a definitive answer to what Romans ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because their diets varied based on factors like:

* Social class: The wealthy Romans enjoyed a far more diverse and abundant diet than the poor.

* Location: Coastal communities ate more fish, while inland regions relied more on grains and livestock.

* Time period: Dietary habits changed over time, with the Roman Republic having different eating customs than the Roman Empire.

However, we can make some generalizations about their meals:

Breakfast:

* For the wealthy: A light meal, often consisting of bread, olives, cheese, and perhaps some fruit or eggs. They might also drink wine diluted with water.

* For the poor: Often limited to just bread or porridge.

Lunch (prandium):

* For the wealthy: Usually the main meal of the day, eaten around midday. It would include a variety of dishes, such as meats (beef, pork, poultry), fish, vegetables, legumes, and grains.

* For the poor: Similar to breakfast, with a focus on simple bread and perhaps some leftovers from the previous night's dinner.

Dinner (cena):

* For the wealthy: A more elaborate meal than lunch, often eaten later in the evening. It might include elaborate meat dishes, seafood, salads, fruit, and desserts.

* For the poor: Similar to lunch, with a focus on simple bread and perhaps some lentils or beans.

Some common Roman foods:

* Bread: A staple of all classes, made from wheat or barley flour.

* Pulses: Lentils, beans, and chickpeas were common and cheap sources of protein.

* Vegetables: Onions, garlic, leeks, cabbage, turnips, and carrots were all popular.

* Fruit: Grapes, apples, pears, figs, dates, and olives were frequently consumed.

* Meat: Beef, pork, lamb, goat, and poultry were all eaten, but more common among the wealthy.

* Fish: Consumed by those living near the coast, with tuna and mackerel being particularly popular.

* Eggs: A common source of protein for all classes.

* Cheese: Made from goat, sheep, or cow milk.

* Wine: Drank diluted with water, often at meals.

Note: The Roman diet was relatively healthy and varied, with a focus on whole grains, legumes, and fresh produce. However, it also included a significant amount of fat and salt, which may have contributed to some health problems.

It's important to remember that our understanding of ancient Roman diets is based on archaeological evidence and written accounts. These sources can be incomplete or biased, so it's impossible to know for sure what every Roman ate on a daily basis.