What did merchants eat?

It's impossible to give a definitive answer to what merchants ate because:

* Merchants existed across time periods and cultures. A merchant in ancient Rome ate differently than one in 18th century England, who ate differently than a modern-day merchant in India.

* Merchants were a diverse group. Some were wealthy and could afford delicacies, while others were struggling to make ends meet and ate simpler meals.

* Food availability varied greatly. This depended on location, climate, and economic factors.

To give you a more helpful response, please tell me:

* What time period are you interested in?

* What geographic location are you interested in?

* What type of merchant are you interested in? (e.g., wealthy merchant, traveling merchant, etc.)

With more information, I can provide a more specific and accurate answer about what merchants ate.