what foods did the pilgrims eat?

Question

Anyone know some Colonial foods and easy recipes for a 5th grade class to make ?

Answer 1

What foods topped the table at the first harvest feast? Historians aren't completely certain about the full bounty, but it's safe to say the pilgrims weren't gobbling up pumpkin pie or playing with their mashed potatoes. Following is a list of the foods that were available to the colonists at the time of the 1621 feast. However, the only two items that historians know for sure were on the menu are venison and wild fowl, which are mentioned in primary sources. The most detailed description of the "First Thanksgiving" comes from Edward Winslow from A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 1621:

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, among other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed upon our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakersof our plenty.

Did you know that lobster, seal and swans were on the Pilgrims' menu?

Perhaps your class might want to stick with the traditional foods... turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy... and don't forget the cranberry sauce.

More Meat, Less Vegetables
Our modern Thanksgiving repast is centered around the turkey, but that certainly wasn't the case at the pilgrims's feasts. Their meals included many different meats. Vegetable dishes, one of the main components of our modern celebration, didn't really play a large part in the feast mentality of the seventeenth century. Depending on the time of year, many vegetables weren't available to the colonists.

The pilgrims probably didn't have pies or anything sweet at the harvest feast. They had brought some sugar with them on the Mayflower but by the time of the feast, the supply had dwindled. Also, they didn't have an oven so pies and cakes and breads were not possible at all. The food that was eaten at the harvest feast would have seemed fatty by 1990's standards, but it was probably more healthy for the pilgrims than it would be for people today. The colonists were more active and needed more protein. Heart attack was the least of their worries. They were more concerned about the plague and pox.

I've included a link below that has Colonial recipes from Williamsburg, VA

Answer 2

The Pilgrims had good taste - they did not eat that horrible Turkey Board which noone knows how to cook correctly. The Pilgrims ate Roast Venison and Boiled Lobster -
a much more gourmet meal.

Answer 3

Actually the first pilgrims didn't eat turkey, that's a falsehood. They ate deer and lobster, acorns and pumpkins, Indian corn and grapes to name a few.

The history channel has a bunch of good info on the subject.

Answer 4

i do hope your class has learned that there were no pilgrims at the first thanksgving...it was held before the pilgrims ever left england! the real first thanksgiving was in virginia-at a place known as berkley plantation in what is now charles city county!

Answer 5

The pilgirms had many foods to eat. Some of which a fifth grade class can make. A good one would be pumpkin pie or possibly pumpkin pudding. They may not have had pie back then but they did have pumpkin pudding.

Answer 6

I just typed colonial food in Google search bar - lots of links...

Answer 7

Turkey yams corn rolls

Answer 8

cornbread, spanish rice, or stew. stuff like that is fun to make. you could go to a library and find a good book on recipes.

Answer 9

Turkey, cornbread, dressing, & mashed potatoes.

Answer 10

It was a pot luck. Probably store-brand Oreos and KFC takeout.