Diet of Galician peasants in the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century Cover Image

Dieta chłopów galicyjskich w drugiej połowie XIX w. i na początku XX w.
Diet of Galician peasants in the second half of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century

Author(s): Piotr Franaszek
Subject(s): History, Economic history, Social history, Modern Age, Recent History (1900 till today), 19th Century, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919)
Published by: Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Galicia; peasants diet; vegetables and fruit; cereal products; meat and dairy; fats; condiments; beverages;

Summary/Abstract: From the beginning of the 19th century, Galician peasants, regardless of their wealth, most frequently ate potatoes. Their diet also incorporated cereal products, primarily bread. Legumes were the main source of protein, while cabbage – of vitamins. Galician peasants ate relatively little meat, dairy, and eggs. They most often drank water, while the most popular alcoholic beverage was vodka, which to a great extent resulted from the longlasting law of obligatory propination. Most of the peasant population living in Galicia at the turn of the 20th century suffered from chronic malnutrition. The amount and quality of the food consumed met only slightly over 50% of the energy requirement of a working man.

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 76
  • Page Range: 289-313
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Polish