Without a doubt, ancient Egyptians ate better than today’s populace. That’s because back then food didn’t have preservatives, trans-fat, and artificial flavorings. Ancient Egyptians were healthy and fit, which is evident from the murals and sculptures that depict them.

photo from The Critical Thinking Consortium

Food has changed dramatically since the Ancient Egyptian times. Just take a look at the grocery items at supermarkets you visit. Most of the food items shelved at today’s groceries are full of things that are generally bad for you. Even our breakfasts are full of oils and preservatives (even our favorite beef franks, chicken tocino and hash browns), which aren’t particularly great to consume first thing in the morning.

So what did Ancient Egyptians eat that made them physically and mentally fit? According to research, here are some of the staple foods that both the elite and commoners ate, which we Filipinos can incorporate in our diet.

Bread and Cereal

Surprisingly, cereals date back as far as Ancient Egyptian times. Cereal-based food items formed the backbone of Egyptians’ diet, giving them strength throughout the day. They also ate bread but not the white bread that we commonly see in the local supermarket. Their bread was made of wheat and not using all-purpose flour. This article from the Huffington Post, along with many other health experts, agree that wheat is healthier than all-purpose flour.

Bread was cooked using an open fire so it definitely tasted different compared to the ones that can be bought at our favorite bakeshops. Before baking, Egyptians first wiped away the fat from baked goods, making them much healthier to eat.

Vegetables

Both the elite and commoners consumed vegetables. Egyptians ate beans, lentils, and chickpeas. Leeks and lettuce were also popular back then, as well as garlic, which was eaten in large amounts and thought to be medicinal. According to Natural Society, garlic is great at fighting bacteria and viruses, and Ancient Egyptians knew this back then and utilized it in their favor.

Meat and Fish

Historians have pointed out over time that meat and fish was only consumed by the rich Egyptians and was rarely eaten by the average local. Duck, geese, quail, as well as cranes were the most popular forms of meat eaten by the Ancient Egyptians.

It’s a different story today, where the most popular form of meat is chicken, that the Heart Organization says is healthier than other popular meats such as pork and beef. As for fish, because it was so abundant in the harbor towns, they regularly ate it apart from species like Phragus and Lepidotus, which were both considered sacred.

Most meat and fish back then were roasted or boiled. Oil was never used in cooking them. Filipinos love to eat fried food but it’s actually very unhealthy. If you really want to fried chicken, perhaps it’s better if you’ll use virgin coconut oil to lessen the fat content or use an air fryer.

Seasonings and Sweeteners

Salt was mostly used as seasoning back then. Pepper, on the other hand, only appeared during the period where the Greeks reigned in Egypt.

The Egyptians mostly used the following to season their food: cinnamon, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, marjoram, mustard and thyme. They also didn’t use sugar back then and instead used honey to sweeten food. If you do decide to bake breads like pan de sal, follow the Egyptians and use honey. It’s much better than white or brown sugar.

Egyptian culture lasting the test of time

Ancient Egypt’s customs and culture remain popular today due to the fact that they’ve spearheaded a lot of things. They engineered pyramids that are so perfect nobody knows actually how ancient people were able to construct them. They also created much of the make up we still see used today, and an ancient form of writing called hieroglyphs that is still understood by historians to this day. Senet, which is an ancient game that involves sticks and boards, was used as the basis for many board games that are sold currently. And last but not least, Cleopatra – the last active pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt and icon for health, beauty, and her brain – was Ancient Egypt’s most popular female figure depicted in many plays and cartoons. Cleopatra is also a popular icon in online games where her star power has been used by many operators because of her sheer popularity and iconic standing.

To Filipino health enthusiasts, Egypt should serve as an example. Their diet consists of simple proteins and vegetables, which are keys to a healthier life.

Want a change in lifestyle? Adopting this minimalistic and organic approach to nutrition could help you change for the better.

To learn more about the food of Ancient Egyptians, including their whole culture, you may watch the documentary below.