Cereals in the Pre-Industrial Diet. With the exception of a small elite throughout Europe, the overwhelming majority of the population before 1800 subsisted on diets far below current nutritional expectations. Nonetheless, purchases of food generally consumed more than half of the household budget, and cereals, principally wheat, were the staple of the diet. Bread—whether the preferred white bread made of wheat or darker, coarser breads made of rye, barley, buckwheat, or millet—was the least expensive source of calories for pre-industrial populations. Wine and beer were the predominant beverages, supplying 10 percent of daily caloric intake. Any surplus funds in the family budget usually were spent on more beer and wine rather than meat or vegetables (some of which were supplied by a small family garden).

Preserved and Processed Foods. The cereal-dominated diet was dramatically altered over the course of the...