Learnings: Nutrition on Board

A fresh meal in reconstituted wares between two crossings / Contemporary

Water and sometimes alcohol were the first provisions to be brought on board. Generally, the sailor's diet revolved around non-perishable foods such as hard bread, dried fish, or dried meat. Perishable items such as fruits or vegetables were added to the menu when possible. However, they spoiled quickly, and could only be replenished where stocks of such supplies existed; in other words, where sailors could find them in nearby settlements or by foraging on the land.

On short sea or river routes, sailors would go ashore to fill up on food. Since cooking with fire was possible on land, the crew could enjoy a good, hot and fresh meal like the one depicted here. On the high seas, however, the reality was quite different.