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United States Founding Father Benjamin Franklin next to a platter of French food resembling his daily diet
Today we are taking a look at the life of Benjamin Franklin who was the former President of Pennsylvania, when that was still an official title. This Founding Father of America came from humble beginnings but went on to amass a fortune large enough to retire by the age of 42, and that shift in lifestyle certainly shaped Benjamin Franklin’s diet
A 5’9″ and weighing an estimated 220lbs, Benjamin Franklin certainly packed on the food. He is said to have a “wrestler’s body” as a young man but later in life suffered from kidney stones and gout due in large part to his eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. All of that is to say, eating like Benjamin Franklin did each day may not be advised but we are here to break down what his diet looked like in a typical 24-hour span
Could You Eat Founding Father Benjamin Franklin’s Diet For A Day?
Earlier this week, we examined the daily diet of George Washington, America’s first president. That was such a popular article with the readers I wanted to run it back today with another Founding Father albeit one who was never President of the United States despite being the face on the $100 bill
In another recent Cookin’ With Congress video from Bennett Rea where he spends 24 hours eating historically accurate diets of famous figures, he tackles Benjamin Franklin’s diet. Here is what it would look like from sun up to sun down
Breakfast for Benjamin Franklin started off with an inordinate amount of tea. He would down four cups of tea with breakfast along with coffee, cream, hot bread topped with butter and honey, and Hung Beef. For those unfamiliar, Hung Beef is a salted/dried/cured meat similar to pastrami and it was a staple in Benjamin Franklin’s breakfast every morning
Lunch? No time for that. Benjamin Franklin was a busy man. While he never filed for a single patent because he believed others should benefit from his ideas, Franklin created a revolutionary stove in 1742, the lightning rod in 1750, bifocal glasses in 1784, and many other inventions throughout his years. So there was no time for lunch of course
What About Supper?
‘Supper’ is when Benjamin Franklin’s diet was really amped up. There is an urban legend that Franklin was a lifelong vegetarian. That is not correct. He was a vegetarian beginning around 16 years old but abandoned that after a few years and that’s where we pick up Benjamin Franklin’s diet for supper
While living in France (1776-1785), Benjamin Franklin’s diet was rich with meats. He was a huge fan of steak, duck breast, and more. In a typical day’s supper, he might eat Steak, Duck Breast with a Cherry Gastrique, Leek Gruyere pastry, Parmesan Soufflé, and carrots for good measure. We’re talking three full plates of meat and pastries for Supper. Who needs lunch when you pack in 2K+ calories in the evening?!
As for drink, Benjamin Franklin’s diet wasn’t too heavy on the booze. He would typically have 1-2 glasses of wine with dinner as was the custom in France at the time. He would never drink enough to “dull his senses, or reach elevation, or get haunted with evil spirits.” Meanwhile, the other founding fathers were back in America downing booze by the barrel
What about dessert??
For dessert, Benjamin Franklin would eat seasonal fare. In Summer, for dessert he would take down four different types of fruit, “apples and cranberries were his favorite”
Benjamin Franklin would also indulge in compotes/jams, fine French cheese, and he would have rich French-style ice cream several nights a week. The dessert alone could fill a charcuterie board with the cheese, fruit, and compote. Tack on the ice cream and that’s a meal in and of itself
One dish not mentioned here that was a favorite of Benjamin Franklin’s is sardines. You can whip that recipe up pretty easily by following these directions:
So what do you think, could you eat like Benjamin Franklin for 24 hours? I’d struggle with tackling his dinner portions but aside from that I think I could do it. What about you? Let us know down below in the comment section!
