Eating habits Marble mortar and pestle.
During the first centuries of the history of Rome there was nothing notable about the food eaten by its citizens. There was not a wide variety of foodstuffs available and Roman cooking was based on local produce from the immediate area. Basic foods were wheat and olives. Pork was the most common meat and fish was eaten almost exclusively in coastal areas. The acceptance of new tastes and different eating habits was directly related to the economic standing of the citizens.