Easy Podcast: La dieta de los mayas

Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores, the Maya had a rich, balanced and diverse diet.

Maize, beans, chili peppers and squash formed the pillars of their diet, and their meals consisted mostly of stews and tamales prepared with local fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, chayotes, papayas, and pineapples.

Although Mayas had mostly a vegetarian diet, they also hunted and ate small animals such as armadillos, rabbits and a specific type of dog. Those settled along the coastline also added lobster, shrimp and other shellfish into their eating habits.

Click play to learn about the Mayan diet and how it continues to influence modern Mexican cuisine:

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