Meals differed by class.
Boston Public Library/Wikimedia Commons
Boston Public Library/Wikimedia Commons
For the upper class, the Victorian era was a time of indulgence, and their elaborate meals with many courses reflected this. There was a strong interest in exotic foods from the colonies, and products like pineapples and sugar-laden desserts were popular.
Meanwhile, those in the working class were forced to subsist on a simple diet based around staples like bread, potatoes, and tea. Advances in food preservation, like canning and refrigeration, also changed dietary habits around this time.