Inside King Charles' diet including dairy-free days and anti-inflammatory superfoods
King Charles III’s weekly diet isn’t as extravagant or indulgent as you may suspect, with the British monarch electing to sip on hot tea, eat fungi and stave off one popular dessert item.
The 77-year-old, who recently took part in an afternoon tea service at the British Embassy in Washington, is known for his adoration for lamb and his dislike of waste.
According to Tom Parker Bowles, the eldest son of Queen Camilla and her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, his stepfather and mother also enjoy going foraging for mushrooms together.
Similarly, Darren McGrady, a culinary expert who has cooked for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales, said Charles ‘loves’ to eat the wild fungi.
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“He loves wild mushrooms and would take his chefs to Balmoral to show them where the best mushrooms are. We brought them back to Buckingham Palace, and they were the most amazing porcini mushrooms,” he said, as per the Daily Record.
Mushrooms, considered by many to be a ‘superfood’, are a good source of fibre and can decrease the risk of cancer while promoting lower cholesterol, protecting brain health, and lowering sodium intake, as per UCLA Health.
Here are some other dietary staples that Charles loves to eat and items that he often turns his nose up at.
Oily fish indulgence is occasional
In his cookbook, Eating Royally, McGrady said that Charles had a love for fishing and that freshly caught salmon was often ‘grilled, poached, or broiled’ before being served on a silver platter by the Buckingham Palace kitchen.
It’s also previously been recorded that the father-of-two enjoyed mackerel.
However, the fish has recently been pulled from Waitrose shelves due to overfishing concerns, with herring, sardines, and mussels touted as better alternatives.
Oily fish are usually rich in omega-3 fatty acids, widely recognised for their anti-inflammatory properties and ability to reduce blood pressure.
Dairy-free days are a regular occurrence
In an interview with the BBC, Charles admitted that he often has one dairy-free day per week.
Eliminating dairy from your diet can help manage allergies and lactose intolerance symptoms, alongside potentially improving acne by decreasing oil production, as per experts at Health.
Going dairy-free may help to ease bloating and other digestive issues, especially for those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
However, lots of dairy products, including cows milk, contain essential vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and vitamins B12 and D.
So if you do decide to take a leaf out of King Charles’ book, you need to be aware that you will be losing essential nutrients if you don’t replace them.
The King doesn’t like to eat chocolate
During his recent state visit to the White House, Charles was served a chocolate-based dessert shaped like a beehive by Melania Trump’s kitchen staff.
However, according to McGrady, the monarch isn’t overly fond of the good stuff.
He siad that Charles was ‘not a great lover of chocolate’ - but his wife was.
“The Queen loves chocolate. Anything with chocolate on the menu, Camilla will love,” he told Fox News Digital.
According to Graham Tinsley, former manager of the Welsh Culinary Team, Charles doesn't like to eat coffee, nor does he like garlic.
"We do have to consider these things when we're creating a menu for him," he told Hello! Magazine.
He added that he also 'requires a side salad for every meal', featuring a coddled egg, peeled and hidden beneath salad leaves.
King Charles reaches for green tea
Green tea is reportedly high on King Charles’ list, with benefits including weight management, anti-inflammatory properties and providing a midday energy boost, as per Healthline.
However, the British icon has strict rules when it comes to others brewing his drinks.
Back in 2020, Evan Samson, Hospitality Manager of Dumfries House, said: "The key is to use loose tea and a teapot - one teaspoon of tea leaves per teacup plus an extra one for the pot.
"The water must be heated to 70°C for green tea and 100°C for Earl Grey or English breakfast tea. The temperature of the water must be measured with a thermometer.”
No food is ever to be thrown out
Parker Bowles wrote in his Cooking And The Crown book that Charles detests food waste.
"There is no waste, everything is recycled, everything is used from the table.
“If anything is left over from the dinner, that will be made into something else or appear the next day,” he wrote, as per The Mirror.
“Nothing's allowed to be thrown out.”
Royal author Richard Fitzwilliams has also previously discussed Charles’ love for recyling.
“King Charles is a huge fan of recycling and upcycling, and he has a strict no-waste policy. If things can be used again, they will,” he said.
Ella Scott