The Foods Queen Elizabeth II Almost Never Ate

Queen Elizabeth II didn't make it to the ripe age of 96 by playing it fast and loose with her diet. The late monarch, who died following seven decades of service to the United Kingdom, lived a life structured by customs, requirements, and rules bestowed both by and upon the royal institution. It only makes sense that the queen would have applied similarly strict principles to her health, particularly her diet.

Firstly, it's important to note that the queen didn't deprive herself of her favorite foods. She was reportedly a "chocoholic," former royal chef Darren McGrady told The Telegraph. In fact, her absolute favorite chocolate treat was a confection known as chocolate biscuit cake, McGrady revealed to Hello! Magazine. This dessert choice was especially fitting for the health-conscious queen, as the dark chocolate included in the recipe is considered to pack the most health benefits of any of its sweet brethren. Per Healthline, high-quality dark chocolate is rich in minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, and it's believed to have a positive impact on cholesterol and blood pressure levels. 

However significant the late queen's sweet tooth was, though, the vast majority of her dietary decisions were logical and strict to the nth degree. Some of her choices were based on science, but Queen Elizabeth II also had an interesting roster of foods that she simply didn't care for. Some of them might surprise you!

The global pizza industry was worth upwards of $160 billion in 2020, according to restaurant industry experts at Aaron Allen, but Her Majesty the Queen was not contributing to that number. In fact, former royal chef Darren McGrady told Us Weekly that during his 15-year tenure whipping up meals for HRH, she never indulged in the Italian favorite. However, when he moved to Kensington Palace, he made a variety of pizzas on the regular for the future king, Prince William. 

Another commonly used ingredient that the queen (and as a result, the rest of the royal family) steered clear of is garlic, The National Post reported. This is because their responsibilities require frequent interaction with dignitaries and other important types, so one wouldn't want to risk the "royal burp," according to her former chef John Higgins. Onions also reportedly fall on the list of foods to avoid for the same reason. The omission of these aromatic ingredients makes perfect sense for someone in her position. It simply wouldn't do to have bad breath when interacting with some of the world's most powerful and influential people!

Ever the trendsetter, apparently, the queen was all about the keto diet before it was fashionable. Darren McGrady told The Telegraph that Queen Elizabeth shunned all forms of carbohydrates from royal meals, including starches like potatoes, pasta, and rice. Instead, she preferred the majority of her dinners to be composed of lean chicken or fish, along with multiple helpings of vegetables or salads.

Anyone familiar with the queen never expected to see her manhandling a hamburger or hot dog at even the most casual of cookouts. McGrady spilled the tea to Insider that the Queen never ate a hamburger with a bun, as she was raised to only eat foods requiring a knife and fork (besides dainty sandwiches at afternoon tea, of course). He attributed this to her strict "Victorian upbringing," which, among other rules, requires that people not eat "too much or too little." Some Victorian etiquette rules make sense today, as it's still ill-advised for one to pick their teeth at the table or chew with their mouth open.

Perhaps the most peculiar food serving style avoided by the queen were any sandwiches served "with points." This is because sandwiches are traditionally served to the royals "rounded off," rather than cut into squares or triangles. This practice harkens back to old-timey lore, which holds that anyone who serves sandwiches with corners is trying to "overthrow the throne," per Real Royalty. Who knew such sinister suggestions could be made using bread? Apparently, the queen did, as she never ate square sandwiches.

Any royal chef with intel into the queen's culinary habits also knew that her majesty shunned convention as related to the presentation of red meat (she preferred venison to beef, by the way). Although most chefs would agree that overcooking beef is among the worst mistakes you can make when cooking steak, McGrady said in a video for Delish that the queen only took her steaks "well done." After all, it's not likely that anyone would ever call her out for preferring an overcooked steak because what the queen wanted, the queen got.