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The 35th President had a fondness for one item in particular.
In honor of Presidents Day, I started looking through the archives to see what kinds of foods our nation’s leaders liked to eat. The history of presidential food is vast and varied and full of fun anecdotes. For example, did you know that Thomas Jefferson’s enslaved cook, James Hemings, was the first American ever to train as a chef in France? This is where he learned how to make macaroni and cheese, which he brought back to Virginia and served frequently at Monticello.
Moving into the 20th century, it seems that a lot of presidents really enjoyed classic comfort foods as well. Franklin Roosevelt preferred a grilled cheese, and Eisenhower loved beef stew. And aside from Nixon’s affinity for cottage cheese, there is one presidential meal that sounds a lot like what I eat for lunch nearly everyday today—and that’s John F. Kennedy’s favorite lunch.
What was JFK’s favorite lunch?
According to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, the 35th President wasn’t a big eater. In fact, it says specifically that he was a “small eater” who often had to be reminded that it was time to eat dinner. Since my stomach starts growling every day at about 5 p.m. on the dot, I cannot relate!
But what I can relate to is his preferred lunch meal. He was described as a “soup, sandwich and fruit man.” While the type of meal changed every day, this combination was his go-to meal. And regardless, he ate soup nearly every day. His favorite soup was New England fish chowder, so he has always stayed true to his roots!
I think it’s a shame that JFK never got to experience Panera’s famous You Pick Two menu, because this seems like exactly the kind of meal deal he’d enjoy. I bet he would have absolutely loved eating some fish chowder out of a bread bowl. And on the rare occasions when he would have dessert, he would likely choose chocolate.
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