Ok…what exactly do those Elves inThe Lord of the Ringseat to become so tall and powerful? An odd question to wonder when considering the bulk ofJ.R.R. Tolkien’s stories focus on the journey, not what’s for dinner. However, knowing what types of foods different people groups favor is a fun way to immerse oneself deeper into the lore of what became one ofthe greatest cinematic franchises of all time.
Elves are among the coolest beings in LOTR,TheHobbittrilogy, and Prime Video’sThe Rings of Power. It’s eye-opening to break down even the tiniest details that distinguishTolkien’s beloved charactersfrom one another. While food isn’t essential to understanding Middle-earth’s history, dietary traditions in LOTR can help explain the dynamics between different beings fans have studied for years. That begs the question:Were the Elves vegetarians or not?
Peter Jackson’s Film Adaptions of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit’ Hint at Elves Being Vegetarian
Let’s just say Elves didn’t have second breakfast in the same style Bilbo Baggins did in the Shire. While there are very few scenes inPeter Jackson’s films that depict Elves sitting down for a hearty meal,there are hints that the Elven diet might have leaned towards vegetarianism.In The Lord of the Ringstrilogy, one of the Elvish foods often shown was lembas bread — a special waybread made by the Elves in the Undying Lands. This magical bread was mainly used when traveling long distances, with Legolas (Orlando Bloom) saying, “One bite can fill the stomach of a grown man.“Fans would likely remember Galadriel giving Frodo and Sam lembas in theTheFellowship of the Ringwhen they left Lothlórien. Although lembas bread was strictly a vegetarian food, accordingtoThe Peoples of Middle-earth, this doesn’t mean Elves were vegetarian.
The books do not go into great detail about what elsethe Elves of Lothlórienate, but given their woodland setting, they likely supplemented their diet with fruits, nuts, or possibly meat from animals they hunted.The idea that Elves might be vegetarian is a more modern interpretation, likely influenced by their deep connection with nature. In Jackson’s film adaptations, the Elves are ethereal and peaceful, which may lead audiences to link them with vegetarianism.
For example, during theRivendell dinner scene inThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Thorin and Company are invited to dine with Lord Elrond (Hugo Weaving). The meal presented to them seems to be only plant-based dishes, prompting the Dwarves to humorously ask “Where’s the meat?” But in reality,this portrayal was a creative choice by the production team, Weta Workshop, who stated in their bookThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - Chronichles IV: Cloaks & Daggers: “Elrond’s court were vegetarians and favoured food straight from the gardens, so there were things like edible flowers, exotic leafy greens, interesting fruit and small cakes. We imagined they didn’t need much to sustain them, much to the horror of their Dwarf dinner guests.” Some fans have also connected Elven longevity with a diet that is free from meat, though this is not something Tolkien ever confirmed. However,the source material detailsthat there areseveral different kinds of Elves in Middle-earth, and not every culture follows the same traditions.
What Happened Between Númenor and the Elves?
An age-old beef.
‘The Silmarillion’ Details More About Elven Cultures and Dietary Differences
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, the dietary habits of Elves are diverse but not universally vegetarian. One of the clearest indications that Elves consumed meat comes fromThe Hobbitnovel. WhenBilbo and the dwarvesare traveling through Mirkwood, they are drawn to the Wood-elves’ feasts by the smell of roasting meats. In the chapter “Flies and Spiders,” Tolkien wrote, “The smell of the roast meats was so enchanting that, without waiting to consult one another, every one of them got up and scrambled forwards into the ring with the one idea of begging for some food.”
This strongly suggests that the Elves of Mirkwood ate meat, likely sourced through hunting. Additionally, these Wood-elves are portrayed as excellent archers, a skill that would have been useful for war and hunting. The idea that they would cultivate such expertise without using it for sustenance is unlikely.
The Silmarilliondescribesmore details about the different types of Elvesand their cultures, especially the Green-elves of Ossiriand. These Elves are described as being particularly in tune with nature and express disapproval of Men who are “hewers of trees and hunters of beasts.” Green-elves themselves avoided hunting animals and possibly leaned toward a plant-based diet. However, even if the Green-elves leaned toward vegetarianism, they were an exception.Most Elves in Middle-earth did not express this level of distaste to hunting, which suggests that their diets were more varied.
Aside from their main diet, Elves are known to enjoy the occasional fancy drink. One of the most famous examples comes fromThe Hobbit, where barrels of wine from the Wood-elves are transported down the river. Wine must be an important part of their people, especially for special dinners. Another example of a more varied diet is inThe Lay of the Children of Húrin, where thetables of Thingol’s hallsare described as being filled with “goodly meats.” While this does not specify what kind of meat, the phrase indicates a variety of rich foods rather than a vegetarian palette.
So, were Elves vegetarian inThe Lord of the Rings? Based on Tolkien’s lore, the answer is no. Elves were not wasteful; they did not hunt for sport or kill unnecessarily, but they clearly understood the balance of nature and their place within it. Their diet likely consisted of a mix of fruits, grains, nuts, vegetables, and meats, with different Elven cultures carrying on their own dietary traditions.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
