What was the sailor's diet?

The sailor's diet historically consisted of hardtack (a type of hard, dry biscuit), salted meats, beans, rice, and dried fruits. Fresh produce was rare and often limited to what could be stored, so sailors relied on preserved foods during long voyages. They also faced nutritional deficiencies, particularly scurvy, due to the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables. To combat this, some navies began to include citrus fruits or vitamin-rich supplements in their rations.