The Favorite Foods Of 15 U.S Presidents Slideshow

One may think that the president has refined tastes, with five-star cuisine and decadent desserts on the menu every night, but more often than not, the 44 men who have held the office of President of the United States just wanted comfort foods and homey cuisine.

Everyone knows that during their time in office, Ronald Reagan loved Jelly Belly jelly beans, that Bill Clinton was a huge fan of cheeseburgers and fries, and Barack Obama would snack on seven almonds each night, but how did the Founding Fathers eat? What was Honest Abe's favorite holiday snack? And just how many peanuts did Jimmy Carter eat while in office?

George Washington reportedly drank between four and five glasses of Madeira wine a day. What would he eat to accompany all that vino? He was said to be nuts for nuts. Apparently, he would crack nuts with his teeth, leading to his infamously terrible dentures.

The Founding Fathers certainly were fond of their wine, and Thomas Jefferson was no exception. He also enjoyed (many) glasses of Madeira. But he was also a worldly man and brought foods from his travels back to the United States. He loved waffles, Parmesan cheese, and French cuisine.

Honest Abe frankly was not a big eater. At most meals, he would simply pick at his food. But if there's one food he had a true fondness for, it's gingerbread. He's quoted as saying, "When we lived in Indiana, once in a while my mother used to get some sorghum and ginger and make some gingerbread. It wasn't often, and it was our biggest treat."

FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt had an all-American diet. Their favorite dinners included hearty fare such as creamed chipped beef, bread pudding, and fried cornmeal mush with maple syrup. The Roosevelts also had a particular love of doughnuts and would eat them at breakfast and teatime.

Truly a man of Boston, JFK's favorite lunch was a simple bowl of New England clam chowder along with a piece of fruit and perhaps a sandwich. Similarly, he was fond of seafood and classic Boston baked beans for his dinner.

LBJ is responsible for bringing Texas-style barbecue and Southern food to the White House. He would happily dine on smoked brisket, baked beans, coleslaw, and chicken-fried steak. He was also obsessed with Fresca, a diet grapefruit-flavored soda. He loved it so much he had a Fresca fountain installed in the Oval Office.

Richard Nixon kept a simple diet. His daily lunch consisted of cottage cheese and California fruit, though sometimes he took his cottage cheese with ketchup. His favorite meal was reportedly his wife's meatloaf, which he would eat at least once a month.

Gerald Ford had simple tastes, though for Sunday breakfasts, he loved to indulge in homemade waffles with strawberries and cream. His idea of a perfect dinner was pot roast and red cabbage; cabbage was his all-time favorite vegetable.

A true Southerner through and through, Jimmy Carter's White House menu included plenty of grits. In fact, baked grits were on the menu for his very first breakfast as president. Carter also enjoyed ham with gravy, cornbread, collard greens, and peanuts (of course).

Ronald Reagan's love of Jelly Belly jelly beans is well documented. The candy company reportedly sent 720 bags of their jelly beans to the White House every month, and Reagan kept a jar of beans on his desk at all times. When he wasn't snacking on candy, Reagan enjoyed home-style food, such as macaroni and cheese.

George H.W. Bush didn't have the healthiest of diets when he was in the Oval Office. He had a fondness for junk foods, such as popcorn, beef jerky, and Butterfingers. But his favorite snack was pork rinds with Tabasco sauce.

Though Bill Clinton dramatically changed his diet once he left the White House, while he was commander-in-chief, he had a love of Mexican food. He indulged in chicken enchiladas, soft tacos, and chili con queso. He was also a famous fan of fast food, including McDonald's Egg McMuffin.

Despite his Southern roots and the occasional Texas barbecue dinner, George W. Bush preferred homey dishes, such as biscuits, chicken pot pie, and grilled cheese. He was also a particular fan of cheeseburger pizza. Because when you can't decide between a burger and pizza, have both!

Barack Obama was known to be a particular healthy eater. His favorite snacks in the Oval Office were almonds and tea. One of his favorite dishes is a classic chili, though he'd frequently substitute turkey for ground beef to keep the dish healthy.

Donald Trump is a man of simple tastes and food preferences. His favorite meal includes well-done steak with ketchup and cherry vanilla ice cream. When he moved in to the White House, he cleared the kitchen of the Obamas' healthy foods and stacked the pantry with Lay's potato chips. He also is a big fan of fast food, including McDonald's and KFC. To find out more about Trump's eating habits, read our complete guide to his favorite foods.