"What they would have of course was gruel made from wheat, provided that somebody had given then some wheat and milk. If you are talking about broth with meat, you are talking about much more recent times."

Why would anybody have to "give" them anything Mr. Carter? Farm Labourers and their families were provided cottages and, compared to todays standards, quite large plots of land, that they used for growing their own vegetables, keeping chickens, possibly a pig or even a cow.