According to this report in the Scotsman newspaper, archaeologists have discovered that Augustinian monks used a bitter vetch plant to halt hunger pangs. They are believed to have chewed tubers, each about the size of a pea, taken from the plant's roots. It is mentioned that the court of Charles II used the tubers in the 1680's but eating the plant fell out of fashion as the potato became more widespread.
And while this doesn't actually sound that appetizing - 'bitter' and 'vetch' in the same sentence - a Scottish company specialising in natural ingredients is looking into the plant's ancient uses and is investigating the potential for modern use.
