A new bugs-inning … I decided to stop eating meat

It’s been almost one year now that I started this blog and it’s maybe time for some reflects, thoughts and a new beginning…

Pupae from Tenebrio molitor (coming from our home-scale farm)

All along the post, you can follow my summer’s “bugs-explorations”!

I‘ve been caught by the bug for more than four years, this “crazy” idea which I can’t clearly explain its origin, that has, since then, grew in my mind.

I started promoting entomophagy through a healthy and sustainable lifestyle through my blog, some events and tastings with always the goal of trying to leave a positive impact and message.

There were some successes, some failures lessons, some amazing meetings, some delicious bugs eaten and shared (and some others that weren’t…) and lot of things learnt.

These last weeks, I’ve been less active for many different reasons (watching and photographing some bugs during the summer!).

I was thinking about what I was doing and what was the goal of everything. The conclusion was that some different things have to change, I need to take a step further, be more coherent.

False Oil Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)

You can’t promote entomophagy, it’s sustainability and benefits on the environment if at the same time you’re eating more industrial chicken and beef than the average people…

A decision was made, I studied and read different books about the industrial system of farming, the animal welfare and the vegetarism.

It was clear; I didn’t want to be a part of this industrial process anymore, no more industrial meat and overexploited fishes, just a lot of plants, some few bugs and well-raised meat and fish from sustainable fishing.

During this transition, and after different cooking experiences, I realized that I didn’t want some meat nor fish anymore … I have clearly nothing against well-raised meats and the farmers, it’s just that these products don’t miss me at all so why eat them? Some plants and a few bugs provide me everything it makes the people I cook for and me happy and it’s more sustainable.

Dragon fly (Anisoptera, If someone can help for the ID, I’m all hearing!)

“I’m all bugs “

Is it because I like less insects than other animals? Not at all. I raise them , feed them (now that I moved, it’s more : Thanks dad!), and kill them (no suffer, just a big sleep!). I also watch, study and try to understand them.

Now I know a little bit more about the importance of insects for the environment, how they are linked to humanity and the life on earth. The life on earth, and next humanity, developed and evolved thanks to the association of plants and bugs. Back to the origin…

Black-and-red froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata)

I also realize how much they were and are still valued as an excellent food for a lot of people all around the world and the ages, and also the potential benefits of the right and true development of the field.

It’s only a simple and true respect for my food.

“Bugs are tomorrow food ” Well, that was yesterday…

We need to hope that nobody will have the idea of creating the “entotarian” case for me… I don’t like to class people even less regarding their food habits. I just found my optimal diet for my health, my pleasure and the environment. (Well in fact, I will see how my body react to this new diet and how insects can be used as a real ingredient on a weekly western diet)

Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

There will may be some questions, so there will be different posts for presenting you my menu, my feelings and some ideas and thoughts I wanna share.

In any case, I don’t do this for convincing you, eating is something very personal, what and how we eat are defining us. But we shouldn’t forget, that we are building, shaping and modeling the world and the earth by our food choices.

I can only present you my way of eating : How I think and live. That’s all

Florian

PS: No insects were eaten during photo shooting.

Rose chafer (Cetonia aurata)