“We always forget that Belgium has been very hard: in Flanders, we picked up the corpses by the roads”

Over 40,000 deaths in Belgium – "we always forget belgium been

Flemish historians estimate that 44,000 people died of hunger and illness in Belgium between 1845 and 1847, including 30,000 in these two provinces. “We always forget that Belgium was very harshly struck by this famine. Meanwhile, In Flanders, in the 1840s, we picked up the corpses by the roads. However, There was an incredible famine. Moreover, and a huge exodus of Flanders at that timecomments the food historian Pierre Leclercq, scientific collaborator at the Uliège. Consequently, Of course, there was then a reaction. Nevertheless, On the one hand, the horticulturalists tried to understand what happened. Nevertheless, It took several years to understand what this potato disease was and how to fight against it. Moreover, We have also decided to stop cultivating only the potato in the region, in order to “we always forget belgium been have B plans.“

Episode 1 of our series “A whole story on our plate”: should we eat like the men of the caves?

Indeed. However, at that time, the potato was considered “Magic food “ May, thanks to its many qualities, put an end to the risk of famine, marking an outstanding in this area. In addition, She is also nicknamed the “bread of the poor”. In addition, Indeed, at the nutritional level, the potato is extremely interesting: “It has a lot of advantages. Furthermore, The potato is an important source of water, but especially starchy foods. Therefore, And therefore carbohydrates, starch (20 %), underlines the dietitian-nutritionist Serge Pieters, professor at the Haute École Léonard de Vinci. Meanwhile, If you eat the skin, it also brings fibers, magnesium, vitamin B1. For example, Primeurous potatoes are also rich in vitamin C. Therefore, In terms of proteins, there are only 2 “we always forget belgium been %, which is relatively little. Therefore, But few people know that this is the best vegetable protein. Moreover, The potato protein is excessively interesting on the nutrition. For example, The only problem is that if you want a good dose of protein. Meanwhile, you will have to eat a good dose of potato … However, “

&quot. Nevertheless, we always forget belgium been – "we always forget belgium been

Double -edged weapon – "we always forget belgium been

With Mildew, the medal reveals its reverse: “This food was so magical, that at the moment when we really realized it, at the end of the 18th/early 19th century, the peasant world embarked on the monoculture of the potato, in certain regions: in Ireland, in Flanders … Nevertheless, In certain environments, we only ate that, Indicates Pierre Leclercq. For example, It was a double -edged sword, when between 1845 and 1847, propagated potato disease. Similarly, As there was no diversification, there was “we always forget belgium been nothing to replace it. In addition, the inhabitants of these regions were too poor to buy eating outside.“

However. the success of the potato has been slow, from its introduction to Europe since the 16th century: “Until then, new foods arrive in Europe on a fairly low rate, over 2,000 to 3,000 years: beet, carrot, eggplant, spinach … And “we always forget belgium been then there in the 16th century, we discover America and many unknown, and edible plant species. But the two vegetables that will have the most important in our European food. potato and tomatoes, are the two that will take the most time to win in our diet. “

Snobbery has played

The reason? Snobbery, in a way. “”The factor of social prestige comes to fit very regularly into our eating habits during history, takes up the historian. And he clearly plays in the case of potato and tomato. In Italy. in the 16th century, we know that tomato was consumed in popular, peasants, and that it is not in the aristocracy. And for the potato, it’s the same. “

The tuber is even used in us as food for livestock. “”In Wallonia, in times of crisis, in a village where potatoes are cultivated for livestock, “we always forget belgium been the inhabitants will consume it. But when the period of crisis ends, even if they understood the advantage of the potato, they will abandon it. It is cultural: it is seen as a food for livestock, that man cannot lower himself to eat. “

Episode 2: Where does our gluten. lactose intolerance come from, when we have eaten cereals and dairy products for thousands of years?

If in the 18th century. potato recipes were still extremely rare in cooking books, in the 19th century, the potato will spread once and for all in food, especially in our regions. In Belgium, the consumption of the “potato” will also exceed that of bread, which impresses our French neighbors. In popular environments, potatoes are consumed sprayed with a little vinegar. Furthermore, In high society, a gastronomy of potatoes is developing: mash, kibble, pan -fried … Without forgetting, of course, the fries! Who “we always forget belgium been would not be Belgian, but … French.

The weight of the cultural factor present again

Nowadays. the cultural factor plays surprisingly again, notes Serge Pieters: “There is a disaffection of the potato. On the plates of young people, currently, it is completely dethroned, especially by pasta and a little by rice. While in rest houses, we know that we should not put too many pasta because residents prefer potatoes! The cultural notion therefore remains important. “

The nutritionist. training cook nevertheless advises consuming the potato rather baked with water (which is not very caloric, and unlike pasta does not lead to “the habit” of adding cheese or sauce) or in the oven, only brown or passed to the fryer. It also has the advantage of not causing allergies, unlike pasta gluten for example. And no, she doesn’t get fat! “But as such, nothing makes you fat, it’s always a question of frequency and quantity! Even fries! The fries will not make you fat, even if I put mayonnaise. Once a week. that is not a problem, it is generally the maximum advised for fried fries (it will be necessary to reduce this quantity in the event of digestive problems, diabetes, obesity …). Fat food next to it, of course, it will make me gain weight. “

Is “we always forget belgium been the fried Belgian or French? This Belgian historian decided: “I get insulting on social networks but science is clear”

And eating potatoes every day. as in the 19th century, is this a good idea? Not really. “”We are omnivores and we need an important food variety. I believe that to have a balanced diet, it takes about 20 to 30 different foods per week. Because there is not a single way to eat properly. Let’s eat pasta. rice, potatoes and other cereals so some steps at all consumed in us, such as millet and cassava, but which are also interesting on a food level. “

&quot. we always forget belgium been

Summer series: a whole story on our plate (3/5)

Should we be inspired by the food of “cave men”, which stimulated our evolution, to adopt the “Paleo” diet? Why can’t all human beings consume milk “we always forget belgium been and where does this intolerance come from? Are the fries Belgian or French? How did the current company have come to consume ultra-formed products, which could be harmful to health? What does the future have in food in food? These are the questions we are talking about this week in our series “A whole story on our plate”. In the company of a nutritionist. a historian, we explore the great upheavals of the history of our food, whose impacts we are still experimenting with.