Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly taken to eating only meat from animals he has killed in order to appreciate that a creature died so that he could live.
The 27-year-old billionaire took on the dietary regimen as the latest in a series of "personal challenges" that he pursues in what little time he spends not working on Facebook, a Fortune magazine story explained on Thursday.
"I'm eating a lot healthier foods," Zuckerberg is quoted as telling Fortune while discussing his switch to slaughtering livestock for his meals.
"And I've learned a lot about sustainable farming and raising of animals," he continued. "It's easy to take the food we eat for granted when we can eat good things every day."
A Silicon Valley chef who lives not far from Zuckerberg in the Northern California city of Palo Alto has introduced him to local farmers and coached him on killing his first chicken, pig, and goat, according to Fortune.
His first kill was a lobster, which he executed by boiling.
Larger animals that he kills are sent to a butcher, who sends the cut meat back to Zuckerberg and his girlfriend Priscilla to be cooked as they wish, the article indicated.
Zuckerberg has shared his dietary endeavor on his Facebook page, where he posted a photo of a chicken he killed and dishes he made using the parts.
"This year I've basically become a vegetarian since the only meat I'm eating is from animals I've killed myself," Fortune quoted Zuckerberg as saying in an email.
"I think many people forget that a living being has to die for you to eat meat, so my goal revolves around not letting myself forget that and being thankful for what I have."
Zuckerberg said he takes on a personal challenge each year, with prior goals including learning Chinese and wearing a tie.
"So far, this has been a good experience," Zuckerberg said of his new diet.
"I'm eating a lot healthier foods and I've learned a lot about sustainable farming and raising of animals."
He still visits restaurants, but opts for venues with vegetarian offerings, according to Fortune.
