During my first year of teaching, I taught a Food Science/Nutrition class during the first period of the day. One of my most memorable classes was one where a student came in showing off a free sample he received at the entrance of his subway station. NYC has street promoters handing out new brands of gum, breath mints, magazines, snacks, and candy all the time... nothing out of the ordinary, but this student’s free sample was gaining the attention of the whole class as it was being passed around. Everyone in class wanted a look... some were laughing, while others didn’t want to touch the plastic bag and would exclaim “ew!” I was starting to be concerned that, whatever this was, it was going to become a distraction and delay the start of class. Until the student who brought the free sample, was aware of the time and placed the little blue package back into his bag.
The class about macronutrients went along until he raised his hand and asked “Would crickets be a CHO, Fat, or Protein?” I was a bit shocked, and said “crickets?” and he said “Yeah, crickets. I got crickets on the street today” and he pulled out that small blue bag from his knapsack and held it up. I left the front of the class and took the bag. Through the transparent part for the packaging I could see two salt and vinegar flavored crickets, meant to be consumed (there was even nutrition facts! I think that the two crickets were two grams of protein - 8 Kcal total, and maybe a gram of chitin fiber). The flavored crickets were being used to promote a new television show on the food network or travel channel.
I asked the student if he was going to eat them. He said “I’ll eat one if you eat one.” I looked back at the crickets, considered the added flavorings, the fact that crickets are consumed regularly in other cultures, and that this might wake up my first period class. So I agreed to the cricket consuming duel (even though I was a several year vegetarian). We opened the package, inspected the crickets in the palms of our hands, counted down, and completed the synchronized snacking as many of the other students screamed or cringed... followed by “What does it taste like?” It was crunchy... and salty. Not bad at all, I’d do it again! And this weekend I could! On Saturday Night (Sept 18, 2010), The Brooklyn Kitchen is presenting a four course insect meal prepared by Los Angeles’ Philip Ross. Five days before the event, the Brooklyn Kitchen has reported that it has only filled 20 out of the 40 meal slots. It could be the price of $85, or it could be the general hesitation because the meal consists of caterpillars, grasshoppers, moth larvae, and meal worms (I used to feed those to my chameleon!)! They will be prepared mexican “style” with condiments and sauces and accompanied by Mexican cocktails.
I hadn’t thought about eating insects since that one day of class, so I decided to investigate bugs as food. There is a large amount of information explaining HOW to FARM insects in your HOME, for the purpose of consumption. Also, there are movements to promote the consumption of insects because they are not being over farmed, or fished... the insects are rather sustainable. Then, there are directions on how to freeze them, grill them, and recipes for each type (grasshopper tacos anyone?). There was also the suggestion to add mealworms to your regular meals to boost your protein consumption. So if you would like more protein in your diet... just add some to your pasta sauce! Mealworm meatballs!
What else are insects good for...? Need to boost your iron... well consume 50 grams of crickets you’ll 31% of your RDA. Rather have waterbugs? 50 grams will get you 45% of you daily iron! Perhaps your doctor has you on a low fat diet, well maybe eat some caterpillars, since they are PURE protein! Grasshoppers will also give you a nudge in achieving your daily calcium needs!
I’m usually up for a culinary challenge, especially different fruits and vegetables (I can still remember the day my roommate in college brought home a Durian fruit, first and last time I will eat Durian.), but I don’t know if I could complete a four course meal, especially with a $85 price tag. Present day, I don’t think that I’ll start a insect farm... but in the case of surviving a nuclear war... it’s good to know that the option is there.
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