Eating Crickets

We try not to cater to the base “gross” factor that stereotypes what kids love. But on occasion, there’s a topic that meets our educational mandate and is gross too. Well, seemingly gross. Because if you wrap your head around it, eating bugs is all kinds of good.

Eating Crickets

In many parts of the world, eating insects is nothing new – but it’s not common in North America and Europe. That may be starting to change.

A few years ago, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported that raising and eating insects has a lot of benefits and should be encouraged.

“Edible insects are healthy for you and healthy for the planet,” says Stacie Goldin, Community Manager of Entomo Farms in Norwood, Ontario. They raise and roast crickets and mealworms for human food. Crickets, for example, are a great source of protein, fibre, vitamin B12, essential amino acid, calcium and more. And compared to raising animals for food, raising insects uses fewer resources, is better for the environment, and causes less animal suffering.

But aren’t they… ew?

Not at all, says Stacie. “Roasted crickets have a consistency like puffed wheat and they taste like sunflower seeds.”

She does a lot of food demos, and says, “The reaction is nearly always the same. People scrunch up their face and are really hesitant. Then they take a bite and go, ‘Oh. Crunch crunch crunch. Oh. OK. That tastes like… food!”

Still not convinced? Even if you’re not ready to pop a whole mealworm into your mouth, maybe you’d be open to eating familiar food with some cricket powder mixed into it. Ground-up crickets can give baking, smoothies or stews a nutrition boost.

Try this Cricket Protein Ball Recipe

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