Friday, August 26, 2011

Bug as Grub

The newest food fad isn't just be for the adventurous eater.  From the New York Times to the Atlantic Monthly, August has been inundated with stories about what we might be eating in the future: insects.

Insects, you might ask?  Supporters of bug-eating see it as a way to provide protein to an increasingly carnivorous global population. The livestock we usually eat, such as cows, pigs, goats, sheep, and fish, require significant amounts of energy and resources. Mealworms and crickets, on the other hand, only require a fraction of precious land, sustenance, and water.  Sounds like a win-win for all, right?  Not exactly.  Especially in the western world, most people are loath to ingest creepy crawlers.  Even if the sustainability argument sounds logical, the emotional aspect of ingesting insects may be harder to change.  Are we in for a societal mindshift?  Should you get a side of cicadas with your burger, or fried waxworms? Read the following articles to see what the future might hold for your food.







[Picture is of www.edible.com, a fine insect purveyor]