The insects-as-food movement is a tricky one. On one hand, there are many people who can be rallied to support sustainable food resources, but on the other, there is an immense disgust factor related to the idea of eating insects. How do we get around this? I think the answer lies in processed food. We have long removed ourselves from what we eat. We don't eat "cow" or "pig," we eat "beef" and "pork" from tidy little packages from the supermarket. Many people get their daily vegetables in the form of Odwalla juice or something else similar instead of eating them in their natural form. Why then would we expect people to open a can of insects - legs, antennae and all - and start chowing down? I think the best way to get people to start eating insects is not to eat the insects, but eat the benefits of insects. Cricket flour is opening that door.
Chapul is a small company with a wonderful mission who makes protein bars out of cricket flour. I had the chance to share these bars with a couple of friends and colleagues. Here is a brief transcript of two of my friends trying the peanut butter chocolate bar:
Chapul is a small company with a wonderful mission who makes protein bars out of cricket flour. I had the chance to share these bars with a couple of friends and colleagues. Here is a brief transcript of two of my friends trying the peanut butter chocolate bar:
M: Tastes good. It's chocolate-y
D: Peanut butter chocolate-y
M: Maybe a little light on the peanut butter, but good. It's more peanut -y than peanut butter-y. *reads ingredients* You can definitely taste the dates.
D: Can you taste the bugs?
M: No, of course not. It's good.
D: The bars are dense and satisfying, not oily, you know?
M: Yeah, they're good.
END SCENE
D: Peanut butter chocolate-y
M: Maybe a little light on the peanut butter, but good. It's more peanut -y than peanut butter-y. *reads ingredients* You can definitely taste the dates.
D: Can you taste the bugs?
M: No, of course not. It's good.
D: The bars are dense and satisfying, not oily, you know?
M: Yeah, they're good.
END SCENE
There needs to be more people cooking with cricket flour in order to see the whole potential. It is not something just for protein bars; it can be incorporated in all sorts of baked goods and main dishes. Check out this video about Future Food Salon providing opportunities for people to try many of these foods. They will be in Austin, TX next month and are looking to book in other US cities in upcoming months. A great way to try these foods wherever you are is to sponsor the Austin event being thrown by Little Herds, North America's first charity dedicated to promoting edible insects. Check out the great rewards in their crowd sourcing project!
Additionally, if you or someone you know is interested in trying to incorporate crickets into a dish, get in touch! I will get you in contact with the right people. Who knows, your recipe may be used in an upcoming Future Food Salon!
Additionally, if you or someone you know is interested in trying to incorporate crickets into a dish, get in touch! I will get you in contact with the right people. Who knows, your recipe may be used in an upcoming Future Food Salon!
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