Entomophagy for the Future?

Would you indulge in eating insects?

Entomophagy is the practice of eating insects, especially by people. While a high majority of people around the world participate in eating insects, some societies have yet to really embrace this practice (USA, Canada, western Europe, etc). Insects tend to be high in protein, low in fat, and very low in carbs. In science fiction we do see other cultures eating insects, as seen in Star Trek, Galaxy Quest, and Bladerunner 2049.

Pros of Entomophagy

• Increase food sustainability

• Healthy protein alternative

• Small space for growth

• Improved gut health

Types of Insects

The popular types of insects to consume are:

• Crickets (umami flavor or parmesan or almond)

• Mealworms (umami with nutty aftertaste)

• Silkworms (mashed potato)

• Ants (lemony, spicy citrus)

• Leafcutter Ants (bacon and pistachio)

• Honeypot Ants (floral honey)

• Hornet Larvae (raw - gamey clotted cream; cooked - sweet mussels)

• Termites (crispy bacon)

• Shea Caterpillars (meaty vegetables)

• Palm Weevil Larvae (buttery pate or bacon)

• Scorpions (soft shell crab)

• Giant Water Bug (salty banana or briney melon)

• Agave Worm (pork rinds)

• Black Soldier Fly Larvae (blood pudding)

• Buffalo Worm (mild and nutty)

• Cicada, nymph (artichoke or lobster)

• Cicada, adult (peanuts or almonds)

• Cockroach (greasy chicken)

Recipes to Try

• Cricket Matzo Ball Soup

• Mealworm Guacamole

• Mealy Pommes Anna

• Cricket Gnocchi

• Chocolate Espresso Banana Bread

• Cricket Caramel Cheesecake

• Oatmeal Powerballs

• Cricket Chili

• Carrot-Buffalo Worm Soup

• Mealy Rice Krispy Treats

• Crickets & Kkwarigochu in a Sweet, Sticky, Garlicky Sauce

• Mealworm Fried Rice

• White Chocolate and Wax Worm Cookies

• Grasshopper Tacos

• Tempura Cicadas with Sriracha Aioli

• Korean Beondegi

Where To Find Insects and Insect Products

• EXO Protein - Cricket powder and foods

• EntoMarket - Variety

• Armstrong Cricket Farm - Crickets, mealworms, horn worms, wax worms

• Orchestra Provisions - Cricket powders

• Chapul Farms - Cricket

• Bugsolutly - Cricket pasta

• Meal Flour - Mealworm flour

• Khloro - Variety of foods

• Bug Farm Foods - Flour, whole insects

• Mealworms By The Pound - Mealworms and Black Soldier Fly Larvae

Further Reading

• Edible Insects as a Sustainable Food Alternative by Rick Leblanc

• BRIEF HISTORY OF ENTOMOPHAGY by Bill Broadbent

• Eating Bugs: A Diet That’s Hard to Swallow by Austin Lim

• The Gateway Bug (film) 2021

• 6 Places Spreading the Entomophagy Bug for F&B by Julie Berman

• Entomophagy: Why We Should Eat Insects by Julia Weissing

• “Insect appeal to gain ground in 2021,” says IPIFF by Elizabeth Green

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Would you participate in entomophagy? Is this a viable option for the future? Please leave comments below.