Experience: I eat a plate of insects a week

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 26 May 2012, 08:41

The Guardian - 25/05/12

'If McDonald's served up a Bug Mac rather than a Big Mac I would be overjoyed'.

Article continues ...

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 26 May 2012, 09:04

It'll soon be the same as eastern cultures, if it's dead, eat it. If it's moving, kill it and eat it.

Problem = not enough food

Cause = too many people

Get rid of cause = problem does not exist.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 26 May 2012, 22:38

It'll never take off in these parts, as our insects are so much smaller than far-Eastern, tropical ones.

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 26 May 2012, 23:12

RenewableCandy wrote:It'll never take off in these parts, as our insects are so much smaller than far-Eastern, tropical ones.

Snacks!

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 26 May 2012, 23:39

Eating insects in surprisingly common in many parts of the world. In southern Africa for example, big white Mopani worms are often eaten, found under the bark of the Mopani tree.

I one read about an insect restaurant in Toronto that does a daily buffet consisting solely of insects.

Fried ants are apparently very good. You have to cook them to neutralise the prussic acid.

Not exactly my cup of tea, I have to say (although apparently my Mum caught me puttingbslugs in my mouth when I was a toddler).

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 27 May 2012, 00:42

Anyone want to guess what percentage of their own diet consists of insects?

Tomato soup.

the_lyniezian · Post by **the_lyniezian** » 27 May 2012, 13:17

UndercoverElephant wrote:Anyone want to guess what percentage of their own diet consists of insects?

Tomato soup.

"Waiter, waiter, there's a fly in my soup!"

"Oh, that's just one of the ingredients, sir..."

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 27 May 2012, 15:00

UndercoverElephant wrote:Anyone want to guess what percentage of their own diet consists of insects?

Tomato soup.

Not in "Tesco's Finest", surely!

woodburner · Post by **woodburner** » 27 May 2012, 22:52

Tarrel wrote:Fried ants are apparently very good. You have to cook them to neutralise the prussic acid.

Prussic acid = hydrocyanic acid = Zyklon = very nasty stuff.

Ants use formic acid. A very simple compound and not quite as dangerous.

Tarrel · Post by **Tarrel** » 27 May 2012, 23:03

Whoops!

Yes, you're quite correct. I got bitten by one of the B***** this evening. They were obviously telling me to get my facts right!

Post by **clv101** » 28 May 2012, 09:44

woodburner wrote:It'll soon be the same as eastern cultures, if it's dead, eat it. If it's moving, kill it and eat it.

Problem = not enough food

Cause = too many people

Get rid of cause = problem does not exist.

Alternatively, cause = folk wasting at least a third of the food, and choosing a highly inefficient diet.

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 28 May 2012, 10:30

I tried ant pupae after watching Ray Mears doing it. Very easy to harvest and very tasty, like Prawn with the added benefit that it keeps your garden ants nest in check.

Seems weird that we eat sea insects like shrimp and prawn but not land ones.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 28 May 2012, 12:00

Shrimps and prawns aren't insects. /pedant.

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 28 May 2012, 12:06

biffvernon wrote:Shrimps and prawns aren't insects. /pedant.

You knew what I meant.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 28 May 2012, 13:21

Are pedants a particular tasty type of ant?