A Vegetarian’s Perspective on Eating Insects
Believe it or not, this delicious meal was created by a vegetarian. I had the pleasure of ‘meeting’ Entomo Farms customer, Laurie, who had taken advantage of our 20% off promotion for World Edible Insect Day that was on October 23. Her story is such an interesting one, and she explained why she embraces entomophagy so beautifully that I feel compelled to share it with all of you. If you are interested in trying her Avocado Cricket Toast (pictured here) check out the recipe here.
[/col]I Am a Vegetarian and I Eat Insects
“I’m a vegetarian, but I do think eating insects is a very good compromise for the environment. We cannot ignore the fact that we have to feed over 7.6 billion people, a number that won’t cease to grow. Insects provide many essential nutrients (Protein, iron, vitamin B12 and many others) on very little resources compared to the meat industry. While I dream of a world like Star Trek where everyone is eating vegetarian (probably even vegan?), I do believe that it is more realistic to rely partially on animal-based products if we are to feed billions. Especially considering how poorly we are managing cultivated fields.
I do realize that there is a lot of work to be done in order for the general population to consider insects as a food source. My relatives and friends are not too surprised with my choice to include insects in my diet since I already have a pretty alternative lifestyle; growing food on my balcony in summer and sewing my own clothes whenever possible. I often illustrate insects in my work as well, so it makes sense for me not to be squeamish on this topic. However, I do not doubt that if I were to bring crickets as a snack at work, I would have to spend a fair amount of time explaining that to my coworkers. 🙂
For instance, I used to be afraid of spiders, but I soon came to realize it was a social construct. I was afraid of spiders because I only saw people being afraid of spiders before. When I thought about it rationally, I realized there was nothing to be afraid of, and ever since, I have no trouble catching the little guys and letting them go outside instead of squishing them.
And let’s be honest; it is far weirder to be comfortable drinking cow’s milk and eating its flesh in burgers than to eat retired grilled crickets.”
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