Tonight, I ate bugs.

I learned a few years ago that insects are actually a great form of protein.  I saw it as part of a documentary and I wish I could remember the name of it… Anyway, eating insects is a widely accepted thing in other parts of the world, whether they serve it as a dessert with chocolate or as part of a main course… cricket pasta anyone?  And, it’s incredibly healthy for you because it’s all protein.

But we North Americans are so wimpy when it comes to bugs… eating them is the last thing on most people’s mind!  But being the bug nerd that I am, I’ve always wanted to try it.  And since the opportunity to try eating insects is pretty much non-existent around these parts, it dawned on me that I had seen some in a nearby candy store.  Tonight, I figured what the heck, let’s do it!

I bought two different kinds of bugs, crickets and larva, in three different flavours (bacon and cheese, sour cream & onion and mexican spice).  Honestly, I would have preferred to not have flavouring on them but I didn’t have that option.

After eating dinner, I decided to try out the bacon and cheese crickets first.  I’ve heard that larva are actually pretty ‘easy’ to eat.. kind of taste like pork rind.  So I figured I’d leave the easy ones for last.  Crickets though… they have eyes and legs and usually, I’m outside observing them.. not looking at them dead in the palm of my hand!

It’s a bit harder to eat something that still has its eyes.

I poured myself a glass of cranberry juice and opened up the bacon and cheese crickets.  Took three in my hands and ate one.  It tastes a bit like peanuts.. in terms of flavour.  The texture is interesting… kind of like the husk of a peanut shell as parts of the cricket (wings and legs) end up staying in your mouth if you don’t grind it down right away.  All in all, the crickets are ok.  Not bad, not great.

Next, the larva… definitely much better!  Actually, the only thing I couldn’t handle was the flavouring!  When they say ‘Mexican Spice’, they mean spicy HOT!  I would definitely buy a batch of these in the other flavours, like BBQ or cheese (they didn’t have those at the store but I know they exist).

I’m happy I finally tried this.    Now, I’m thinking of finding an online distributor to see if I can try other insects.. or at least get myself a whole bunch of larva that I can snack on – hey, it’s good for ya!

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