he first time Tim Herbute ate a bug, it wasn’t the most voluntary experience. He remembers being younger, on a camping trip, when a friend instigated him to eat a cricket. He did – he says he’s always been open minded.
These days, the 21-year-old Vineland resident prefers his crickets oven-roasted, between two crackers with a little bit of honey.
“They have an almond kind of taste,” he said. “And I just enjoy the taste of honey.” Another buggy favorite of his is mealworm quesadillas, roasted larvae scattered on top of oozy cheese and sandwiched between tortillas.
Grossed out? The practice of eating bugs – or entomophagy, if the term isn’t too big a mouthful – is getting more and more popular in the United States, although it’s been a necessity in other countries around the world for ages.
Hello Mr. Broadbent,
I enjoyed how informative and helpful your article is. I’m a vegetarian and am always trying to find ways to get more protein. Although it makes a lot of sense, I hadn’t realized how practical consuming bugs was until I read this. As you pointed out, some communities around the world have practiced entomophagy for centuries. However, despite the many benefits to personal health and the environment, there is definitely a negative perception of the consumption of bugs. I’d love to see some studies that show how the environment could benefit from global entomophagy. Do you know of any? I hope in the near future I can begin to eat insects and appreciate their value as a food source. Thanks for spreading the message with your article.