SHESPEAKS Your Power to Influence

The search for more sustainable environmentally friendly food often finds its way to the idea of eating insects. Though many (even self-proclaimed foodies) may voice their disgust over consuming crawly critters, people living in other parts of the world think nothing of adding bugs to the menu. Countless food travel shows have opened our eyes to the way many people in the world consume bugs as a dietary staple with reports showing 80% of the world’s population has no problem chowing down on insects.

A recent Forbes interview with New York based entrepreneurs, Greg Sewitz and Gabi Lewis, sheds some light on where the edible insect business may be headed here in the states. Sewitz and Lewis, who own the company Exo, know first hand the nutritional benefits of eating insects, namely crickets which is a main ingredient in their protein bars.

The bars contain crickets that are slow-roasted before grated down into a fine flour. Other ingredients included in the power bar are butter, dates, coconut, raw cacao, honey, vanilla, and sea salt. Lewis explains that aside from crickets being very high in nutrients, they are also am extremely sustainable food source. She says, “Unlike traditional protein sources, crickets consume barely any resources and produce almost no greenhouse gases. So from the joint perspective of an individual and the environment, cricket protein is superior to the alternatives.”

Though eating bugs may not be your bag, there is a good possibility we may change our minds about consuming these critters in the future. Sewitz believes it’s only a matter of time until we’re all more open to the idea of adding insects to our diets. She explains, “In the 1960′s, the idea of eating raw fish seemed disgusting to most Americans until a chef in Los Angeles created the California Roll, which replaced toro with avocado and put the rice on the outside. It was sushi re-imagined. Now people even love sashimi. It’s about getting people to try something new and change their associations with particular foods.”

How do you feel about consuming insects? Would you consider trying one of these protein bars that contains crickets?

Do you think consuming insects will eventually become a popular food trend?