Insects, the best source of protein there is...

[mattikake]

We all know it. We've seen most other carnivores eat them and be in superb health. There's nothing to them except ooey gooey slimey protein already in it's most digestible form - guts with no major cellular hang-up, once you break through the crunchy outer shell. So much so you don't really have to chew, but squeeze and suck the goodness down with minimal ease.

Grasshoppers are 77% protein. It wipes the floor for everything you've ever swallowed by around 150%, even if you could imagine yourself as your own missus.

So who would?

http://www.sciencealert.com.au/features/20130409-2...

Not me. Not even if they were pealed to pulp by some chef paid at £10ph with a bucket of sugar to hand. I'll stick to chicken at a measly 25% protein and just eat more.

But seriously, Chicken v insects. What's the difference? It's not like you eat all the jibs of a chicken because someone has been paid to separate that out for you, so all you get is the goodness of breast.

[smiffy180]

mattikake said:

We all know it. We've seen most other carnivores eat them and be in superb health. There's nothing to them except ooey gooey slimey protein already in it's most digestible form - guts with no major cellular hang-up, once you break through the crunchy outer shell. So much so you don't really have to chew, but squeeze and suck the goodness down with minimal ease.

Grasshoppers are 77% protein. It wipes the floor for everything you've ever swallowed by around 150%, even if you could imagine yourself as your own missus.

So who would?

http://www.sciencealert.com.au/features/20130409-2...

Not me. Not even if they were pealed to pulp by some chef paid at £10ph with a bucket of sugar to hand. I'll stick to chicken at a measly 25% protein and just eat more.

But seriously, Chicken v insects. What's the difference? It's not like you eat all the jibs of a chicken because someone has been paid to separate that out for you, so all you get is the goodness of breast.

Blended in a shake, I'd try it.

[thesyn]

Wow 77% protein, imagine the gains!

[Mobile Chicane]

No, just no.

I understand the environmental / economic arguments for eating insects, but I just can't.

[scorp]

I've tried a few when I was in Thailand, I did need to be drunk beforehand so not sure what species I ate, although they looked like crickets, they taste better than they look.

Edited by scorp on Friday 6th September 03:33

[BlackVanDyke]

I'd probably do it rather than starve.

But that's it.

[Halb]

Many cultures don't have the hang up. Just soft Southern pansy westerners.
Don't think I've had any, but I'd give it a try; if they tasted nice, then great. Certainly makes wasting so much land on cows look silly.

[anonymous-user]

Ive had bbq crickets and they were actually very nice!

[Hoofy]

http://youtu.be/nGTIs9fvkUA

[Halb]

Load of condoms in jam and water.

[Rick101]

Plenty of people believe insects are the solution to world hunger and certainly a viable option for the future.

I would eat fried grasshoppers no problem. It's the larger squidgy/slimy ones that don't look so great.

[mattikake]

It's the eating the heads' bit that would gross me out. I mean, would you eat a whole chicken, brain, eyes, beak and all?

I someone gave me a pealed grasshopper that was just the abdomen bit, possibly... if I was paid... and blind-folded first... and told it was tofu or something... But the head? Ewwww!

You say not even if you were starving, but when you're starving you WILL eat anything, apparently.

[Hoofy]

Hm. I've eaten dried anchovies whole. I mean I put them in my noodles and ate them whole. I still have a 1/4 packet.



I eat them head first.

[skibum]

mattikake said:

I someone gave me a pealed grasshopper that was just the abdomen bit, possibly... if I was paid... and blind-folded first... and told it was tofu or something... But the head? Ewwww!

Then they would be like prawns/shrimp/etc.. yum

I always imagine they cricket/locust ones would be sharp and crunchy (like prawn shells) and the grub ones would pop and burst. Eurrghh!

[mattikake]

^ very true! Insects and prawns/shrimps/lobster etc. are the same arthropod family as insects, they just live in water instead of on land.

Anyone here not grossed out by looking at or touching live sea-based arthropods, but find land-based arthropods disgusting?

Why is that? A race memory from our early ancestors that insects usually mean a nasty bite or sting?

[mattikake]

Heh : http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0...

[evenflow]

[TwigtheWonderkid]

When you've had balut (a fertiliser duck egg eaten just a few days before hatching), nothing else worries you.

[Flibble]

I'd eat insects; I'd prefer them to be the meaty sort like prawns and the like though, gooey isn't really to my taste.

[Mastodon2]

evenflow said:

This kind of thing, no, I doubt I'd go for that. I love fried crickets, scorpions etc dusted in chilli powder, but I don't know what the cooking process does the protein content, and it almost certainly manages to add some fat in there.