There, there. You are not alone
Over 1,900 species of insects have been reported to be edible. And you know what? Insects are considered a delicacy in many parts of the world. In Ghana, termites are consumed during springtime, when food is scarce. They sometimes need to be coaxed to come out of their giant nests built during the dry season. So people will drum to mimic the sounds of rain. In other parts of the globe, such as Thailand, China, and Mexico, insects are battered, fried, or roasted. They are a significant source of protein, zinc, iron, and vitamin A, so why not?
Our ancestors were also big fans of insects. 1.7-million-year-old bone tools found in South Africa suggests the earliest practice of eating insects. Even in the late 1870s, the French were eating grasshoppers, and Italians were ingesting beetles. But why did Western people quit including insects into their diets? According to anthropologist Julie Lesnik, it stems from a simple environmental concern. Away from the equator, Europe has cold seasons when edible insects are not readily available. As a result, insect consumption was erased from the European tradition.
Was this page helpful? Give us a thumbs up!
