Weird question: Would you eat/feed your child insects?

[AddiJames]

Sorry if this is out of place. I still mostly use this site to find answers to questions that other people have asked, but I haven't seen anything on this.

Before we met, DH lived for several years in Thailand and thinks it's weird that we're so weird about eating insects (we're both from the UK). The more I think about it, the more I think "yeah, it is weird that we're weird about it" because we're ok with eating things like prawns, which kind of look like insects. I guess if they're farmed properly then there's no issue with them. But I still can't stop thinking it's gross.

It's learned behaviour, I know, so I've been thinking about introducing (properly sourced and farmed) insects to our little one's diet when he's old enough. I just want my children to have the opportunity to have as wide a variety of options as possible. We've already been doing this with vegetables we don't like.

Would this be weird? Would you eat insects and if not why not?

The whole thing reminds me of the film Soylent Green. That was an interesting strategy on how humans should eat. Well worth a watch.

I'd happily eat them if I liked the taste but some I can't quite consider like big grubs.
I ate crickets in Mexico which were nice.
I have a book which details what interesting things people eat all over the world and irs very interesting.

yes.
but I can imagine that for many they can only stomach the thought of insect protein in protein snacks or drinks or powdered addition to processed foods.

DS has eaten fancy muesli that inexplicably had meal worm flour as an ingredient. I don't think it's a problem really.

I would eat powdered insect protein and feed to child, like in protein shakes/bars, but agree on the legs. I don’t eat crab or lobster but that is more of an emotional choice due to thinking lobsters too clever to be eaten rather than the legs.

it is a science question not a politics question - in what way will it be possible to provide the human population with animal protein? The answer is through insects. Millions of people already do eat the, millions more will do in the future.

most people on this thread have eaten insect!

It has also become extremely political. If you even follow this stuff across the world you may notice that. 🙄

On a small thread, some people have, some people haven't, some will consider it, some won't.

You sound very hopeful. This thread of a tiny number of people isn't actually representative of the population and how they would respond to this though is it.

I don’t know why but the thought of eating insects is just incredibly off putting.

Its common in other countries though, considered a delicacy even.

I have to wonder though where you would draw the line between insects being food and bugs. Like if people get a taste for insects when they come across a spider sitting in the bathtub in the morning do they see it as a bug or think ‘breakfast’…

I don’t know I could ever knowingly eat bugs… Maybe if I was starving… Even then though.

I don’t think it would do a child by harm to eat bugs. I remember once when my nephew was a toddler he was sitting on the floor playing with his toys when a beetle ran past him and before I even had time to react. He grabbed it enthusiastically and ate it. He seemed to enjoy it too. Never did him any harm.

It's only noodles Michael...

🤣🧛‍♂️

Yes I would and have. It’s not my cultural norm but is DH’s.

On how humans should eat 😀

I can't see that taking off, though it was kept secret wasn't it.

I came on to say the same !!!! Seafood is just sea insects right ??!!! 😂😂😂

No. I just can't bring myself to.

I feel the same about reptile meat. (crocodile burgers ect)

When we get to the stage that 'normal' meat is off the menu i'll be going plant based.

My son came home asking for them as his head teacher had been letting the children taste them.

These, dried and bbq flavour.

https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/smoky-bbq-crunchy-roasted-crickets?variant=16907081613370&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-KHg45bS_gIVhOvtCh2k9Q9JEAQYASABEgJk-PD_BwE

We got some, they were ok. I was a bit squeamish but got over it.

Eating insects is unhealthy and risky. Chitinous insects contain anti-nutrients. Mass processing of insects risks the infection of parasites into humans.

Its a hard pass from me.

We consume far more than we need if you look at the typical Western diet, so the obvious solution would be everyone eat it less frequently.

We tried insects at a bug farm in Pembrokeshire several years ago. They were an interesting side dish to lunch I. The restaurant, everyone tried them for the novelty value. I don’t know that if rush to have them again though.

Yes I've eaten deep fried crickets in South America. Quite liked them actually!

It'll be bugs for the peasants.
The elites will still enjoy their finest fillet steak.

It's a definite no from me.

I expect most people on this thread have eaten E120 at some point, except if they are Jewish and only eat kosher food, or very strict lifelong vegans. And E120 is insects so most people on this thread have eaten it, or used it in other ways - most red lipstick contains it, as well as red sweets, ice cream, cakes, donuts, sauces, and hundreds of other food items and cosmetics. And if it isn't called E120, it is called natural red food colouring, depending on the target consumer, as it is natural, and some people will buy stuff labelled "natural" but not labelled E120, although it is the same thing.

Not a chance - and I don’t eat crustaceans, either.

TBH I’ve often thought prawns resemble cockroaches - the massive type we were plagued with when living abroad. It’s the legs and the feelers - as well as the fact that prawns are also scavengers. I still dislike them if they come with their ‘clothes’ on. Undressed prawns only, thanks.

Of course the insect-eating phobia is a learned thing - as a toddler my DB enjoyed finding woodlice in the garden and eating them - nice and crunchy!