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?

because we're ok with eating things like prawns, which kind of look like insects.

That's why I don't eat prawns and can't fathom the appeal, of those big ones especially - it's like scattering huge hideous spiders all over your food!

Even if they have, by accident, it doesn't mean they are going to embrace a full on insect diet does it. In fact, if you look at the yougov polls, you'll see the majority of people aren't embracing the idea. Unless you think the secret solyant green approach is the right way forward, then I can't see it catching on for most people.

I wouldn't choose to but in many countries it's their normal so each to their own really.

Thank you all for your thoughts! You've given me a lot to think about.

Yes I would and I have done. We've tried meal worm burgers which were interesting. I've also eaten one or two of the dried meal worms you get for birds just to horrify them

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’…

When you go to a farm with your children do you look at the chickens and think "Mmm, kentucky fried!" ? (Well maybe you do) but either way you wouldn't pick it up and take a bite out of it would you?

I don't particularly fancy eating insects but I do think it's possibly more ethical than eating animals since as far as I know, insects don't experience pain/fear quite the same as mammals and birds do.

I wouldn’t. And I can live without prawns to make a point if necessary.
I think eating simple food and as much closer to season as possible is the key. I would rather teach my DD that.

Just go vegan, for goodness' sake.