Entomophagy: Should eating insects be socially acceptable?

[NDN]

In numerous cultures world-wide, including that of my mother, eating insects is socially acceptable. Obviously, that is not the case here and other areas in the West. My question is, should we attempt to do away with this taboo? I'm of the opinion that we should, I mean look at these advantages:

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Not to mention they add a little spice and extra-variety to our national palette.

[Blerpiez]

You can't "get rid" of a taboo or make something socially acceptable, however people might come to accept certain behaviors over time.    Personally, I don't see what's wrong with eating insects, although I would not do so myself.

[NDN]

You can't "get rid" of a taboo or make something socially acceptable, however people might come to accept certain behaviors over time.

That's pretty much what I meant.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Should be legal, I'd never do it.

[NDN]

Should be legal, I'd never do it.

Not even chocolate ants?

[they don't love you like i love you]

No.

[NDN]

You realize you (unintentionally) consume insect parts daily anyway, right? It's impossible to get them out of certain fruit, vegetables, etc.

[they don't love you like i love you]

That doesn't mean I'm going to deliberately and knowingly eat them.

[Padfoot]

As long as I don't have to watch other people eat them whilst I am also trying to eat they should be legal.    I'm not too keen on eating any arthropods that don't come from the ocean but if other people want to do it I don't see why they shouldn't be able to.

[tik 🪀✨]

Wait, is this illegal somewhere?

[John Dibble]

I frankly just don't give a flying f**k. I doubt I'd eat a living insect like on Survivor, but I suppose if you cooked them in a certain way I might give one a try.

[Ban my account ffs!]

I had enough trouble trying octopus. 

I mean... a steak or..

a really tough, leathery, suction-cuppy, crap tasting hunk of sea creature over rice?

I'll take steak, please.

I don't think I could knowingly consume insects.  I know I've probably eaten my share of insects including spiders, mosquitoes, flies, etc. over my life time... but I couldn't do it knowingly.

I MIGHT try fried grasshoppers... and they might even be delicious.. but, to me, even if the flavor is excellent, there's always the texture to get over.  I won't eat insects just like I won't eat beef flavored jello.

[John Dibble]

I had enough trouble trying octopus. 

I mean... a steak or..

a really tough, leathery, suction-cuppy, crap tasting hunk of sea creature over rice?

I'll take steak, please.

I'd try some calimari again if I were you, just at a different place - it's always a bit chewy, but how it's cooked has a big impact.

[Alcon]

I'd try insects.  Why not?  It's not unhealthy - probably healthier.  It's not as if they object to dying even as much as cows or pigs.  I mean, to each their own, but this seems like a silly cultural taboo.

Considering the crap the average American eats in a given week, it's pretty amusing we're getting upset over bugs.

[David S]

If you want to dine on cockroaches its OK by me, but I think I'll pass.

[opebo]

I'm probably one of the few people on the board who regularly eat insects.. by regularly I mean every couple months I'll get a bag of grubs and/or a back of crickets, grasshoppers, whatever, from one of the fried insect ladies on the street.  They usually have fried shrimps too.  Everything is somewhat pre-cooked as far as I can tell, and she just fries it in hot oil with some herbs, tosses it in a bag, and sprays it with a salty sauce from a bottle. 

They really are a delicious snack, very salty and oily, that go well with beer or soft drinks.  Only warning is they're good for a between-meals snack but bad as an appetizer, as they're quite filling.  I can never finish mine, and always share them with the working girls.

NDN is your mother from Thailand?  Specifically Isaan?

[Alcon]

Other than fried insects, what kind of dishes do they prepare with insects, Opie?  Any main courses?

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

I'd try insects.  Why not?  It's not unhealthy - probably healthier.  It's not as if they object to dying even as much as cows or pigs.  I mean, to each their own, but this seems like a silly cultural taboo.

Considering the crap the average American eats in a given week, it's pretty amusing we're getting upset over bugs.

Quoted for truth. Personally I find crap like fried twinkies far more disgusting than eating cooked grasshoppers.

[opebo]

Other than fried insects, what kind of dishes do they prepare with insects, Opie?  Any main courses?

Well, there is a delicious (but somewhat 'rich') spicy sauce that is prepared from a huge water-bug that does look a bit like a cockroach.  It is served with all sorts of dishes, though it is not a staple.  I was most recently given it when in the market I bought a brace of flame-grilled frogs (toads?).

As for in a main dish, the only one I know of is a famous one - a lovely soup here in Isaan that contains ant eggs.  There are several very 'earthy' soups here that are somewhat but not super spicy but full of herbs - they can dark green or even black.  

I love the ant egg soup - there are even sometimes a few stray ants in it.. oh and also I saw a cool traditional dance that depicts the young men and women going out to collect ants in the forest, and using it as an opportunity to flirt and even touch.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

I'm probably one of the few people on the board who regularly eat insects.. by regularly I mean every couple months I'll get a bag of grubs and/or a back of crickets, grasshoppers, whatever, from one of the fried insect ladies on the street.  They usually have fried shrimps too.  Everything is somewhat pre-cooked as far as I can tell, and she just fries it in hot oil with some herbs, tosses it in a bag, and sprays it with a salty sauce from a bottle. 

They really are a delicious snack, very salty and oily, that go well with beer or soft drinks.  Only warning is they're good for a between-meals snack but bad as an appetizer, as they're quite filling.  I can never finish mine, and always share them with the working girls.

NDN is your mother from Thailand?  Specifically Isaan?

NDN is from new england and has never tried eating insects. He's just open-minded to the possibility.

[minionofmidas]

A mix of options 1 and 3.

[Alcon]

Well, there is a delicious (but somewhat 'rich') spicy sauce that is prepared from a huge water-bug that does look a bit like a cockroach.  It is served with all sorts of dishes, though it is not a staple.  I was most recently given it when in the market I bought a brace of flame-grilled frogs (toads?).

That sounds awesome.  What kind of taste does it have?

As for in a main dish, the only one I know of is a famous one - a lovely soup here in Isaan that contains ant eggs.  There are several very 'earthy' soups here that are somewhat but not super spicy but full of herbs - they can dark green or even black.

Soups would make sense.  I suppose there's a limited range of what you can do with something so small.

I love the ant egg soup - there are even sometimes a few stray ants in it.. oh and also I saw a cool traditional dance that depicts the young men and women going out to collect ants in the forest, and using it as an opportunity to flirt and even touch.

How common are these dishes?  Obviously not staples, but can you find them in virtually every town?

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

A mix of options 1 and 3.

An interesting set of choices... why?

[minionofmidas]

There are abundant insects that are healthy for you - I have no problem acknowledging that fact. I don't necessarily think eating insects should be "encouraged", but I don't think it should be discouraged either. But I've no particular intention to try it. (I know a guy who, when he catches an ant, pops it into his mouth and eats it, btw.)

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

There are abundant insects that are healthy for you - I have no problem acknowledging that fact. I don't necessarily think eating insects should be "encouraged", but I don't think it should be discouraged either. But I've no particular intention to try it. (I know a guy who, when he catches an ant, pops it into his mouth and eats it, btw.)

Ah fair enough. I'd advise against eating wild caught insects(pesticides) so your friend isn't exactly doing the smart thing.