Entomophagy

Mary Katherine:
Ander:

After reading the web pages and Barenbaum I never really thought about or knew we consume insects almost everyday. At first I was really grossed out just because I have learned about insects and their body parts. I have been learning everyday how insects eat or how they use each of their body parts, then I was told I eat these insects and their body parts. My first feeling was unsure and almost disgusted. After I thought about it for awhile I thought if I have been eating them for 21 years and I am healthy then they cannot be too harmful. I just never knew I would eat them. I have always heard of the horror stories of toddlers picking up insects and eating them and such and they were never harmed either, but it is just the concept of putting one of those in your mouth and chewing it an hearing it crunch in your mouth. Especially after I have learned so much, pinned them, smelt them, I was just initially horrified that I have been eating them for this long. I know they do not harm you or haven't harmed me yet because I have not had any problems but I just cannot get over the concept of eating insects. I do not think I would ever try an insect much less allow them to be my main source of protein. I could not take putting them in my mouth and crunching down on them. It gives me chills and just disgust me. I would never be able to be on one of those shows where they have to eat bugs because I would be the first one kicked off for gagging just watching someone who eats it. I have become better about insects and touching them but I am not comfortable eating them and I do not think I will ever be comfortable eating them! 

Prior to this class my knowledge of insects was slim to none. All I knew was if I saw and insect I was going to get freaked out and then try to kill it. After reading the web pages as well as Barenbaum I learned a lot of new things about insects in particularly that we eat insects almost on a daily basis. After learning this I was initially shocked and then grossed out. I could not believe that I ate insects without even knowing that I was. Then I thought about some of the foods that I regularly eat. For example some of the fast food places that I eat at our pretty gross themselves. So after a while I can to grips that I sometimes eat insects. I do not think it is that big of a deal because I am still healthy. The main reason I was disgusted is that in my mind I already think that insects are gross and because of this I freaked out when learning I ate insects. I do not think I could switch insects into my main source of dietary protein. However I do think I could eat insects if it were needed. I think I would be grossed out at first, but in time I would get use to it and be able to the insects. I would need a million dollars or more to make insects my sole source of protein though.