People have been trying to make the whole
eating-insects-as-food trend happen for a while—bugs were even
just served at
Justin Timberlake's album-listening party. Now, years after brands first attempted to make bugs-as-protein a mainstream delicacy (that's also rich in iron an calcium), is it finally happening? According to one survey, the simple answer is no. At least not
yet.
A poll of 2,036 British consumers, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Grocer, found only 14 percent of people would ever think about eating insects as a snack. On top of that, just a fifth would eat insects if they were ground up into food. Clearly these Brits weren't even into the idea without teeny legs and antennae sticking out of their meals.
Even though it's been reported that two billion people (yes, billion!) regularly eat insects around the globe in order to get their protein fix, it's not even close to being the norm worldwide.
Even though it's been reported that two billion people (yes, billion!) regularly eat insects around the globe in order to get their protein fix, the practice is not even close to being the norm worldwide. Ants and beetle larvae are nutrition go-tos in Australia and Africa, and crispy-fried locusts are popular in Thailand. But despite beautifully packaged products like cricket energy bars and crackers to buffalo worms (yes, really), it's not something the worldwide masses have been able to get down with.
Because people are becoming increasingly concerned with the environmental impact of eating meat, insects might be adopted as a more sustainable source of protein in the future. For now, though, plant-based options like tofu, nuts, tempeh, and chickpeas might be your best bet for pleasing a crowd of socially conscious and super-trendy eaters—or, you know, just stick to anything that doesn't crawl or bite.
This is the protein-packed breakfast Pippa Middleton swears by. Or, try Ashley Graham's favorite post-workout snack to get your fix.
