Meatless Monday: Is it Cricket to Eat Crickets?

Is it Cricket* to Eat Cricket on Meatless Monday?

Technically, “NO,” since the Cricket is in the Gryllidae Family, in the Orthoptera (related to the grasshopper) Order, in the Insecta Class, in the Animalia (animal) Kingdom.



I would argue, however, that the idea of putting insects on our plates is not necessarily in conflict with the goals of the Meatless Monday Movement: to “help reduce meat consumption by 15%, to improve the health of our planet, as well as our personal health.” 

Crickets and other insects are a popular source of protein throughout most of the world — the exceptions being North America and Europe, where the the idea of eating an insect on purpose has a high “Yuck” factor. 

Insects are a highly sustainable source of food. It takes very little food and water to raise a crop. Raising beef requires a tremendous amount of water —  but raising vegetables also consumes a huge amount of this precious resource. Mother Jones published a shocking infographic a few weeks back showing how much water it takes to grow a range of crops from broccoli (5.5 gallons of water/one head) to strawberries (.4 gallons of water/1 berry). 

Insects are also highly nutritious. University of Illinois entomologist May Berenbaum stated in the article “Why Eating Bugs is Good for You”, “Protein is a big part of their [insects’] value nutritionally, but they also tend to be calorie- and lipid-rich and they are generally good sources of vitamins and minerals…There are ecological and economic benefits, too. [In general] some insects can be raised on foods that aren’t consumed by humans and rearing insects tends to produce far fewer greenhouse gas emissions.” 

Entomophagy is a small but growing movement in the US. I’m not talking about eating insects who’ve wandered into your pantry from who knows where after walking thorough who knows what. I'm talking about upscale dining.

Last year Mark Garrison of NPR’s Marketplace reported on a cocktail event at the Center for Social Innovation in New York. The featured speaker was Aruna Handa, founder of Alimentary Initiatives, who unveiled the company’s prototype of a compact cricket farm, designed to farm 2,500 crickets every 8 weeks. A number of cricket snacks from crickets on skewers to crickets camouflaged in crostini spread were served to patrons. 

Chapul has been experimenting with cricket-based energy bars for several years.

Thanks to my niece Sophie, a sophomore at Harvard, I learned of what is perhaps the newest entry into the Cricket Snack Food Scene.  Three recent Harvard grads formed a company — Six Foods [crickets have 6 legs] — and hired a professional chef to assist them in their Kickstarter Project to raise $30,000 to get their first product “Chirps” chips, in three flavors, to market.  One of the main ingredients of “Chirps” is cricket flour. The three founders: Laura D'Asaro, Meryl Natow, and Rose Wang, hope “to introduce crickets to the American diet, one chip at a time!” 

Watch what the tasters on the street had to say. The reaction from all ages seems to be “Thumbs Up,” even when the secret ingredient is revealed. And the Chirps founders have well passed their goal with 25 days left until the deadline.

While I’m not ready for a cricket farm, I am ready to try these chips. How about you?

On Mondays I often blog on food, food issues, or gardening in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Meatless Monday: Being Mindful of the Food We Eat

It’s Meatless Monday and Earth Day Eve — the perfect day to think about what and how we eat. 

Raising and transporting the food we eat requires huge amounts of natural resources. Yet, in 2010, over 30% of the total food supply in the U.S. was wasted. That’s 133 billion pounds of food, or 141 trillion calories—a staggering 1,249 calories per capita per day according to Eliza Barclay in the NPR blog The Salt! The EPA estimates that in 2011 Americans threw away 36 million pounds of food — from uneaten leftovers to spoiled produce. Clearly wasted food = wasted resources, but food that is landfilled also breaks down to produce methane, a greenhouse gas. Food waste accounts for the largest percentage of waste going into municipal landfills — 21%!

Whether we are vegans, vegetarians, or omnivores, each of us can take some steps to bring these numbers down. Here are a few ideas:

As you eat, be mindful of the resources need to grow your food, of the farmers who raised it, and the energy consumed to get it to you. The high cost of raising beef has received a lot of press, but have you ever considered how much water it takes to raise the strawberry? An infographic in Mother Jones makes it clear that every bite of food is a precious commodity.

Do what you can to reduce the carbon footprint of your food. 

• Try growing some of your own by starting as small as you like – say with an herb garden on your windowsill.
• Support your farmer’s market.
• Consider joining a CSA. 

Do what you can to cut down on your food waste.

• Check what’s in your fridge before heading to the store.
• Plan your meals ahead and shop with a list.
• Buy just the quantity you need in the bulk section.
• Eat your leftovers.

Convert your friends

Together we can make a difference.

Happy Earth Day!

On Mondays I often blog on food, food issues, or gardening in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Saturday Shorts: Getting Ready for Earth Day ’14

With Earth Day on Tuesday, “How to Live a Greener Lifestyle” is a popular theme in every form of media. 

The Original Earth Day logo

I’ve been sifting through the many hints and ideas I’ve heard and read as I look for new ways to make every day Earth Day — for some small steps I can take and sustain in the days ahead.

Here are some of the things I’ve tried:

• I’m attempting to grow Red Swallowwort Asclepias incarnata, a native milkweed important to the Monarch Butterfly. The Monarch Butterfly is wholly dependent on native plants from this genus for egg laying and larval feeding. These seeds have a really long germination time (sprout time of 21-40 days). So far one seed has sprouted. [If you look carefully towards the center of the pot, you will see a tiny green shoot with the seed case on its head.]

• I am continuing to cut back on prepared foods. Today for breakfast we had oatmeal with amaranth seeds, a dish I began last night by pouring boiling water over the grains and that I cooked in the morning. [More on this in a future Meatless Monday post.]
• I continue to find good homes for good stuff I no longer need. I can’t wait for EcoWorks, Inc. to find a building and get up and running.
• I got my old-school 1972 Raleigh Super Course tuned up and ready for next Saturday’s Rock to Rock Ride thanks to Sarah at the Devil’s Gear Bike Shop in New Haven. Want to support me? There’s still time. Here’s the link to my fundraising page.

This post was in the works before my friend Pennlee sent me this link to a story in the Los Angeles Times. “Finding Ways to Make Everyday Earth Day” addresses the anxiety that comes with wanting to do the right thing and examining the consequences of the lifestyle choices we make. The article concludes with a suggestion for raising our “consumption consciousness” by looking towards Buddhist mindfulness. David Glidden, a philosophy professor at UC Riverside urges that as we peel a tangerine we “think of all the resources that went into making that tangerine. Sun, water…As you eat each segment, think of all the people who labored to bring it to your table. If you do this, you will eat more slowly and consequently consume less.” I just happened to buy a bag of clementines today. I’ll be trying to do this small thing every day until they are gone. 

Let’s make every day Earth Day. Together.

Why Saturday Short Subjects? Some readers may recall  being dropped at the movie theater for the Saturday matinee — two action-packed feature films with a series of short subjects (cartoons or short movies, sometimes a serial cliffhanger) sandwiched in between. Often the short subjects were the most memorable, and enjoyable, part of the morning. That explains the name. The reason behind these particular posts is that we are all short on time. My Short Subject posts should not take me as long to write or you as long to read (or try).

Meatless Monday: The High Cost of Meat

Meatless Monday’s avowed goal is to help reduce meat consumption by 15%, to improve the health of our planet, as well as our personal health.

Thus, as we count down to Earth Day 2014, this seems a good day and a good place to share some sobering statistics on the costs of the escalating demand for meat. 

The World Watch Institute recently asked the question: Is Meat Sustainable? It concluded that “Like it or not, meat-eating is becoming a problem for everyone on the planet … it has become apparent that the human appetite for animal flesh is a driving force behind virtually every major category of environmental damage now threatening the human future —deforestation, erosion, fresh water scarcity, air and water pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice, the destabilization of communities, and the spread of disease.” World Watch claims that “per-capita meat consumption has more than doubled in the past half-century, even as global population has continued to increase. As a result, the overall demand for meat has increased five-fold. That, in turn, has put escalating pressure on the availability of water, land, feed, fertilizer, fuel, waste disposal capacity, and most of the other limited resources of the planet.”

Food Day shared the infographic below that sums up some of the costs of meat production and outlines in the "Driving Range" section the impact of going without meat one day a week for a year.

Infographic shared by Food Day

Time reported today that the retail cost of beef has reached its highest price since 1987 — $5.28/pound — as ranchers cope with severe drought conditions and Chinese and Japanese markets put increased demands on a limited supply. For various reasons the cost of pork and chicken is also on the rise.

Each day during the month of April, the EPA has posted a new action step on its blog. Yesterday’s tip was; “Think about the life cycle.” The EPA pointed out that “Forty two percent of carbon pollution emissions in the U.S. are associated with the energy used to produce, process, transport, and dispose of the food we eat and the goods we use. In every one of these stages of the life cycle, we can reduce our impact.” Here is the link to their fact sheet: Reducing Food Waste Basics.

If and when you choose to eat meat, keep in mind that meat has a high price tag — in terms of your budget, and, more importantly, for the environment. Don’t waste it — not one single bite.

On Mondays I often blog on food, food issues, or gardening in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Saturday Shorts: Counting Down to Earth Day 2014

The coming weeks are full of significant days, religious and secular, for reflection on how we live our lives and the state of the world in which we live — Passover (April 14-22), Tax Day (April 15), Easter (April 20), Patriot’s Day (April 21), and Earth Day (April 22). 

The original Earth Day logo

On Earth Day we are not called to religious services or family gatherings; we do not have the day off; we are under no legal obligation to observe it. But I hope that, like me, you choose to celebrate Earth Day every year. 

On April 22, 1970, Americans observed the first Earth Day, an event envisioned by Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin).

Less than one year later, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened its doors. According to information on the EPA website, “EPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment—air, water, and land—upon which life depends.”

Part of the EPA’s task is to educate citizens about ways in which they can save energy and resources. Each day during the month of April, the EPA has been posting a new action step on its blog. Here is a selection of previously posted tips. Click on the tip for the whys and hows.

• April 1: Change Five Lights.
• April 5: Caulk and Weather-Strip Around Windows and Doors in Your Home. 
• April 9: Take a Shower. 
• April 10: Recycle Used Electronics. 

Visit the EPA’s blog for more suggestions. You will find that these “Green” ideas will save you money, too.

Let’s all become a little Greener as we count down to Earth Day together.

Have a good weekend, and come back again soon.

Why Saturday Short Subjects? Some readers may recall  being dropped at the movie theater for the Saturday matinee — two action-packed feature films with a series of short subjects (cartoons or short movies, sometimes a serial cliffhanger) sandwiched in between. Often the short subjects were the most memorable, and enjoyable, part of the morning. That explains the name. The reason behind these particular posts is that we are all short on time. My Short Subject posts should not take me as long to write or you as long to read (or try).

Meatless Monday: A Better for You Brownie

Thanks to my cousin Angela for sharing this recipe with me a few weeks ago. I finally made a batch to share with friends and they were a big hit.

These brownies are for everyone: brownie lovers, vegans, followers of a gluten-free diet, and anyone looking for a healthier, while still tasty, treat.

Here is the link to Chocolate-Covered Katie’s Black Bean Brownies. 

Yes, that’s correct! The surprising main ingredient in this delicious dessert is a can of drained and well-rinsed black beans. The beans plus 1/2 cup of quick oats take the place of flour in this vegan-friendly, lower carb brownie recipe.

Since I was in unfamiliar territory, I followed the recipe exactly, choosing agave for the sweetener and coconut oil for the fat. I used 1/2 cup of SunSpire Fair Trade 42% Cacao Semi-Sweet Baking Chips. [These delicious chips are available at the Elm City Market in New Haven. To find a store near you, enter your zip code here.] 

Check here for nutrition info provided by Katie.  The beans and oatmeal supply a significant amount of protein and fiber, something you won’t find in the typical brownie.

These brownies did not rise as high as the brownies I usually bake, and their appearance was a little nubbier. People noticed, but I followed Katie’s advice and did not share the secret ingredient until they had taken a bite. Quelle surprise!

As Katie warns, be sure to blend the ingredients well, using a food processor if you have one, and don’t skimp on the chocolate chips. 

One more thing — they are even better when topped with a small scoop of something frozen in the vanilla or coffee flavor range.

Try ’em, you'll love ’em!

Have a great week!

On Mondays I often blog on food, food issues, or gardening in support of Meatless Monday, one of several programs developed in the Healthy Monday project, founded in 2003 in association with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications. Meatless Monday’s goal is “to help reduce meat consumption 15% in order to improve personal health and the health of our planet.”

Calling Citizen Scientists

If you live in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut, the New England Leaf Out Project (NELOP) is seeking your help, particularly if you live in the north country. NELOP is collecting very simple data — the date of the first sign of leaf out date for eleven common species of deciduous trees. Check out the NELOP list for a tree in a place you visit regularly, and then observe your chosen tree(s) every couple of days for the first signs of leaf out. Submit your observations, including information about the tree’s environment here. 

NELOP is cooperating in this research with the National Phenology Network and Project Budburst. Phenology is the branch of science dealing with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena, such as the date when leaves bud. Projects such as the Leaf Out Project and Project Budburst are compiling data to determine whether events such as leaf out, flowering, fruiting, and leaf fall are occurring earlier than they did in the past due to warming temperatures. These projects are recruiting citizen scientists to help them in their efforts.

If you have a favorite tree that did not make the NELOP list, visit Project Budburst  where there are 88 common species of deciduous tree from which to choose. Our new American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) does not appear on this list either, but there is another option. We are signing up to gather data throughout the growing season by downloading a generic form. 

American Hornbeam, Spring 2013

Do you live outside New England? Would you rather observe something other than a deciduous tree? There are plenty of other opportunities for you! Project Budburst is also seeking data on Wildflowers, Grasses, Conifers, and Evergreen Trees and Shrubs — both one-time and all season observations — from all over the country.

Trees will be leafing out any day now in Connecticut. I’ve downloaded my data entry sheet from Project Budburst and I’m ready to start spring leaf peeping. I’m psyched to join the National Phenology Network. How about you?