Have you ever eaten a bug?

2015-03-20T16:51:10-04:00

This article got me thinking about this: http://www.wired.com/2015/03/well-eat-grasshoppersonce-know-raise/

I'm wondering who has already eaten bugs, whether in SERE school, an actual survival situation, exotic cuisine, or whatever.

What was the situation? Was it enjoyable? Would you do it again? And, do you think we should make bugs a major part of our food supply?

We’ll All Eat Grasshoppers—Once We Know How to Raise Them

The ick factor isn't the only thing keeping grasshoppers from being a viable food in North America. The real problem is learning to farm them.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2015 6:43 PM

2015-03-20T18:43:46-04:00

A few in SERE and a bowl of oil fried crickets in a remote outpost in Niger. I'm told it was a delicacy. It was the polite thing to do and lets face it, you can fry anything and it'll taste decent.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Mar 20 at 2015 6:56 PM

2015-03-20T18:56:02-04:00

I ate a couple in Infantry OSUT, for the experience, and because I got hungry, and I got a bunch of guys to promise to pay me. I figured I could be the only guy in the platoon to make $60 on our FTX ... unfortunately most of them stiffed me, and I got less than $30.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 20 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-03-20T19:08:26-04:00

Had silkworm larva while stationed in Korea, and bee larva while visiting in Vietnam....if you are eating a "bug" voluntarily, the bee larva is actually pretty good....I didn't care for the silkworm larva.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Mar 20 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-03-20T19:29:03-04:00

I'm sure I've eaten more than I care to realize, but not intentionally!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-03-20T19:29:26-04:00

Slimy yet satisfying
- Pumbaa

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 12:07 AM

2015-03-21T00:07:25-04:00

Yep, on several occasions. My favorite was in Ecuador. Our guide split open a branch in the rain forest to reveal dozens of little, brown ants scurrying around. He scooped some up and ate them, then invited us to try it. I ate a few of them and enjoyed it, once I got used to feeling them wiggling around on my tongue. They tasted like lemon! =)

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Mar 21 at 2015 12:16 AM

2015-03-21T00:16:45-04:00

Not my favorite food source but sure beats being hungry.

Response by CPL Aaron Cottingham made Mar 21 at 2015 12:35 AM

2015-03-21T00:35:38-04:00

I have as well, eating is eating. Honestly, in a few situations it was purely by choice

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 1:51 AM

2015-03-21T01:51:14-04:00

For all the times I've eaten from mermites at Fort Stewart I've probably eaten a pound of gnats that got onto everything on my plate.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 3:33 AM

2015-03-21T03:33:37-04:00

Just about everybody has eaten a bug, even if they didn't realize they were doing it.

Even with the use of modern pest control, insects partially contaminate most agricultural products upon harvest and on the way to market. From canned corn to curry paste, from premium coffee to peanut butter, most foods contain insects. For example, when tomato ketchup qualifies for the highest USDA grade standard possible, it's required to contain no more than 30 fruit fly eggs per every 100 grams (3.5 ounces) [source: North Carolina State University Department of Entomology].

Response by PO3 Brad Phlipot made Dec 12 at 2015 3:58 AM

2015-12-12T03:58:31-05:00

Yes but it gets better. Upon reaching a fresh water pond and noticing the pond Lilly's I recalled that the bulb attached to the Lilly's base below the water could be eaten after removing the skin around the bulb tasting some what like a sweet potato, what I did not think about was the foot note that indicated they will constipate you, the following couple of days were at best uncomfortable.