I watched a teenager for whom I was responsible eat an ant today. The situation was simple. Ants were on the counter. Someone found one in his soup. I joked that they were a great source of protein and that I’d heard they tasted like nuts. So another young man looked at me, at the ants, back at me, then promptly grabbed/smeared a couple of them on his finger and ate them. He confusedly said, in a low voice, that they just tasted salty. Then he returned to his own soup.
For the record, I am not in any way grossed out by the concept of eating insects (the practice may be another matter) because many, many human cultures do it. I’m not worried about this young man’s health as a result of eating a couple smushed ants. I am, however, worried about my own judgment in suggesting it. I should not turn thirty any time soon and you should definitely not entrust your children to my care.
Unless, of course, you come from an insectivore community. Just pack your own lunch- the ants here are way too salty.
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