A food writer said she gives her 18-month-old daughter crickets as a protein replacement and claims it saves her money on groceries.
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Tiffany Leigh penned an essay for Insider describing cutting off her daughter’s protein diet of beef, chicken, and pork by using crickets as a substitute. Leigh gives her daughter whole roasted crickets with cricket protein powder and cricket puff snacks, a treat similar to Cheetos. Doing so reduced her grocery bill from $250 to $350 to $150 or $200 weekly.
“My baby and I are both hopping (pun wholly intended) onto the cricket bandwagon. She’s at the age where she’s fearless and curious, so this is an opportune time to try more “exotic” foods that aren’t considered a dietary staple in North America.”
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Leigh also followed the advice of board-certified pediatric dietician and nutritionist Venus Kalami about switching her daughter’s diet, as Kalami emphasizes building a positive relationship surrounding food with your child. She said she learned she could’ve started her daughter with the cricket-based diet when she was six months old.
Additionally, crickets can be modified for safety reasons as babies are still transitioning to solid food during that stage.
“Eating bugs may seem like a novelty to many North Americans, but we’re missing out because they’re a nutritional powerhouse. Kalami said that “many insects are packed with key nutrients like high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, minerals like iron (some have more than beef) and zinc, vital B vitamins, and more.”
However, Leigh did admit that she was intially freaked out by the crickets when she opened the package for the first time. “You could see their little heads, thoraxes, and abdomens all clustered together. I hate to admit it, but touching them was a little icky for me. Thankfully, I restrained my facial expressions, let her peer into the bag, and grab a cricket out for herself,” she explained.
Her daughter was not impressed by the bugs at first and Leigh decided to hide them in various foods so the toddle can enjoy them.
Social media reacts to the cricket-based diet and had various opinions on it.
After the story went viral on social media, Twitter users were divided since it involves eating insects as a protein substitute.
Same people revolted then go to Red Lobster and eat this pic.twitter.com/55BDySRx1a
— SWAZEE (@SWAZEE) April 25, 2023
Damn this is taking cheap to a godlike level. pic.twitter.com/vniUgT3Vu9
— J2THEGZO (@Baldee_X) April 25, 2023
Usually second or third countries will use insects as their main source of protein
— DioDiablo702 (@SharpyRokOut) April 25, 2023
Eating insects, including crickets, has been gaining popularity in recent years as an alternative source of protein. While it may seem unappetizing to some, there are actually many benefits to incorporating crickets into your diet
Crickets use far less water and food to generate the same quantity of protein as traditional livestock such as cows and pigs. They also emit fewer greenhouse gases and require less area to cultivate. As a result, crickets are a more sustainable and environmentally friendly protein source.Crickets are a fantastic option for folks who have dietary allergies or intolerances. They are devoid of gluten, soy, and dairy, and are less likely to induce adverse responses than traditional protein sources such as nuts or shellfish.