You are therefore eating those tacos and someone brings up mealworms. Stop. Not those, the wiggling treats meant for reptiles? You would be in awe. In the field Premium Feeders of sustainable food and agriculture, these tiny organisms are organizing rather the coup.
Mealworms first of all are not prima donnas. They need just a sloshful of water and some discarded cardboard or leftover vegetables to flourish; they grow with little effort. Their capacity to subsist off leftovers sets them as environmentally responsible champions. Consider composting but with a twist. They eat through organic trash as though it were Sunday brunch’s hotcakes.
Let us venture into the gastronomic field. Picture a bowl of mealworm spaghetti. Remember, these tiny creatures pack a nutritional value before you pull back in terror. Protein is Inspect. The fiber? You stake. Bundled inside those small exoskeletons, it is a full feast of delight. Indeed, their wriggly bodies make them ugly, but that’s why someone clever devised pounding them into powder. straight out of sight, straight out of mind, right? And voilà, flour from meal worms! Your daily protein problems are toast if you sprinkle here, dash there.
Let us now consider the planet. Mealworms have less greenhouse gas emissions. Glancing at mealworms, cows and pigs ask, “How are you so efficient?” This implies, like choosing environmentally friendly shoes created from recycled materials, they have a less carbon footprint. It’s like offering Mother Earth a soft hug rather than a strong bear squeeze.
Ever considered the adaptability of the little mealworm? Beyond the kitchen, they are engineering whirl-balls! Those intelligent people in lab coats, scientists, are investigating their capacity to eat polystyrene, a nasty substance polluting our landfills. Imagine passing plastic through the belly of a mealworm. Though it sounds like something from a science fiction book, it is more in line with reality than we might believe.
The great question is whether mealworms can preserve the earth. Though not alone, they have most certainly carried their share more than some animals and merit standing ovations.
Got doubts? The concept of devouring something like the star of a natural history class project is difficult for you to grasp. That’s OK. Beginning small is a good idea. Feel the water—or worm—in this case with your toes. Get a sample ordered. Try seasoned snack foods made from mealworms. Call pals over for a taste and see how their eyebrows dance the Macarena.
Mealworms challenge us to reassess our presumptions, one chirping bit at a time, regardless of whether we are a die-hard environmentalist or someone who finds change objectionable. Look at them the next time you consider what is on your plate. Revolutions do, after all, begin in the most unlikely places.