Eastern Iowa Hy-Vee Offering A Different Kind of Snack
The above image is supposed to make you feel a bit uncomfortable. Some people just are when it comes to insects. Especially when it comes to eating them. But at least one Cedar Rapids Hy-Vee store and some local co-ops are offering crickets as a new kind of snack food.
The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that the Johnson Avenue Hy-Vee store stocks the snacks from Gym-N-Eat Crickets. They are also available at the Iowa City Hy-Vee location on North Dodge Street, and at Pioneer Co-ops in Iowa City, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids.
The crickets are raised on a farm near Ames, Iowa. The Gazette reports that they come in several different flavors including Smokey BBQ, Hot and Spicy, Fiesta, and Dill Pickle. So why crickets? First of all the little critters are good for you! Crickets are high in both calcium and protein. They are low in fat and are also a great source of iron, omega, and B-12 vitamins. They also provide benefits for the environment. The Gazette reports that raising crickets takes a fraction of the land, water, and feed that it does to raise beef, pork, and poultry.
I've actually tried crickets before, and I have to admit that they weren't that bad! The only awkward point was picking a leg off my tongue. But the little guys tasted great! If you're looking for a new high-protein snack, give crickets a try!
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