We started our exploration of the food system and climate change this year with a discussion about the power of culture. Scientists have determined that social comparison is the most effective way to get people to change their behavior—more powerful than education or monetary levers such as fines, coupons, or tax credits.
In the classroom we watched a video about local edible insect company Don Bugito, which is bringing back a food tradition that dates back thousands of years as we grapple with changing the way we produce protein in the United States. Don Bugito produces protein using far less land and water and generates far less waste than the production of cows, chickens, and pigs.
In the kitchen we took a pancake recipe from the fourth grade Edible Social Studies curriculum that highlights native plants such as strawberry and acorn and swapped in cricket flour for the acorn. At first, there was a lot of hesitation amongst the chefs to eat insects, but once the pancakes were beautifully browned and drizzled with maple syrup, they were very popular! Students also had the opportunity to try other treats from Don Bugito: toasted mealworms, chocolate covered crickets with amaranth, and coconut brittle “bugitos.” Seeing our friends around the table trying something different made it easier for all of us to experiment with a new way of cooking and eating.
