new food for old folks

It was a slow weekend for news, I think.  An item about entomophagy came up over and over again, one which made me react all wrong.

The deal is this:  some study (I think in the Czech Republic) revealed that with the current food crisis in the world, we might consider eating high-protein/low-fat insects.  I have no problem with the idea in general as I know that, in many countries, people actually do eat insects and apparently enjoy them, delicacy or ordinary fare. 

It was the suggestion that in the western world, we might consider giving insects to "old people" to assure a properly-balanced diet.  Whoa.  This is where I got upset.

I remember seeing an older person buying $0.25 cans of cat food (tuna) because she couldn't afford to buy fresh meat or fish.  I also saw others rummaging through the dented tin bin to buy stuff at greatly reduced prices.  Hunger will make you abandon pride.

Every day I hear about stories which deal with older people in "homes" (you know, Shady Pines, and all manner of names that are already so cemetery-like).  The stories deal with abuse:  older folks being beaten by "care-givers"; people sitting in their own piss'n'shit soaked diapers for entire days; "inmates" receiving no visitors, even on special holidays; folks being robbed by their own children. etc. etc. etc.  Conformity is asked of them, for the convenience of the institution.  Complaints are met with retaliation.  And, now, the suggestion is made that their lives would be better if only they ate bugs.

Culturally, it's going to take a bit for the western world to adopt an insect diet.  Older people aren't the ones who should be subjected to this "experiment".  There are others who might consider lining up to volunteer:  people of privilege:  rich, young, adventurous, trend-setting folks.  Make it look so exciting and let the marketing gurus and spin doctors go after the trend.  I'll limit myself to the no-see-ums which lurk in fruit and vegetables and get my high-powered protein that way, thank you.

Comments

[heather]

Yes, I agree. That's horribly ageist...

[MB]

The elders eating bugs just does not seem feasible. I had trouble getting my clients at the nursing home to eat anything but sweets!