1

Single page to start

Welcome to the

Creepy, Crawly Café (title)where you can sample some of the world’s yummiest insect dishes!

by Elizabeth Schleichert (byline)

Today’s Special (subhead)Enjoy our fresh, pan-fried grasshoppers, served atop mashed avocados on a corn tortilla. (Mexico)

(1st spread)CRISPY, CRUNCHY MENU (large sub-head)NO WAY you’d ever scarf down an insect, you say? Well, chew on this fact: In Asia, Africa, and Latin America, two and a half BILLION people regularly do just that. The Japanese often snack on grasshoppers fried in soy sauce and sugar. In Colombia, South America, people gulp down handfuls of ants like popcorn. Roasted termites and crickets are favorite treats in Nigeria, Africa. And, believe it or not, you’re often eat-ing insects, too--without realizing it. That’s because it’s nearly impossible to keep tiny bugs out of many foods. So the government allows small bits of them in peanut butter, chocolate, and black pepper, for example. Why choose to eat insects? First, there are plenty of them, plus they’re easy to find and catch. Worldwide, there are at least 1,000 species of edible insects, as well as spiders and scorpions. Second, insects are good for you-rich in nutrients and protein. (Protein builds and repairs your body.) And, compared to meat, bugs are low in the kinds of fats that can be bad for you. Third, if you can get past the “icky” part, many in-sects are delicious. As one expert says, “If people can have an open mind, it’s amazing how good insects can taste.” Finally, eating bugs can be good for the environment. Keeping (or catching) insects doesn’t take much, if any, land, water, or food. But raising livestock-cattle and sheep, for instance-takes up more than half of the world’s land and uses huge amounts of water and food.

Mini-captions /Call-offs to photos:Appetizers (subhead)

Dragonfly Delight You’ll love our signature dish of fried, de-winged dragonflies with red peppers on rice. (Indonesia)

‘Hoppers to Go You’ll want to jump on these juicy, grilled grasshoppers on a stick. (China)

Luscious Larvae This Southeast Asian treat is made up of beetle larvae, fried to a crisp. (Myanmar)

Entreés (subhead)

Wonderful Water Bugs A swirl of crunchy, deep-fried “toe-biters” is perfect with a just a little bite of tomato! (Thailand)

Pizza Deliciosa A sprinkling of leaf-footed bugs adds a fruity, sweet touch to the cheesy tomato sauce. (Thailand)

(box)What a Mouthful!Entomophagy (en-tuh-MOFF-uh-jee): The practice of eating insects.

3

Last page

Desserts & Sweet Treats (subhead)

Peachy Locusts Save room for these dainty, chocolate-dipped African locusts, perched on a slice of peach with a touch of strawberry. (Germany)

Sweeter Than Honey Take a bite of this chocolate cake and whipped cream topped with a frozen honey-pot ant. (Australia) Cricket Lick-It Ever seen a lollipop like this? (United States )

Mealworm Candied Apple below) Care for a bite? (United States)