Who Knew That Crickets Would Lead To This?

​To date I have self-published a total of seven eBooks. Out of all of my titles the best selling one happens to be the one I have affectionately called my ‘cricket eBook.’ It currently has outsold all of my other eBooks combined. I can pretty much expect to see at least a couple copies of it being sold monthly. It just seems to have a life of its own and it keeps growing and growing.
 
This month, January 2019, it is tied for the most copies of my eBooks sold. My most recent title, “How To Start Podcasting – The Beginner’s Guide” has sold exactly the same number of copies in the first 30 days of 2019 as “The Foodie Guide To Farming Insects For Protein.” However, the ‘cricket eBook’ still has sold more copies of any of my self-published titles.
 
It was in October 2015 when I published my ‘cricket eBook’ and at the time there were no other guides like it on Amazon. Or at least I couldn’t find anything else about edible insects posted there. Now, there are several different eBooks that explore the subject rather well. My title was intended to be a simple guide on why insect protein could be an alternative.
 
One of the interesting reoccurring themes I found when researching the topic was that insect protein could ultimately eliminate world hunger. I have tried very hard to sidestep the political ramifications and focused on the dietary part of the equation. With insects a common part of the cuisine in many parts of the world, turning to insect protein wouldn’t be much of a leap.
 
Or you would think so.
 
What I like to refer to as the ‘ick factor’ continues to plague this issue. I’ll even admit that while chomping on a chocolate-coated cricket may not be my first choice, cricket flour I have no problem with. The same goes for cricket pasta and protein bars that contain cricket powder. It’s not hard for me to swallow any of those products – pun intended – as there is no ick involved.
 
At least there isn’t in my mind.
 
Even my wife, Brenda enjoyed dining on the same cricket products I have sampled. I think that’s because there is no real evidence that those dark specks that appear in the pasta, flour or powder look anything like a cricket. The ground up crickets that are the main protein sources in these products resemble ground peppercorns or any other speck you’d find in these foods.
 
This is why I think edible insects have a chance at becoming a logical protein source in many parts of the world. They look harmless and nothing like insects when pulverized to powder form. As for the interest in my eBook, I think there is still a fair deal of curiosity related to the whole idea of eating bugs. I’m talking about eating them intentionally and not as part of a dare.
 
Regardless, there continues to be interest in edible insects as my eBook sales indicate.