Summertime is synonymous with warmer temperatures, vacations and thoughts of dieting. Whether it’s going gluten free, doing a juice cleanse, eating only raw foods or giving Paleo a shot, people are willing to try all kinds of things if it equals weight loss. But for those who are a little more adventurous and forward thinking, we have a suggestion: cricket flour. That’s right, cricket flour. Not only are crickets packed with micronutrients and healthy fats, but they’re also one of the most sustainable and water-efficient sources of protein on the planet. Still not sold on the idea? The people at Bitty Foods have made the concept a little easier to digest. The insects are roasted and then milled into flour, which is used to make high-protein cookies and baking mixes, and it all started here. “Our business partner, Tyler Florence, is based up in Marin and so the Tyler Florence Test Kitchen is where we actually do all of our recipe development,” says co-founder Leslie Ziegler. The products are grain-free, made with coconut oil instead of dairy, and contain no processed sugars. They’re also a great choice for another specific group, says Ziegler: “We actually have a lot of vegetarian customers, simply because they have such a hard time getting protein in their diets.” It’s for reasons like these that many feel insect-powered foods could be the next big trend. According to a recent report published by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, edible insects may be the key to stabilizing the global food supply. If you’re up for the challenge, Bitty Foods products are now available at Woodlands Market in Tiburon and Kentfield.
Kasia Pawlowska loves words. A native of Poland, Kasia moved to the States when she was seven. The San Francisco State University creative writing graduate went on to write for publications like the San Francisco Bay Guardian and KQED Arts among others prior to joining the Marin Magazine staff. Topics Kasia has covered include travel, trends, mushroom hunting, an award-winning series on social media addiction and loads of other random things. When she’s not busy blogging or researching and writing articles, she’s either at home writing postcards and reading or going to shows. Recently, Kasia has been trying to branch out and diversify, ie: use different emojis. Her quest for the perfect chip is never-ending.
