昆蟲漢堡、蟋蟀比薩——聽到這些“新鮮”菜式的名字，你是垂涎欲滴還是腦袋發懵？不論你接受與否，蟲子這種不同尋常的食材已在世界各地流行起來。隨著人口增長，人們已經開始尋找含蛋白質等營養物質的可替代食品資源，有越來越多的企業也借此潮流探索全新的商業機會。本集《隨身英語》介紹這種食材的特色，帶你拓展“味蕾”。

課文內容

Vocabulary: Food 詞匯:食物

Feeling hungry? How about some worms with your spaghetti? Perhaps some ground cricket to sprinkle on your pizza? Or maybe just a good old bug burger?

While the idea of eating insects disgusts many, don’t be surprised if you find creepy-crawlies on your own plate before long.

Why? Because insects could hold the key to the challenge of feeding the world’s growing population. With the number of humans on the planet expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, the search is on for alternative sources of protein beyond the traditional meat and fish.

Insects are not only high in protein, but also minerals and amino acids, according to Shami Radia, co-founder of Grub, a company which sells edible bugs. “Insects are the original superfood,” says Radia.

Environmentally, insects produce less greenhouse gas, use less water and take up less farmland than conventional livestock farming, meaning they have a smaller impact on the planet.

So if they’re good for the environment and good for you, why aren’t we eating insects? In fact, in many places we already are. It’s estimated that two billion people around the world eat insects as part of their diet. But most Western nations have not yet adopted the practice.

It’s the “yuck factor” that stops them from eating bugs, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme. People in the West generally view insects as unclean and carriers of disease. They’re seen as pests: they damage crops, destroy furniture and live in dirty places.

But perhaps attitudes are slowly shifting. Certain types of insects are becoming more palatable to consumers, such as locusts and grasshoppers. Nick Cooper sells insects as food through his UK company Crunchy Critters, and has seen a sales growth rate of 25% year on year. He believes young people are more open to eating insects.

Shami Radia believes that munching bugs will one day become as popular as eating sushi. "Behaviour can be changed," he says. "Prawns are ugly and taste delicious and there's no reason why eating insects can't be normalised."

詞匯表

ground 研磨成粉末的
sprinkle 撒、灑（食物）
bug 小蟲子
creepy-crawly 令人生厭的爬蟲
to hold the key to 是……的關鍵、掌控
the search is on 已經開始尋找
protein 蛋白質
mineral （人體必需的）礦物質
edible 可食用的
superfood （對健康十分有益的）“超級食品”
livestock 牲畜（包括牛、羊、雞等）
yuck （尤表示食物惡心的感嘆詞）呸
pest （毀壞農作物的）害蟲或動物
palatable 可口的，合胃口的
locust 蝗蟲
crunchy 酥脆的
critter 生靈，生物
year on year 與上一年同比
to munch 大口地吃，津津有味地吃
to normalise 使……正常化

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. Why might we all be eating more insects in the future? 

2. What nutritional advantages do insects offer?

3. What stops many people in the West from eating bugs?

4. Which word means ‘plants grown for food’?

5. What does Shami Radia believe is the key to selling more insects as food?

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

1. I just can’t imagine ever eating __________. They’re disgusting.

creepy crawly        bugs        insect        superfood 

2. The idea of eating insects is more __________ if I can’t see their eyes, wings or legs. I just hate the thought of eating insect wings.

edible        palatable        yuck        disgusting

3. This strategy __________ our success. We all have to work hard to make it happen.

hold the key        holds key        holds the key        holds the keys

4. I like my food to be __________. I don’t like anything with a completely soft texture.

smooth        crunchy        ground        edible

5. This bread isn’t __________ any more. It’s hard and covered in mould.

crunchy        yuck        good old        edible

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. Why might we all be eating more insects in the future?  
The author says that as the world population increases, we’ll need to find new sources of food. This will include new sources of protein such as insects.

2. What nutritional advantages do insects offer?
Insects are high in protein, minerals and amino acids.

3. What stops many people in the West from eating bugs?
People in the West think insects are unclean, carry disease and are pests which destroy useful things. They have a “yuck factor”.

4.Which word means ‘plants grown for food’?
Crops.

5. What does Shami Radia believe is the key to selling more insects as food?
Shami Radia believes we need to make the idea of eating insects become normal so that people’s behaviour will change.

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

1. I just can’t imagine ever eating bugs. They’re disgusting.

2. The idea of eating insects is more palatable if I can’t see their eyes, wings or legs. I just hate the thought of eating insect wings.

3. This strategy holds the key to our success. We all have to work hard to make it happen.

4. I like my food to be crunchy. I don’t like anything with a completely soft texture.

5. This bread isn’t edible any more. It’s hard and covered in mould.