Sustainable food means getting out of comfort zones by Chef Ellard
One obvious thing we learned from our recent around the world trip is that people in different countries eat very different things. We encountered many unusual foods that would not be considered edible in our country but are actually very sustainable, healthy and delicious.
But we have to get out of our comfortable boxes in order to discover new foods that might be better for our overall health and the health of the environment. As the Japanese proverb goes "The Frog in the Well Does Not Know the Great Sea". Don't get stuck in well.
But we have to get out of our comfortable boxes in order to discover new foods that might be better for our overall health and the health of the environment. As the Japanese proverb goes "The Frog in the Well Does Not Know the Great Sea". Don't get stuck in well.
3 unusual things we ate that are sustainable, healthy, and delicious:
Jellyfish Salad (Vietnam)
In many Asian countries jellyfish is considered a delicacy. In the West, this ocean inhabitant is plentiful but considered an invasive nuisance. We ate jellyfish salad in Danang Vietnam and it was delicious. It was surprisingly crisp with a nice mouthfeel to and mild flavor. Try it! Check out this article and recipe on edible jellyfish.
In many Asian countries jellyfish is considered a delicacy. In the West, this ocean inhabitant is plentiful but considered an invasive nuisance. We ate jellyfish salad in Danang Vietnam and it was delicious. It was surprisingly crisp with a nice mouthfeel to and mild flavor. Try it! Check out this article and recipe on edible jellyfish.
Fried Scorpions (Thailand)
Many Asian countries eat scorpions and I have to admit I’m hooked. I ate one on a stick and it tasted like…wait for it…bacon! Although it is kind of a novelty in tourist areas scorpions can indeed make a great food staple which requires a lot less resources than raising that pig. Check out this article - How to Mindfully Eat Scorpions.
Many Asian countries eat scorpions and I have to admit I’m hooked. I ate one on a stick and it tasted like…wait for it…bacon! Although it is kind of a novelty in tourist areas scorpions can indeed make a great food staple which requires a lot less resources than raising that pig. Check out this article - How to Mindfully Eat Scorpions.
Fresh Seaweed (Japan)
I love seaweed! And so when we arrived to the island of Nakajima our hosts quickly got us set up harvesting wakame and hijiki seaweed. We then learned how the Japanese process it, prepare it, and best of all we ate it fresh. Seaweed is plentiful and high in many important nutrients. We should be eating more of it. Read more here: Edible Insect and Seaweed Are Perfect Sustainable Foods.
I love seaweed! And so when we arrived to the island of Nakajima our hosts quickly got us set up harvesting wakame and hijiki seaweed. We then learned how the Japanese process it, prepare it, and best of all we ate it fresh. Seaweed is plentiful and high in many important nutrients. We should be eating more of it. Read more here: Edible Insect and Seaweed Are Perfect Sustainable Foods.
