1.Internet nutrition resources.2.entomophagy (insect eating) - Essay Example

Internet Nutrition Resources: Food and Nutrition Information Center I chose the United s Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Information Center (USDA-FNIC) with official site http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/about.shtml as the best site to bookmark for future online nutrition reference. It contains major subjects such as: Dietary Guidance, Lifecycle Nutrition, Diet and Disease, Food Composition, Weight and Obesity, Food Safety, Food Labeling, Dietary Supplements, Nutrition Assistance Programs, Survey, Reports and Research and Professional and Career Resources.

It is an on-line global information responsible in collecting and disseminating information about food and human nutrition. Aside from the subjects stated above, the site also includes Emergency Preparedness and Management, Report an illness or file a product complaint and check restaurant inspection scores that will increases awareness of its audience and encourages its audience to give feedback on a particular product. But this site lacks online forums and has limited search filters for audience search bar: only for consumers, unlike the other sites which offers more options such as parents, children, senior, caregivers and teachers.

The site is run by trained nutrition professionals, most of whom are registered dietitians (RDs) and it is a permanent entity within the National Agricultural Library (NAL). The Nutrition.gov offers similar information but with limited subject and scope in relation to nutrition. Food and Nutrition: Entomophagy“Entomophagy is the habit of eating insects as food” (Answers.com). Both Wikipedia.com and Answers.com, an online and internet reference, shared the same point of views in defining the subject.

The Ohio State University released a fact sheet entitled “Insects as Human Food – Microlivestocks,” the promotion of edible insects, foodstuff and its nutritional value (osu.edu). A study showed that insects like grasshoppers, ants, beetles, and mole crickets are rich in protein and low in cholesterol and fat. On the other hand, termites, caterpillars and weevils contain iron, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin.Mexican restaurants served fried grasshoppers, chocolate covered ants and tortillas with red and white agave worms.

For Columbia, they ground ants as spread on breads, while in Africa some insects are eaten raw or baked. Other countries such as, Philippines and United States have it fried, broiled or sautéed with vegetables. The following recipes were also famous in the United States: chocolate chirpie chip cookies made from dry-roasted crickets, bug blox made from dry-roasted leafhoppers, rootworm beetle dip made from dry-roasted rootworm beetles and banana worm bread made from dry-roasted armyworms. Insects contain essential amino acids, so it can be a source of protein for nutrition.

But there are also insects that are toxic and may create allergies, thus, some Americans chose not to eat insects. In addition, the US Food and Drug Administration is very strict on its policy, e.g. limiting insects and their parts in food crops, thus, giving a notion that insects are not good for health.Cited Works“Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet,” The Ohio State University. 23 October 2007 “Entomophagy,” 24 October 2007 “Entomophagy,” 24 October 2007