The thought of even touching a worm can cause a person to squirm, let alone the concept of eating them. America portrays the worm as a slimy pink object whose sole value is to help fertilize dirt. The idea of eating something that eats dead organic material disgusts many people. However, in Thailand, locals consume bamboo worms, the larvae of moths that feed on bamboos, as a delicacy. These worms give the same amount of nutrients as meat, are low in fat, and are extremely high in protein and fiber and may help manage alergies and several immune disorders.

When the package first arrived I felt a mixture of fear, excitement and anticipation. After staring at three light green bamboo worms, I suddenly felt a wave of nausea. I imagined little worms that often grow in pancake mix, the tan colored ones that squirm when exposed to air, pale and fleshy. Suddenly, my excitement turned to disgust. Inside were dehydrated tan worms, with brown beady heads and shriveled bodies. After pouring them onto my palm, sweat began glistening on my hands. I popped it in my mouth and realized it really wasn’t that bad. In fact it was rather enjoyable. It had a zing to it similar to barbeque chips mixed with a dried shrimp flavor. The salt and flavoring on the worm were very prominent, yet at the same time one could imagine the live worm squiggling freely. The grainy aftertaste was definitely the worse. It was similar to eating sand, but it was bearable. If I had to I would definitely choose some popcorn or chips over a bag of worms.