When I was a child, one April Fools' Day a newspaper published a recipe for worm cookies. As an extension of that joke, my dad wanted to actually bake them, take them to the university where he taught, and share them with his colleagues. My mother convinced him not to do it, but if my dad's colleagues were like him, they probably would have loved worm cookies.
I remember in my dad's office, he used to keep a terrarium of mealworms, which he fed apple slices. When my sister, brother and I would visit his work, my dad would pluck one out, pop it in his mouth and grin as he swallowed it whole.
Clearly, my dad has a unique sense of humor. But in retrospect, his preoccupation with worm eating was actually rather forward-thinking. More and more, I see news stories that suggest insects are the future of food. High in protein, insects offer a sustainable alternative to meat, these stories argue. After all, 80 percent of the species on this planet are bugs.
It may sound like an April Fools' punchline (or a dream come true, if you're my dad), but I assure you - it's not.
So, dig in?