The Cricket Craze -- Crispy Critters for Lunch at UConn

Come late summer and early fall, the chirping sound of crickets piercing the evening air can be a welcome auditory delight.

But what at lunch time? How about the sound of crunchy roasted crickets?

Yep — you read that right. Roasted crickets!

The crispy critters are the latest offering from the Food for Thought food truck on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, one of a few food trucks introduced to the campus this semester, according to WFSB.

The dining services chief told the television station that the school is trying to broaden students’ culinary horizons by offering healthy food options — including the roasted crickets that reportedly are loaded with protein.

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The cricket craze at UConn isn’t the first foray into foraging the woods for food.

The Cheshire-based Wayback Burger chain introduced the cricket shake this past summer. Until Sept. 30, the chain offered the ‘Oreo Mud Pie Cricket Protein Milkshake’ that was made with hand-dipped vanilla bean ice cream, Oreo Cookie Crumbles, Peruvian Chocolate Cricket Protein powder, chocolate and coffee flavors, according to the chain’s website.

The WFSB story can be found here.

In other UConn news: UConn Student Causes Scene Over Mac ‘n’ Cheese: WATCH

Photo: a plate of cooked crickets. Credit: shankar s. via Flickr.com.