Edible insects: Applying Bakhtin’s carnivalesque to understand how education practices can help transform young people’s eating habits

Jones, Verity; Beynon, Sarah

Abstract

Western European populations are being encouraged to reconsider their diets in light of population growth and the associated intensification of farming systems. In addition, health concerns associated with diets high in sugar, salt and saturated fat are stimulating interest in alternative foods. Including insects in human diets may be one option to help feed a growing population more sustainably, but it comes with its own challenges. This paper reflects on a pilot project introducing edible insects into primary and secondary schools in Wales, UK. Using Bakhtin’s concept of the carnivalesque as a lens for reflection, the difficulties of introducing a novel food are considered and we provide an insight into how more sustainable, fringe practices may be framed in ways that allow them to be normalised.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 8, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Feb 9, 2020
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jan 9, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 10, 2021
• Journal: Children's Geographies
• Print ISSN: 1473-3285
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-3277
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 13-23
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2020.1718608
• Keywords: entomophagy; edible insects; attitude change, school, Bakhtin, carnivalesque
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5036680