Alternative sources of protein

Let’s face it; Earth is overpopulated. Today’s crisis is just the first of many to come, each more violent and unpredictable. Cynics out there reckon that one way out of our predicament would be to feed the homeless to the poor. The idea has merit, but with the credit crunch biting harder, we should consider alternative forms of protein and I doubt cannibalism is the way to go. But fret no more; I have the answer: a wonderful source of cheap food. 

“Rats! This sounds too good to be true.” 

Mmmm... you’re a clever one. How did you guess?

On a recent trip, a friend complained about the damage French culture had done to the Haitians. When African slaves first arrived in Haiti, they were well nourished. They brought with them the African practice of consuming rodents. Once the French colonists imposed on the slaves a change of diet—from rats and mice to French white bread—their nutritional state fell rapidly.

My friend reckons Haitians should sue the French for damages.

Think about it; rat is as ethical a dish as you can serve on a dinner plate.

Low-fat Rat meat is a healthy alternative to rice and grains and has the food values of chicken, not only in protein but also throughout the entire spectrum of nutrition. 

Low in food-miles Since rats are coprophagous (they eat excrements among many other things) they’re ideally suited to cities. We could turn our sewers into efficient low-cost farms; bolster employment and net huge savings on transportation costs. 

Natural grown For those concerned about organic stuff, rats are as free range as you can get. 

Easy to cook Rat meat has almost no bones and is thus ideal for children and fussy eaters. It’s a little spongier than chicken and gentle on the stomach. 

From future posts, you can collect a treasure of yummy recipes I collected in Africa and India: stews, pies, hearty soups, and delicious sandwiches to pamper the most demanding palates.