WORDS by Rebecca McKenna


TODAY I was pondering hot new topics in nutrition to write about, when two stories I had tried to block from my mind resurfaced…Cockroach milk and blue algae! It made me wonder, how far will we really go to get to the “next level” when it comes to food.

To be honest, these two foods sent shivers up my spine when I thought about consuming them. So what is it about cockroach milk and blue algae that makes people consider mixing it with their morning coffee?

Apparently, the milk of a particular cockroach is packed full of protein and scientists are considering it a superfood of the future! It contains more than three times the amount of energy of cow’s milk. It turns out that this cockroach milk is actually “super” in a different way to regular superfoods as it is being seen as a way to provide malnourished people with extra calories and energy. I am all for sustainable food, but it would take a lot of convincing for me to drink milk from an insect that sends me into a Mortein spraying frenzy whenever I see one!

The blue algae is a whole new level too. It has taken my brain a while to process that a café in Melbourne is serving up something that will shut down swimming holes! Of course I am sure it is 100% safe to drink, but reading through the reviews, most people are not fans of the “smurf latte”. From what I can tell, there is very little nutritional benefit from drinking the blue algae so it is purely for aesthetics.

Comment below to let us know what weird foods you would or have tried? Would you drink cockroach milk?

Rebecca is an Accredited Practising Dietitian. To talk to her about your individual nutrition needs visit www.rebeccamckennanutrition.com.au