Fans of the classic 1973 children’s book How to Eat Fried Worms can read it with the vicarious pleasure that comes from hearing about someone else doing something disgusting.
But sometimes a kid wants to do something disgusting himself. That’s what the St. Louis Public Library Fear Factor Food events for teens offer. The branches of the library have been presenting a free program for kids this month that features a series of escalating “can-you-eat-it?” dares. (Check the SLPL Web site for the schedule.)
The foods are not really that gross for the most part, explained Patty Carleton, the library’s director of youth services. They’re just things that kids don’t typically eat. The challenges, in order, are tomato juice, prunes, seaweed rice crackers, spicy wasabi peas … and dried crickets.
“The crickets leave a ‘hairy’ taste in your mouth,” reported Carleton. “Their legs are hairy. But you can wash it down with tomato juice.
“We had three flavors of crickets,” she added. “We’ve already run out of the bacon and cheese. The sour cream and onion, and salt and vinegar are less popular, so we still have those.”
Teens in sixth grade and up are invited to the Fear Factor Food contests, and if they eat all five foods, they’re entered into a drawing for a gift card.
“Chow down,” said Carleton, in conclusion. “I dare ya.”
– Byron Kerman
This article appears in Mar 1-31, 2010.