By Jiminy: Belgian start-up puts crickets on the menu

A worker shows crickets at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A Brussels start-up is hoping to stir a culinary revolution in Belgium by pushing crunchy crickets as a protein alternative to meat.

Eco-friendly 'Little Food' said its crickets, which can be eaten dried, in different flavors such as garlic or tomato, or turned into flour, were also friendlier on the environment compared to some cattle farming.

"For the same amount of protein as a cow for instance, they (crickets) need 25 times less food, they need 300 times less water, and they produce 60 times less greenhouse gases," Little Food cricket breeder Nikolaas Viaene said.

A worker shows crickets at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

While eating insects is common practice in a number of countries, such as China, Ghana, Mexico and Thailand, Brussels residents seemed unsure about putting crickets on the menu.

Strolling in downtown Brussels, Efthimia Lelecas declined the offer of a cricket snack: "No, I'm not eating that," she said. "No, no, that looks awful, no, no...no."

A worker poses with a cricket between his teeth at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

(Reporting by Charlotte Steenackers; Editing by Patrick Johnston and Richard Balmforth)

Containers holding crickets in various flavours are shown at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Containers holding crickets in various flavours are shown at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

A worker shows crickets at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Crickets are shown near their nest at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Biscuits made of crickets are seen at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

A worker inspects crickets at a farm belonging to company "Little Food," which prepares and promotes food products made from crickets, in Brussels, Belgium June 9, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir