Chew or swallow.

That is the question everybody asks as Kathleen Burton, executive director of Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, gets ready to sit down for a special meal.

It is Sunday afternoon and the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary is hosting an afternoon of nature lessons under the heading of Grossology that allows visitors to learn more slugs, snakes, and spiders. But the undeniable highlight of this journey into B次元官网网址渢he secret world of the revoltingB次元官网网址� as the centre calls it is of a gastronomical nature.

The setting itself could not have been more picturesque. Sparkles danced across Swan Lake as the sun streamed through the window, where staff had a set up a small table for Burton. A simple B次元官网网址榬eservedB次元官网网址� sign and colourful flowers pinned down a white table cloth. The dinner ware was rimmed porcelain. Everything looked very elegant, if romantic, where it not for the fact that the food on the plate was still wriggling.

Minutes before Burton sits down, five live meal-worms were squiggling and squirming on the plate. By the time, Burton had sat down, their numbers had grown to six, after local realtor Krista Voitchovsky had donated $500 towards the Give-a-$heet campaign to restore the floating boardwalk at Swan Lake. This of course meant that Burton was about to sit down for a $3,000 meal, but she wasnB次元官网网址檛 exactly watering at the mouth.

B次元官网网址淒oes anybody want to share?B次元官网网址� she asked the 30 people, who had gathered around her table to watch her chow down. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy to share.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淣o,B次元官网网址� responded the crowd, with laughter. After Burton had thanked the various donors, she sat down. B次元官网网址淲ant do you think, one at a time?B次元官网网址� she asked. The audience however was baying for Burton to eat standing up. Obliging, she showed for everyone to see. B次元官网网址淥h, they are wiggling off the plate,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 you let them escape,B次元官网网址� said Coral Forbes, naturalist.

B次元官网网址淥h, look at them wiggle,B次元官网网址� said Burton. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 shaking. Here we go. Num, num, num.B次元官网网址�

People cheer and clap after Burton has chewed down on the first worm. But her facial reaction left no doubt that she did not savour it.

B次元官网网址淎ll right, that is one,B次元官网网址� she says, as her cheeks are contorting with disgust. B次元官网网址淥h, they are not yummy, letB次元官网网址檚 just say.B次元官网网址�

But Burton is game and she actually praises the second worm. B次元官网网址淥h, that one is kind of nice,B次元官网网址� she says, seemingly surprised by her own reaction.

Number three and four go down easier and Burton is obviously having fun now.. B次元官网网址淚 could be on Fear Factor now,B次元官网网址� she says, matter-of-factly.

Number five leaves behind a bad taste, but BurtonB次元官网网址檚 ordeal is about to end.

B次元官网网址淜athleen, Kathleen,B次元官网网址� cheers the crowd in unison. She then chases the empty plate with a glass of cranberry juice. B次元官网网址淥h, that is much better, much better,B次元官网网址� she says.

So how did it taste? B次元官网网址淭hat first one was really disgusting,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭hat thing exploded in my mouth.B次元官网网址� But good causes often demand difficult sacrifices and SundayB次元官网网址檚 unusual gets the centre closer to its goal of replacing the floating boardwalk.

This said, the centre still needs to raise $400,000 to $500,000, or about anywhere between 800 and 1,000 mealworms. B次元官网网址淚f a big donation were to come in, I would gladly eat a full meal of mealworms. But I think I would have to have them cooked, and sauteed and flavoured. But I would do it.B次元官网网址�