Peanut butter, banana, and cricket smoothie (dog-friendly!)

As our climate changes, so will our diets. Fix’s Climate Future Cookbook introduces you to foods that show what sustainable, equitable, and resilient eating could look like. Do try this at home.

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July 2042

It’s another heatwave. They still call it that, even though these brutal temperatures have long since become the summer norm. Tally and Spoons burst into the AC after a shortened jog. Tally peels off her sweat-drenched running clothes while Spoons, panting, lies down directly on top of the vent. Liz is, of course, still asleep.

After a cold shower, Tally starts throwing together her protein-packed morning smoothie. Spoons trots into the kitchen, still panting. It’s a tough time for such a fluffy dog. Tally scratches his soft ears, then digs around in the back of the tiny freezer. She calls out to her partner.

“Liz? Did you make more frozen dog treats yesterday?” Groggily, Liz mumbles something that sounds like a negative. Damn.

Tally drops two precious ice cubes into the dog’s bowl, which he quickly crunches. Then she looks down at the smoothie in her hand. Liz wanders into the kitchen, stifling a yawn. “Sorry. I’ll make some now.”

“It’s OK,” Tally says. “Do you think I can give him a little of this?”

Liz shoots her a quizzical look. “Your meat smoothie?” Liz is a vegan, but despite her teasing, Tally knows that she secretly approves of insect ag and what it’s done for the food system. The pair of them stand together in the kitchen, doing some quick Googling. Can dogs have cinnamon? Can dogs have stevia? (Both are fine, in small amounts.) Peanut butter and crickets are a no brainer — dogs eat them all the time.

After a minute, they reach a conclusion — why not? Tally pulls a half-cup measurer out of the drawer and scoops some of her cold smoothie into the bowl. Spoons wags his tail and begins to slurp.

Learn about insect protein