Eating Acorns, is it a good idea?

[Sumorai]

I have collected some acorns and I am considering eating them. It "seems" like a good idea. Have you ever eaten acorns?
I *think* they are edible from what I have read, but I am not sure. Apparently, some Native American tribes used to harvest them, but it seems that had special methods of preparing them.

1.Is it a good idea to eat acorns?
a. Are they edible?
b. Are they healthy?

2. How does one tell if they have a "bad" acorn?

3. How should one prepare the acorns?(cooking, recipes...etc)

Thank you.

[Trevor M.]

Just one question...Are you a squirrel?

[Sumorai]

Just one question...Are you a squirrel?

??? No. Of course not.

[Relentless]

A 0.19-second Google search for "cooking with acorns" netted me 283 web pages with that specific phrase, INCLUDING a pretty detailed wikipedia entry.

Don't you think that doing such a search would be a better first step in determining the nutrional value and preparation methodology for acorns?

You seem like a smart, articulate guy. It strikes me as odd that the Google approach wouldn't occur to you.

[Sumorai]

Relentless,
Thank you for the good things that you said.
I did search wikipedia, and I searched google as well. The wikipedia entry discussed a bit of the history of acorn consumption amongst Native American tribes, and the google searches turned up results that were less than helpful to me. I did find one to be particularly good:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/clay79.html

But I wanted more perspectives, especially from the viewpoint of others on this forum(and specifically in the context of weight training and nutrition), who may have experiences with this type of thing, as well as additional recipes, and personal experiences in regard to the preparation of acorns, and other concerns especially with the cooking process.
I just thought that I would benefit from the perspectives of other members here. It seems that I am unlikely to derive anything positive in regards to acorns from this thread. Please delete if you see fit. Furthermore, I request that you do delete it.

[Alex.V]

It seems that I am unlikely to derive anything positive in regards to acorns from this thread.

For some reason, this makes me giggle every time I read it.



....I'm sorry about your acorn issues. People simply might find it a bit odd, since they aren't particularly tasty nuts. They certainly won't hurt you; I'd assume based on their species, most acorns are closer to fatty grains in their nutrition profile, so perhaps not as high in protein as most nuts.

They're edible; I'd blend them up and blend them into a loaf (kinda like a banana nut bread) rather than eating them straight.

But they probably won't be an asset to your diet.

I hope this was a positive contribution to acorns. Found in this thread.

[Sumorai]

For some reason, this makes me giggle every time I read it.

Okay.

....I'm sorry about your acorn issues.

So am I.

People simply might find it a bit odd, since they aren't particularly tasty nuts.

I do not see why they would find it odd considering I have never tasted one. But I am sure "they" find it odd, nonetheless.

They certainly won't hurt you;

That is good to know.

I'd blend them up and blend them into a loaf (kinda like a banana nut bread) rather than eating them straight.

I will consider this.

But they probably won't be an asset to your diet.

I am disappointed to know this.

I hope this was a positive contribution to acorns.

It was somewhat of a positive contribution to me. Somewhat negative to, but I will take what I can get.

My interest in acorns stems from an interest in paleolithic approaches to diet. This seems to be a trend that is gaining more momentum. There was the fact that I had to walk around a little and pick the acorns up off of the ground. So that is of additional benefit to someone who is mostly sedentary aside from engaging in recent weight training. There is also a "frugal" appeal that it has to me, as well.

[RhodeHouse]

You hit the nail on the head when you said "TREND". Much like the ghey "core training" and "sport-specific training" and "functional training" trends.

Dude, eat some peanuts and call it a day. You want variety? Eat some mixed nuts.

[Detard]

Why the **** would you want to eat acorns anyways?

[Sumorai]

You hit the nail on the head when you said "TREND".

There is probably some truth to that. I was aware of the implications of using that word, but I decided to go with it anyway. But it just makes so much logical sense that it may be a good idea to eat a diet that is what our bodies were designed for. I don't know if you believe in evolution or not, so these time frames may not mesh with your belief systems:
Agriculture started, probably about like what 6000-10,000 years ago? Depending on whom you ask.
Human beings, as a distinct species, existed for about 100,000 years?
So worst case scenario, as a species we were hunter-gatherers for approximately 90,000 years. Not to mention the vast amount of time we were not "modern" humans, or even "human" for that matter.

But I don't know how much of this talk of our paleolithic diet is actually due to quality scientific research and how much of it is pure speculation, unfounded guesswork, and conjecture.

Much like the ghey "core training" and "sport-specific training" and "functional training" trends.

I note your objection to the above paradigms, and I will approach them with more skepticism whenever I encounter such ideas in the future.

Dude, eat some peanuts and call it a day. You want variety? Eat some mixed nuts.

Thank you for the advice, I will likely do that. I eat a bit of peanut butter as well.

[Sumorai]

Why the **** would you want to eat acorns anyways?

1. I was curious what they tasted like.

2. They thought acorns may be healthy.

3. The acorns were free.

[Detard]

Hmmm interesting.

[WORLD]

You're a squirrel aren't you! Winters not here yet, you dont have to start collecting for a few months.

Really though, I'm not sure how much they will benefit your diet for the goals you probably want to achieve.

[TJ2389]

Guys there some kentucky blue grass outside my house...I was wondering if I should start eating it. Its free, and cows eat it. Look at how big they are! Pshh forget the acorns dude, squirrel eat acorns all the time and look at how tiny they are. Go for you lawn so you can be big as a cow.

[Walrus]

http://www.solutions.uiuc.edu/content.cfm?item=199&

http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1179850


Of course, I have to throw in:
http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/recipes/squirrel.html

[Sumorai]

If anyone is unaware that squirrels eat acorns, then reading this thread would definitely remedy that.

[Alex.V]

One could only assume the preposterous verbosity utilized by the OP is designed to imply that this entire line of discourse is, well, a joke.

[Sumorai]

One could only assume the preposterous verbosity utilized by the OP is designed to imply that this entire line of discourse is, well, a joke.

This thread was not intended to be a joke. I am completely serious. I do not understand why you would think my vocabulary or manner of writing implies that I am joking. Others have insisted on making a joke out of this thread, however. But that is their doing, not mine.
I have made my share of sarcastic comments and attempts at humor on this forum, but I no longer do that. I was not being myself and all of my attempts to come off as "normal" have fallen flat on their face. I do not think it wise of me to force myself into ways of speaking and relating to others that are not natural for me. I was not being true to myself(nor my Self). This is how I am.
When I am not being true to how I really am, I end up offending others and making a "donkey" of myself.

[manowar669]

Some acorns contain high levels of tannins and would cause problems if eaten in any quantity. You can boil them in a few water changes to be sure. In a survival situation they can be leeched in running water to remove the tannins. Some can be eaten raw (white oak, I believe). Info courtesy of SERE school (US military survival school). There are better things to eat in your back yard.

[VikingWarlord]

From experience, acorns are NOT a tasty treat. They actually kind of taste like aspirin.

[sprahl85]

From experience, acorns are NOT a tasty treat. They actually kind of taste like aspirin.

omg so bitter.... ewwww

[Sumorai]

I have decided not to consume acorns. Thank you for your time.

[saia127]

when my brother was a kid, he ate acorns because he thought the inside was cheese.

[manowar669]

when my brother was a kid, he ate acorns because he thought the inside was cheese.

A cheese tree? Oh, man, some genetic engineer better be working on that!

[Sumorai]

A cheese tree? Oh, man, some genetic engineer better be working on that!

If they can make goats secrete spider silk out of their nipples, then I would imagine that a "cheese tree" is within the realm of possibility, in the very distant future. Seriously.

And if you are interested in more about the goat/spider silk thing, read this article from 2000:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/889951.stm