Edible Insects: Are They Really Healthy and Tasty?

Looking to get your dose of protein? No, no from eating that lean ground beef or that baked chicken.

Move over ground beef and chicken, there is a new source of protein that has (or probably will) enter our culinary lives--in the Western world---edible insects!

Yes, many people in the Western world do frown up at the notion of eating insects, (think about "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern!"). However, these insects are very delicious and have its health benefits.

Eating edible, or entomophagy, is not a new phenomenon in other parts of the world. They are the staple diet in many different regions. In essence, more and more people are including this food in their everyday diets. The good thing about edible insects is that it is very tasty, have nutritional benefits, and good for the environment. According to the FAO, or Food and Agriculture of the United Nations, the report states that insects have beneficial nutritional value, involve fewer greenhouse gases that are hazardous to the environment. It also states that it produces much more edible food per pound of feed in comparison to cattle. The research states that eating insects could have a positive impact on discussing food insecurities in the United States.


How To Consume Edible Insects

Many people that want to eat insects, or want to try eating them, have found out (or will find out) that it works excellent with dips and cookies, just to name a few. They are often included in our candies and chocolate-coated. So much that some restaurants are jumping on the edible insect eating bandwagon.


Edible Insect Nutritional Information

The following are some of the nutritional information that a few of these edible creatures can value--in this case--serving size: 100 grams:

• Caterpillar: 28.8 grams protein
• Cricket: 12.9 grams protein, 5.5 grams fat, 5.1 grams carbohydrates
• Grasshopper: 20.6 grams protein, 6.1 grams fat, 3.9 grams carbohydrates
• Red ant: 13.9 grams protein, 3.5 grams fat, 2.9 grams carbohydrates

In terms of protein, just think about the nutritional benefits of these crawling, edible creatures--that is like having ground beef with twenty-seven grams of protein. Also in the FAO report, in addition to the edible insects being economical and environment-friendly, it is also packed with the much-needed minerals (iron, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, and magnesium). It is also packed with fiber.

As gross as it may sounds--at least from many Westerners' perspective--edible insects provide the nutritional and health benefits that are needed in order for our bodies to function. Not only these insects are very appetizing, they are also healthy, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly, unlike some of the traditional protein sources. The bottom line: attitudes are more likely to change about this delicacy and more people will be more open-minded and healthier.