Have you ever eaten an insect? You probably have and didn't realize it. Studies report the average person eats a pound of more of insects over a lifetime as a by product of the foods he consumes. In some countries insects are considered to be a delicacy.
For example, Thailand you can find a variety of edible insects to choose from for your culinary pleasure. In these countries, insects are thought to be quite tasty.
If the idea of eating insects intrigues you, what varieties do you have to choose from? Online you can find such offerings as slow roasted giant water bugs; extra hot crushed giant bug paste; scorpions preserved in brine; fried hairy tarantula spiders tossed in a spicy sauce; ant eggs; delicately roasted termite eggs; and even a bug sample pack consisting of seven, slow roasted insects for snacking purposes. This is just a small selection of the edible insects available to you. In fact, there are over 2,000 known edible insects.
Another surprising fact about edible insects is how nutritious they can be. One hundred grams of insects supplies a full day's supply of vitamins and minerals and over 50 grams of protein with a calorie content of about 400 kilocalories. In fact, because insects are so nutritious, many people in the know are advocating they be used as sources of protein in areas where food is scarce, such as central Africa.
Are we missing out on the nutritious and tasty world of edible insects in this country? Our culture doesn't seem to readily accept this practice as of yet, although there might be advantages to this trend catching on in our part of the world. We have a rich supply of insects that are essentially wasted. Plus, bug farming provides humans with a source of protein that's much more environmentally friendly than the farming of animals such as cattle. Plus, it's an easy solution to the animal rights objection to raising farm animals for food. Fewer people would argue that bugs have rights.
The next time you see a giant bug ambling across your kitchen counter, ask yourself if he might be tasty with a touch of salt and garlic.
