Insects to be the new chip?

When was the last time you saw an ant? You probably squished it didn't you. What about a fly? Hit it with a newspaper? Typical. Well, what about crickets then? Threw a pillow at it I assume. Have you ever thought about putting that insect in your mouth, chewing it, and then swallowing it? Chances are you probably have, but you probably thought it would taste horrible or something like that. But what if they were deep fried and layered with sauces? Would you eat it then? The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization is trying to do just that. They are trying to promote insect consumption around the world. Insects are full of nutrients. Not only that, creating insect farms are extremely easy, making shortages a thing of the past.

One hundred grams of small grass hoppers has only 153 calories yet packs 20.6 grams of protien. That's as much protien as ground beef provides, with out all the extra fat and unhealthy stuff. One hundred grams of giant water bugs contain 62 calories and have a total fat of only 8.3 grams, yet they had 226 milligrams of phosphorus as well as 19.8 grams of protein. One hundred grams of red ant eggs have 6.5 grams of carbohydrates and one hundred grams of crickets provide 76 milligrams of calcium. These are just four different types of insects. Insects are extremely nutritious and getting people to actually eat them could cut the obsiety epidemic going around America.

The main issue is getting Western countries to actually eat the insect. A thousand different types of insects are already eaten around the world. In Mexico, stinkbugs are liquified and used as a sauce. In Thailand, deep fried giant water bugs is a popular snack. In Australia, some ants there supposedly taste a little like lemon. So why can't America do that? Are we so caught up in hamburgers, steaks, and hotdogs? Parents should try it themselves and set an example for children to eat healthy. If parents like it they should serve it to children. But first, we have to break the mentality around bugs. Next time you find an insect and squish it, don't let it's body go to waste.

National Geographic Volume 218, Number 3. 2010