More than 1,400 species of bugs are enjoyed by millions around the world. Maybe you should give insects and arachnids a try, too.
Tarantulas, bamboo worms, grasshoppers and water bugs are an everyday part of the diet — and an important source of nutrients — in many cultures. And if these critters are commercially raised so they’re pesticide- and germ-free, you’ll get nutrition and flavor.
In China, bee larvae and fried silkworms are considered delicacies, and they deliver a good dose of copper, iron, riboflavin, thiamin and zinc. Water bugs have four times the iron of beef. A three-and-a-half ounce portion of caterpillars delivers 350 calories and a bit more protein than the same amount of chicken.
When you compare hamburger, which is 18 percent protein and 18 percent or more saturated fat, to cooked grasshopper, which is 60 percent protein and 6 percent unsaturated fat, grasshopper wins. Plus, it has a nutty crunch.
If you think you’ve never eaten a bug, think again. In our mass-produced food world, products as varies as spices and canned soups have “allowable” insect content, set by the Food and Drug Administration.
So next time someone offers you a grasshopper taco or a dark chocolate-covered ant, go for it!