WHY EAT INSECTS?
Think eating bugs is gross? Think again.
Around the world people have been eating insects for millenia. By introducing insects as a sustainable protein source in Australia, we’re not ahead of the times, we’re actually behind!
Insects add exciting new flavours and textures to our diet
Have you tried the bursting citrus flavour of green ants? The nuttiness of roasted crickets? It may take you a couple of tries to get your head around eating insects, but when you do, you might just be surprised at how good they taste! They can be used for savoury and sweet cooking, and lookout for insect powders as an up and coming protein supplement.
Insects are nutritious – think protein, iron, calcium, B12 and Omega 3
It all depends on the species of course, but on the whole insects are an excellent source of protein, fibre, essential fatty acids, and minerals such as calcium and iron. Crickets in particular are an excellent source of lean protein - dry roasted powder contains as much as 70% protein by weight! Insect exoskeletons not only contain calcium, but are made of a fibrous prebiotic polysaccharide called chitin - a food source your gut microbiome will be excited about.
Insects are unquestionably sustainable - hello food security!
Insects require far less land, water and feed than livestock to produce the same amount of food. Crickets for example, are 20 times more efficient at converting food to protein than cattle. Insects can be raised almost anywhere, require very little space, and can even be raised at home and fed table scraps and weeds from the garden.
As our population increases and demand for protein rises, bugs are one of the ways we can meet our nutritional requirements in a sustainable way.
References:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013, ‘Edible Insects: Future prospects for food and feed security’ available from http://www.fao.org/edible-insects/en/
Grubs Up https://grubsup.com.au/
Precision Nutrition ‘Edible bugs and insects: Are these high protein critters the future of food?’
Nutrition comparison for mealworms and crickets, the two insects most readily available in Australia. Image source: www.precisionnutrition.com/eating-bugs
Insects are great sources of protein and fats - check the guide below for comparison between different orders.
Image source: www.precisionnutrition.com/eating-bugs