21 Eating Insects-Mid

Eating Insects FOCUS Question Why are insects a good food source?

Edible Insects Have you ever eaten an insect? Maybe the thought never occurred to you. Or maybe you've tried one and—like the other two billion people in the world who eat insects—you found it to be quite tasty. Eating insects isn't as uncommon as you might think. People have been eating insects for thousands of years! Nowadays, insects are a regular part of the diets of people in many parts of the world, especially in tropical countries where insects are abundant and easy to harvest. Word Wise Entomophagy (en-toh-moh-FAY-jee) is the practice of eating insects. It comes from the Greek words entomon. meaning "insect," and phagein, meaning "to eat."

Imagine picking up an afternoon snack of sun-dried termites or crunchy caterpillars at your local market. This isn't unusual if you're in South Africa or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Neither is eating crickets in Thailand. Or grasshoppers in Mexico. Or even yellowjacket wasp larvae in Japan. There are more than 2,000 different kinds of edible insects in the world. Beetles are the most commonly eaten insect. For example, the larvae of the palm weevil—a type of beetle—are enjoyed in parts of Africa and Asia. The number and type of insect species people eat varies in different parts of the world.

Tasty Insects If you've never eaten an insect, you might be surprised to learn how delicious they can be. For example, stink bugs taste like apples, and termites taste like carrots. Many insects—such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetle larvae—taste a bit nutty, especially if they've been roasted. This is most likely because of their high fat content and crunchy, mineral-rich outer skeletons. Insects often taste like what they eat. Honeypot ants select certain worker ants and feed them nectar until their bellies expand. They have a sweet flavor and are considered a delicacy in North America and Australia.

Nutritious Protein Not only are insects tasty, but they're nutritious, too! Many insects, especially crickets and termites, are high in protein, an essential nutrient. Proteins are large molecules that are made up of amino acids. There are twenty common amino acids. Half of these are made in your body and are called nonessential amino acids. The other half—called essential amino acids—must come from food. Foods high in protein include meat, eggs, cheese, nuts, and beans as well as some vegetables, like peas and broccoli. Several types of insects have as much protein as lean ground beef. Protein builds, maintains and replaces tissues in your body. Your muscles and blood both need protein. This nutrient also builds organs such as the heart. AMOUNT OF PROTEIN IN CERTAIN FOODS Type of Food Amount of Protein per 100 grams grasshopper 13-48 grams cricket 8-25 grams termite 13-28 grams silkworm caterpillar 10-17 grams palmworm beetle larva 7-36 grams beef 19-26 grams fish 16-28 grams

Good Fats Many insects are rich in healthy fats. Fats are another essential nutrient that supplies energy to your body. Fats perform many functions. They help your cells work properly, protect your internal organs, and help keep your bones, hair, skin, and nails healthy. Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats. They're classified into two different types—saturated and unsaturated. Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats. and are considered to be healthier than saturated fats Essential fatty acids are either omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids Most people need more omega-3 fatty acids than they get. Witchetty grubs are the caterpillars of a kind of moth found in Australia. They're high in omega-3 fatty acids and can be eaten raw or cooked.