Why are more people eager to jump on the bug-eating bandwagon? The increasing interest in and popularity of entomophagy, or bug eating, may be due to an increased awareness of the impact of our diets on the environment. It’s believed that insects could help stave off projected food shortages as well as provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional farming, since raising insects requires little land, little feed, and less energy and water than other livestock and monoculture crops like soy. What’s more, insects are generally higher in protein than vegetarian sources like soy and legumes, and some bugs contain as much protein as animals (gram for gram), according to an article in the March 2016 issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Some are also packed with antioxidants and rich in minerals that we need to stay healthy, such as iron, zinc, and manganese. One warning: If you’re allergic to crustaceans, you might have a reaction to insects, too, according to a study published in May 2021 in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, so speak with your allergist before trying them. How do you know which bug might please your palate? Take this quiz!
