As Earth’s population continues to grow, so does our interest in finding alternative ways to feed more people. This interest has led us to many potential avenues of food, but there is one option that could become the norm in many countries: bugs.
Bugs are far from sounding like an appetizing treat, but they have proven to be high in protein and various other nutrients like fiber, iron, etc. This proves that insects like cicadas and grasshoppers could stand in for meat when it comes to obtaining pure protein. With the rising costs of beef and other high-quality meats, we could fashion bugs as another cheap alternative. This might also provide an option for people who are allergic to certain food groups.
To Western societies, eating bugs is seen as disgusting, but many countries already have bugs incorporated into their diets and are seen as a delicacy. India, Australia, Mexico, and many others combine insects with other ingredients and cook them in many ways to make them more flavorful and appetizing. Many of these foods could even be altered to make them look less like crawling critters. With the right presentation, I wager that many of these recipes would look appealing to people who would otherwise be grossed out.
The stigma for bugs is a big reason why they haven’t become a more common source of food outside of the more daring individuals. It is something that would take getting used to for sure, but I could see it becoming more than a taboo snack if we give it a try.
