There are more than 16,000 species of edible insects around the world. They’re plentiful, thrive in congested habitats, and, contrasting to conventional agricultural practices, produce minimal amounts of greenhouse emissions.
More than 805 million people are underfed and suffer from malnourishment, while every ten seconds, a child dies from hunger. Protein-packed insects have the potential to offer a sustainable and inexpensive means of meeting global nutrition needs. The United Nations, health officials, and economists believe that insects are a great addition to the 21st-century diet.
In Mexico, they snack on grasshoppers sautéed in jalapeños and topped with a chili-lime seasoning like its popcorn. However, in regions such as the US and the UK, the idea of eating bugs still freaks some people out. It is now in the hands of food designers to make bug-based products appealing, tasty, and intriguing.
The Hive
With the LIVIN farms desktop Hive, you can grow healthy and sustainable food in the form of mealworms straight out of your kitchen! Feed your mealworms with vegetable scraps from your kitchen, and, the best part of it all, you always know 100% what you’re eating.
These mealworms are a superfood and are packed with vitamins, minerals, and lots of protein. They contain similar protein content to red meats and the beneficial amino acids of tofu.
Exo’s Cricket Protein Bar
Exo protein bar is made from cricket flour protein with premium ingredients. The founders, Greg Sewitz and Gabi Lewis, understand that some consumers are thrown off by the thought of eating bugs. “Exo uses the word flour,” Lewis stresses. “You’re not going to find legs or antenna in flour.”
Exo also makes sea salt and vinegar whole roasted crickets for the more daring consumers.
Chirps Cricket Protein Powder
“Eat Bugs, Get Buff!”- Chirps
Chirps Cricket Protein Powder is a low-carb protein blend crafted from quality and delicious ingredients, including chia seeds, peas, brown rice, and nutrient-dense crickets. It’s free of gluten, soy, growth hormones, whey, rGBH, and rBST.
In every serving, these crickets provide:
- Nine essential amino acids
- 4g net carbs
- 59% of your daily value of B12
- Natural prebiotics
The protein powder is available in either creamy vanilla or rich chocolate, and it’s delicious to add in a smoothie, oatmeal, yogurt, muffins, or even cookies.
Chirps Cricket Chips
Chirps chips are made with cricket powder, chia seeds, stone-ground corn, natural flavors, and seasonings. They come in three different flavors: cheddar, barbeque, and sriracha.
These chips are packed with nutrients, including protein, fiber, and 20% of your recommended daily value of B12. They are also free of gluten, whey, GMOs, soy, wheat, and dairy.
If the world could adopt a habit of eating bugs, it would be a sustainable food alternative while saving the environment.
