Eating Bugs To Survive: 30 Bugs You Can Eat When SHTF!

Bugs may not seem like the ideal meal to us, Americans, but eating insects is a common practice in Asian and African countries and even in Australia. And while we find it gross to cook bugs and eat them, people from other parts of the world have put these prejudices aside and are now eating insects for their highly nutritional value.

For example, caterpillars have more protein than an equal quantity of minced beef. Even more so, a study shows that some insects and larvae are much more nutritious than any of our regular foods:

While beef provides 200 – 300 calories per 100 grams (depending on the fat level), live termites provide about 350 calories per 100 grams. Moth larvae are good eats as well, providing nearly 265 calories per 100 Grams (and they`re also ideal if you want a massive protein intake fast, as they`re about 63% protein).

Sure, now you might be thinking that beef is much more delicious than caterpillars or moth larvae, but you`d be surprised to hear how wrong you`d be. Most bugs are very tasty, especially when cooked. There are bugs that taste like apple pie, lemongrass or cinnamon.

So if at some point you`re forced to improvise a meal from whatever you find crawling on the ground, don`t hesitate just because you`ve never eaten bugs before. Try to get rid of your prejudices and see it as a brand new experience. It will not be half bad, I assure you.

So here`s the alphabetical list of bugs you can eat to stay alive and fit:

1. Agave worm

source: www.ianchadwick.com

The agave worm is also known as the Mezcal worm, because in Mexico, you can find them in Mezcal bottles (a drink similar to tequila).The producers are said to add them to the bottles to prove the alcohol is authentic, but also to attract customers who want to try something new. There are many who buy Mezcal just to eat the worm inside. And it`s great that they do — besides the adrenaline rush, they also get a great protein intake.

2. Ant

source: www.buzzle.com

There are a few varieties of ants you can eat simply for their delicious taste: leafcutter ants (that taste a bit like bacon, with a nutty flavor when raw and like popcorn when they`re fried), lemon ants (that taste like lemon, of course) and honeypot ants (that have a slightly sour taste and are best eaten raw)

3. Bamboo  worm

source: lavalamp224.blogspot.com

In Thailand, you can eat an entire meal made of fried bamboo worms. They may not look appealing, but they taste delicious when cooked right and they`re much healthier than meat, while providing a load of essential nutrients.

4. Bee

source: www.ireallylikefood.com

Whether you eat bee larvae or adult bees, prepare to blown away by their surprising tastiness. You can roast them, dip them in butter and fry them or make bee cookies (just like in the image above). No matter which variant you choose, you`ll be surprised to feel the taste of bacon and sauteed mushrooms in your mouth.Judging by what they eat all day long — pollen and honey — you might think they taste like candy. Which wouldn`t have been half bad, either.

Warning: be extra careful not to get stung during the process!

5. Beetles

source: www.allaboutbeetles.co.uk

Globally, beetles are one of the most consumed insects are with 31 percent of the population chowing down on these six-legged bugs on a regular basis. Despite the icky-sounding name, dung beetles (pictured above) are often eaten fried and are quite tasty.

6. Caterpillars

source: aultparksunrise.com

According to the FAO, 18 percent of the world enjoys finding caterpillars on its dinner plate, especially in regions where it’s difficult to get your hands on other sources of protein. They’re served boiled, dried or fried in oil.

7. Centipede

source: www.china-memo.com

In China, roasted centipedes stuck on wooden sticks and displayed on metal trays are simply part of the “street food”. Their crunchy texture and savory taste have attracted many to give cooked centipedes a try, but you must be very careful: if you want to catch and cook your own centipedes, you`ve got to be extremely careful. If you get bitten, you might get a painful swelling that can last several days. So make sure you take every protection measure it takes to kill the insect without getting hurt.

8. Cicada

source: www.nbcnews.com

Even though they don`t look like it, cicadas are described as “soft, juicy and tender”, a real delight for the ones brave enough to ignore the unappealing looks. You can either cook them or eat them raw (although, as a general rule, it`s best to cook any bug you plan on eating, because heat kills a lot of germs).

9. Cockroach

source: jamaica-gleaner.com

Who would`ve thought cockroaches can taste like chicken? The ones who`ve eaten these bugs said the taste is very much like “greasy chicken” (only cockroaches are much healthier). Just make sure you cook them properly, at a high temperature, so you kill any germs they may carry with them.

Don`t worry, there are plenty of ways to cook them: you can toast, fry, boil or sautee them, depending on the resources you`ve got on hand.

10. Cricket

source: theweek.com

People all over the world eat crickets. There are dozens of recipes you can try, from pastes to cookies and cakes, soups and sauces… or the simple roasted cricket that you can see on the streets of Mexico, Thailand or Cambodia.

11. Dragonfly

source: thedragonflywoman.com

To catch a dragonfly, you can use this common technique used in Indonesia: just dip a reed in sticky palm sap and wave it through the air. After you catch enough of them to put together a meal, you can boil them or fry them.

12. Dung Beetle

source: www.flickr.com

Well, that doesn`t sound very appealing, does it? No one in their right mind would like to eat something that has to do with dung. But here`s the thing: these bugs have a delicious taste, according to the ones who`ve eaten these little nutritional bombs.

So if you`re forced to eat these bugs, don`t hesitate and start boiling or frying them, they`ll taste great! Just don`t eat them raw, because they may carry bacteria that you don`t want to ingest.

13. Earthworm

source: www.ehow.com

Here`s what you didn`t know about earthworms: they`re very high in protein and iron, therefore healthy and full. In some areas of Venezuela, these properties have long been discovered and ever since, earthworms have been included in meals or eaten raw.

14. Fly pupae

source: haveylab.hort.wisc.edu

The taste of fly pupae may not make you go over the moon, as they`ve been described as “sort of like blood pudding” (David Gracer of Small Stock Foods), due to the high level of iron. However, the health benefits should convince you to get past the taste and enjoy the low-carb, supernutritious meal that will give you strength and some extra energy.

15. Grasshopper

source: indianapublicmedia.org

If you ever go to Mexico (in case you haven`t been there by now), don`t be surprised if you`re offered chapulines (roasted grasshoppers with a touch of chilli and lime). Besides the fact that they`re delicious, they`re also high in calcium and protein.

Read full article here >>>>

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By Alec Deacon