**Insects Are Nutritious - Eat Them!**

If you’re hungry, I invite you to try something special, different, and nutritious. What about being treated to some insect delicacies containing enticing aromas of onions, garlic, and spices?

If you’re used to certain foods, nothing stops you from trying something new and that could be insect. Many people in some parts of the world do not know that insects are an important source of protein and they taste so good. I have personally tasted many insect delicacies and I enjoyed them.

Let me tell you about two insects that taste so good and why you should try eat them if you can.

Caterpillars

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Can you eat Caterpillars? Or are you shocked at the thought of eating this insect? You need not be! Of course, insects on the dinner plate may not appeal to all tastes, however, in well over a hundred countries, some insects are considered a delicacy and Caterpillars are part of them.

In some parts of Africa, several species of caterpillar are also eaten throughout the country. Usually, a large brown moth lays its eggs in sapelli trees. After the caterpillars are hatched, people often go to collect and wash them. The collected caterpillars are then simmered with tomatoes, onions, and other ingredients according to the individual taste. Caterpillars could also be dried or smoked for preservation. They can also be kept for up to three months for later use.

Caterpillars have an amazing amount of nutrition concentrated in a deceptively small package. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “dried caterpillars contain more than double the protein of beef.” Presently, food experts are rediscovering insects as a source of nourishment in developing lands.

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Depending on the species of caterpillar eaten, just 3.5 ounces (100 g) can provide a large part of the daily requirements of such important minerals as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc, as well as many vitamins.

Termites

During the rainy season in some parts of the world, termites swarm around termite mounds or around electric lights. After an evening storm, they are collected by the basketful. Children often toss them in their mouth with shrieks of delight. Termites are eaten sun dried, roasted with salt, and spiced with hot pepper, or they may be boiled in stews or dumplings.

Are They Safe for Consumption?

Of course, not all insects are edible. However, many are safe when harvested from areas free of pesticides and fertilizers and prepared properly. As a precaution, eating of insect should be avoided by those allergic to the insects. In contrast to most shellfish, which scavenge for decaying matter, most edible insects eat only clean leaves and consume plants that humans might otherwise be unable to digest.

Besides their nutritional value of the two insects we have discussed, there are other benefits to entomophagy—the practice of eating insects. Using insects for food is environmentally friendly. Doing so requires little water and produces few greenhouse gas emissions.

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