Insects, a sustainable, economical and nutritious food.

The latest trend

It seems that eating insects is the last thing. A few weeks ago I read that insects for human consumption can already be purchased in a well-known supermarket chain. So, as a nutrition lover and curious that I am, that’s where I went. The offer was wide and really impressive, seeing a handful of worms (of different sizes) or crickets in small boxes as well as a snack is not something we are used to. But they say curiosity killed the cat and boy did it kill him!

For what, like me, you are curious about the product, I am going to explain a little more about this new food.

Why is it a good option?

As I explained in the podcast , insects are a good choice for a number of reasons.

1. Sustainability : Given the significant environmental impact of the livestock sector, FAO considers it urgent to find more sustainable protein sources. Insects are a good option because they are very nutritious and,  to produce them, much less space is needed  , and  many fewer resources, such as water or food ”.
2. Nutritional value . They are very nutritious. An insect, depending on its biological state, can offer between 15 and 70 or more grams of protein per 100 grams, with adults being the ones with the highest proportion of this nutrient, so we have a good source of protein. They are also rich in fiber, mono and polyunsaturated fats. They contain relevant amounts of B12, calcium and iron. It is also an animal that takes advantage of everything.
3. Price : Although today they are really expensive (€ 7 for a 14g box, about € 500 per kilo), the cost of production is really low and we have already seen that it is very sustainable. So when they are marketed in large quantities, there is high consumption and the whole production process starts, the price will be (or should be) really low.

Will it really be necessary to eat them?

According to experts, the world population will reach  9,000 million inhabitants in 2050  and, to feed them, food production will have to almost  double . Since livestock is not sustainable, it is very likely that part of our diet has to be based on insects.

Personally, I think we have many prejudices to eat insects, but they are really a common consumer product in many countries so that as we introduce and consume them, something common will be done to us and those damages will go away. I am convinced that if we offer them to children, they will not make them disgusting, and they will be able to introduce them into their diet as just another food, normalizing their consumption and introducing them into healthy eating, it could even be considered in the Mediterranean diet. Thus, as adults they will see it as another food. We must think that for many, eating rabbit is something inconceivable, and here it is consumed daily.

Formats for eating insects

In the supermarket where I bought the insects there were two formats:

• Box with large and small worms or flavored and seasoned crickets. The truth is that this product in question is a processed derivative of insects, and it is not healthy, it is the insect itself.
• Protein bars with cricket flour. Its composition is somewhat better, especially for athletes, due to the hydrate-protein ratio.

However, it is also marketed:

• Bread with insect flour
• In Switzerland,  a selection of hamburgers and meatballs  made by the Essento startup that, instead of meat, have  tenebrio molitor, considered one of the tastiest worms.
• In Great Britain, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France or Italy are other countries where  there is already a small market niche . Belgian Green Kow, for example, sells 4 spreads also made with tenebrio molitor.

So you see, you have many different options of eating insects and seeing as that it is probably the food of the future, why wait?