Eating insects: Should we be eating more? Why are they so good?

Pupils at four schools in Wales could be eating bugs as part of a new project by scientists.

Yes, really. Scientists at Cardiff University and the University of the West of England want to encourage more people to eat insects - particularly young people - so they become a part of our diet.

Crickets, grasshoppers, silkworms, locusts and mealworms will be discussed with pupils as lunch time alternatives to traditional meat dishes during special workshops .

It's because bugs are a great source of protein and they're better for the planet than traditional meats such as beef and chicken.

Christopher Bear, of Cardiff University said: 'We want the children to think about alternative proteins as real things for now, rather than just as foods for the future, so trying some of these foods is central to the research.'

Would you eat bugs? Have your say in the comments!

Insects are good for you

Insects are filled with lots of good nutrients, including amino acids and protein.

These creepy crawlies may look small, but they can provide as much - if not more - protein than beef! And many insect species have less than 5g of fat per serving.

Insects are good for the environment

Not only is eating insects good for you, but it is also good for the environment too.

Entomophagy - which means eating insects - could help to fight world hunger and reduce pollution. The world's population is growing, so we need to produce more food to feed everyone - and there are lots of insects to go around.

Farmed animals traditionally need a lot of space, so compared to producing meat, bugs don't take up much land, water or feed. Not only that, but unlike cattle, insect farming produces fewer greenhouse gases.

Insects can be farmed in almost any climate.

What's more, because they reproduce quickly and have shorter life spans, they can be farmed in large quantities. Most insects are entirely edible too, compared to cattle, of which we only consume around 40%.

Insects are good for the economy

Insect farming can also provide jobs and income for people, particularly those in developing countries.

Insects are surprisingly tasty! You'll find they come in a variety of tastes and textures depending on how they are cooked, but many describe them as having a similar flavour to chicken, shrimp or crab.

If you fancy some deep fried scorpion, you'll be glad to know the cooking process destroys the venom in their body. It is often compared to crab, while tarantula is said to taste like a mixture of chicken and cod. Silkworms are slightly nutty with a crunchy outside and a texture like mashed potato on the inside.

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Bugs are already eaten in Africa, Asia and South America, where you can feast on over 1,000 species including grasshoppers, ants, wasps, beetles, crickets and cockroaches.

These insects can be served fried, boiled, sautéed, roasted or baked with a bit of oil and salt - tasty!

They can also be made into flour and used in breads, crackers and biscuits.

So, what do you think about all of this? Would you be up for eating insects? Let us know below!

It's important to remember, though, that not all bugs and insects are edible. So you should always check before you bite!

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