5 things you may not know about edible insects

You may cringe at the sight of bugs, and especially the prospect of eating them. But for roughly 2 billion people around the globe, consuming beetles, ants and bees is part of everyday life.

Last week, Bugs for Life hosted a Twitter chat as part of Devex’s Feeding Development campaign. The topic: the practice of consuming edible insects, also known as entomophagy.

Edible insects are billed as alternative, natural and healthy food sources since they contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and essential fatty acids.

Here are some of the interesting things about edible insects we learned from the Twitter chat. Also, check the above slideshow featuring books to help you prepare meals with bugs.

Insects can help save Earth

Insects are medicinal

Adult crickets boast more calcium than beef, chicken and pork combined

You can definitely bake with insects

A kilo of crickets costs about the same as a Big Mac

Want to learn more? Check out Feeding Development's campaign site and tweet us using #FeedingDev.

Feeding Development is an online conversation hosted by Devex in partnership with ACDI/VOCA, Chemonics, Fintrac, GAIN, Nestlé and Tetra Tech to reimagine solutions for a food-secure future from seed and soil to a healthy meal.