The food that can feed, and maybe save, the planet: Bugs

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Updated 1733 GMT (0133 HKT) October 25, 2019

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Like all insects, this edible water beetle contains significant amounts of fiber due to the chitin from their outer skeleton.
Photos: Food of the future: Bugs
Like all insects, this edible water beetle contains significant amounts of fiber due to the chitin from their outer skeleton.
Hide Caption
1 of 18
This sushi is garnished with fried grasshopper. Traditional Japanese cuisine uses many different insects such as bee and stonefly larvae; grasshoppers are often served in sugar and soy sauce. Researchers believe that sushi lovers might be some of the first Americans to embrace eating insects because they are already accustomed to eating unusual offerings.
Photos: Food of the future: Bugs
This sushi is garnished with fried grasshopper. Traditional Japanese cuisine uses many different insects such as bee and stonefly larvae; grasshoppers are often served in sugar and soy sauce. Researchers believe that sushi lovers might be some of the first Americans to embrace eating insects because they are already accustomed to eating unusual offerings.
Hide Caption
2 of 18
The TV show "Fear Factor," which ran from 2001 to 2006, helped launch some innovative insect foods, such as this "Crunchy Larva" candy which debuted in three flavors at the Chicago Candy Expo in 2005.
Photos: Food of the future: Bugs
The fear factor dare – The TV show "Fear Factor," which ran from 2001 to 2006, helped launch some innovative insect foods, such as this "Crunchy Larva" candy which debuted in three flavors at the Chicago Candy Expo in 2005.
Hide Caption
3 of 18
Edible winged ants are garnishing a gourmet dish at Bangkok's "Insects in the Backyard," which says it offers the first insect-based fine dining menu. Ants are highly sought food sources in many parts of the world: The black weaver ant is popular in China, India and Sri Lanka, and leafcutter species are quite popular in Mexico.
Photos: Food of the future: Bugs
Edible winged ants are garnishing a gourmet dish at Bangkok's "Insects in the Backyard," which says it offers the first insect-based fine dining menu. Ants are highly sought food sources in many parts of the world: The black weaver ant is popular in China, India and Sri Lanka, and leafcutter species are quite popular in Mexico.
Hide Caption
4 of 18
If it's on a stick, it's better, right? So why not try some toasted mealworms, the larval form of the mealworm beetle. With a slight nutty flavor (you hear that a lot about bugs), each <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ba57/ab8ec23170fd2f092587e347d38966c4c84a.pdf" target="_blank">mealworm</a> is 46% protein and full of beneficial amino acids and vitamins.
Photos: Food of the future: Bugs
Roasted mealworm anyone? – If it's on a stick, it's better, right? So why not try some toasted mealworms, the larval form of the mealworm beetle. With a slight nutty flavor (you hear that a lot about bugs), each mealworm is 46% protein and full of beneficial amino acids and vitamins.
Hide Caption
5 of 18
Grasshoppers are commonly eaten as a side dish, snack and lunch-box ingredient in Korea. In Mexico, they are known as chapulines, and are a popular form of street food. Preparation is simple: salt them lightly, put in a bit of water, and<br />simmer until dry. Bigger grasshoppers are deep fried or roasted.
Photos: Food of the future: Bugs
Grasshoppers are commonly eaten as a side dish, snack and lunch-box ingredient in Korea. In Mexico, they are known as chapulines, and are a popular form of street food. Preparation is simple: salt them lightly, put in a bit of water, and
simmer until dry. Bigger grasshoppers are deep fried or roasted.
Hide Caption
6 of 18
These pre-cooked insect burgers on a supermarket shelf in Geneva are based on protein-rich mealworm. Because they have a mild flavor they can easily be doctored with other ingredients for a protein-packed meal with a tiny carbon footprint.
Photos: Food of the future: Bugs
These pre-cooked insect burgers on a supermarket shelf in Geneva are based on protein-rich mealworm. Because they have a mild flavor they can easily be doctored with other ingredients for a protein-packed meal with a tiny carbon footprin