Feeling hungry? How about some worms with your spaghetti? Perhaps some ground cricket to sprinkle on your pizza? Or maybe just a good old bug burger?

While the idea of eating insects disgusts many, don’t be surprised if you find creepy-crawlies on your own plate before long.

Why? Because insects could hold the key to the challenge of feeding the world’s growing population. With the number of humans on the planet expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, the search is on for alternative sources of protein beyond the traditional meat and fish.

Insects are not only high in protein, but also minerals and amino acids, according to Shami Radia, co-founder of Grub, a company which sells edible bugs. “Insects are the original superfood,” says Radia.

Environmentally, insects produce less greenhouse gas, use less water and take up less farmland than conventional livestock farming, meaning they have a smaller impact on the planet.

So if they’re good for the environment and good for you, why aren’t we eating insects? In fact, in many places we already are. It’s estimated that two billion people around the world eat insects as part of their diet. But most Western nations have not yet adopted the practice.

It’s the “yuck factor” that stops them from eating bugs, according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme. People in the West generally view insects as unclean and carriers of disease. They’re seen as pests: they damage crops, destroy furniture and live in dirty places.

But perhaps attitudes are slowly shifting. Certain types of insects are becoming more palatable to consumers, such as locusts and grasshoppers. Nick Cooper sells insects as food through his UK company Crunchy Critters, and has seen a sales growth rate of 25% year on year. He believes young people are more open to eating insects.

Shami Radia believes that munching bugs will one day become as popular as eating sushi. "Behaviour can be changed," he says. "Prawns are ugly and taste delicious and there's no reason why eating insects can't be normalised."

词汇表

ground 研磨成粉末的
sprinkle 撒、洒（食物）
bug 小虫子
creepy-crawly 令人生厌的爬虫
to hold the key to 是……的关键、掌控
the search is on 已经开始寻找
protein 蛋白质
mineral （人体必需的）矿物质
edible 可食用的
superfood （对健康十分有益的）“超级食品”
livestock 牲畜（包括牛、羊、鸡等）
yuck （尤表示食物恶心的感叹词）呸
pest （毁坏农作物的）害虫或动物
palatable 可口的，合胃口的
locust 蝗虫
crunchy 酥脆的
critter 生灵，生物
year on year 与上一年同比
to munch 大口地吃，津津有味地吃
to normalise 使……正常化