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Buggin’ Out: the Case for Eating Insects

By WTOP Staff

To stay lean and healthy, every meal must contain protein, fiber and healthy fat. When I suggest quality proteins, I’m usually referring to foods such as eggs and egg whites, lean poultry, seafood, low-fat dairy and so on. I’ve even recommended more exotic game meats such as ostrich, bison, elk and caribou.

If you’re the adventurous type, though, there is an extremely affordable, sustainable and eco-friendly — yet high-quality — protein option you may want to consider: bugs!

I’m not talking about the bug parts that unintentionally make it into our food in kitchens or factories; I’m talking about making them the main event. The western world hasn’t seemed to catch on to what a large part of the world already knows: Insects can be a nutritious and delicious food source. More elegantly referred to as ‘insect cuisine’, entomophagy is the consumption of insects and arachnids as food.

Several insects are packed with protein, fiber and good fats — all part of a healthy meal! Many countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe are already ahead of the game, with an estimated 2 billion people consuming insects as part of their regular diets. A recent report out of the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization encouraged nations to embrace nutrient-dense and sustainable insect food sources.

Before you go and scoop up your dinner from the basement or backyard, most experts recommend you buy insects specifically intended for consumption so you don’t eat anything poisonous or tainted by chemicals or pesticides. There are a bunch of retailers online, or if you live in a culinarily adventurous city, you may be surprised by how many establishments serve a variety of insects.

Check out some of these popular insect cuisine choices:

Grasshoppers, crickets and locusts. Grasshoppers (and their relatives: crickets and locusts) are the most highly consumed insect in the world. These hopping insects are easy to find (often occurring in swarms), easy to catch and have been reported to be quite delicious and nutritious. A 3.5-ounce serving of raw grasshoppers contains between 14 and 28 grams of protein and is rich in calcium and iron.

Grasshoppers and their relatives have been reported to be neutral in flavor. Internationally, this makes them an ideal complement to a variety of dishes — including stews, stir-fries and other recipes with strong flavors. A popular way to prepare grasshoppers is by roasting them and seasoning them with soy sauce, garlic, onions and/or chiles.

[Read: 5 Reasons to Eat Insects .]

Caterpillars. Caterpillars are another commonly consumed insect globally. They are popular in many countries, including Botswana, Northern South Africa and Zimbabwe. With 53 grams of protein and about 15 percent fat per 100 grams of dried caterpillars, this insect has been considered to have a higher proportion of protein and fat than beef and fish.

[Read: Meat Is Murder: America’s Deadly Beef Obsession .]

Beetles. Beetles are another very popular insect in the diets of many worldwide. There are tons of different types of beetles, with 78 edible aquatic beetle species reported. While it depends on which beetle you select, you can ingest up to 36 grams of protein from a single serving of palmworm beetle. These insects also provide a great source of minerals, such as calcium, iron and zinc.

If you’re not quite ready to dive in headfirst with a grasshopper skewer, start out slow with one of these items, all debuting in the U.S. and made with insect flour:

— Exo Protein Bars — made with nuts, fruit and cricket flour.

— Chirps from Six Foods — a baked chip made with beans, rice and cricket flour.

— Chapul Cricket Bars — feature tempting flavor combinations such as dark chocolate, coffee and cayenne, and coconut, ginger and lime.

[Read: Eating Insects: A Healthy Solution to Food Shortages .]

Ready to take it to the next step? Try:

— Chocolate-covered scorpions or silkworms from Thailand Unique.

— Weaver Ants, Eggs and Larvae or Weaver Ant Infused Rock Salt from Edible Unique.

Would you try insect cuisine? Tweet me @harleypasternak.

[Read: Meals of the Future: Will Soylent and Ambronite Make Food Obsolete? ]

More from U.S. News

America’s Next Top Superfood

The Best Berries for Your Health

8 Foods Loaded With Vitamin C

Buggin’ Out: the Case for Eating Insects originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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