A Gift of Valentine’s Day Chocolates! It’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Are you looking for something new and exciting for Valentine’s Day this year? We recommend swapping out the usual box of chocolates for something a little more adventurous- chocolate covered insects!

Eating insects may be a novelty in the U.S., but it is a common practice in most other countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, at least two billion people worldwide regularly eat bugs. For those who partake, entomophagy (insect eating) has a number of nutritional benefits. Insects are very high in protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and “good” fats. Additionally, farming insects requires much less land and water use than raising other major sources of protein such as pork and beef, which results in less of an environmental impact.

Many Americans are taking note of this, and entomophagy has been a growing trend over the last few years. Start-ups have been emerging all over North America, with most specializing in raising crickets to be sold in products such as protein bars and cricket flour. While we recommend trying out these other choices eventually, for Valentine’s Day you can’t go wrong with the chocolate covered options. There are a wide variety of delicious, chocolate-coated insect treats to be found online, including ants, crickets, scorpions, worms, and grasshoppers. For first time bug eaters, I would recommend a variety pack of multiple types, just like a regular box of chocolates. If you’re a little squeamish about the idea, go for the smaller ants and crickets – they’re more chocolate than insect and a great introduction to the world of entomophagy. Happy Valentine’s Day!