There's nothing like waking up in the morning and downing a big glass of cricket protein milkshake.
Wait, what?
Researchers from Bringham Young University are working to introduce ground up crickets as an alternative protein source for protein bars and protein powder.
And for good reason. The protein that comes from eating a serving of crickets is comparable to beef, according to a press release, and includes all nine essential amino acids.
While this idea may seem kind of bizarre, eating bugs as a source of protein is common in about 80 percent of the world's population, lead researcher and BYU assistant professor Laura Jefferies says.
Currently, BYU researchers are working with a small company in Utah that produces cricket protein bars to help with product development and testing whether or not study subjects are more or less willing to eat a product with cricket protein powder after they tried it.
So far, Jefferies says they've seen an increase of people who are willing to try cricket powder in a protein product.
“It does take a little bit of wrapping your mind around the idea of having crickets in your protein bar,” said one study subject says in a video. “But it’s got a really nice flavor and texture.”
