Forget everything you knew about protein bars, because the protein bars of the future are made with crickets.
Exo is a protein bar that is made with cricket flour instead of protein powder.
If that initially turns you off, you're not alone.
@chrisburrous I've heard of cricket flour as an alternative to wheat, but eating crickets is just too #gross.— Ivey McClelland (@iveyjanette_207) October 29, 2015
That's the way much of the U.S. has felt about eating bugs for many years now.
However, edible bugs are becoming downright trendy and if you can get past their unfair "icky" reputation, many people enjoy them.
Eating adobada tacos topped with crickets. Yum! pic.twitter.com/0DATcfXXEF— ERIK.BAT (@torgospizza) April 12, 2015
Pair that with the fact that crickets are a sustainable, healthy of protein and you have a way to help solve the world's hunger problem just by opening your mind and palate.
In a press release, Exo shares that crickets are high in protein, omega 3 fatty acids and have more iron, by weight, than beef or spinach.
Crickets are an alternate form of protein for people who don't like or have aversions to whey protein, soy protein or other forms of protein commonly found in vegetarian energy bars.
The company tells Mashable the bars were developed with lauded chef (previously at the Michelin-starred Fat Duck) and culinary scientist Kyle Connaughton.
Crickets produce 100 times less greenhouse gas than cattle, require less water than traditional livestock, and Exo crickets are raised on organic, grain-based diets and drink filtered water.
Plus, when crickets are in flour form, you can't see their legs, which might be the aspect most scaring you from trying them in the first place. Otherwise, they taste like any other given protein bar.
There are 10 grams of protein per bar and no gluten, refined sugar, dairy or artificial preservatives. With the Apple Cinnamon flavor clocking in at 260 calories and 70 mg of sodium, it stands up to the competition.
The bars retail for $36 for a pack of 12 and their new savory meal bars come in flavors like Barbecue and Mango Curry.
This might be your next best bet for a protein-filled snack that leaves you with a clear conscience and green carbon footprint.