**Bush tucker**, also known as **bush food**, refers to any food native to Australia. The Australian Aboriginals have used the environment around them for generations, relying on a diet high in protein, fiber, and micronutrients, while being low in sugars. Many of the bush tucker foods eaten by Aboriginal people are still available and consumed today.
Here are some examples of bush tucker:
**Food from Animals**:
**Kangaroo**: Historically known for being high in protein, kangaroo meat is lean and low in fat.
**Emu**: Emu meat is higher in protein and Vitamin C than beef. It's also low in fat.
**Barramundi**: A popular fish choice, barramundi can grow up to 1.2 meters. It's often served on hot coals and wrapped in paper bark.
**Mud Crabs**: Easy to catch and delicious boiled or roasted.
**Goannas**: Offer oily white meat with a taste similar to chicken.
**Stewed Crocodile Meat**: Contains as much as 46g of protein per 100g serving, almost double that of chicken.
Other animals like carpet snakes, rats, mussels, oysters, turtles, wallabies, echidnas, eels, and ducks were also part of traditional bush tucker.
**Insects and Grubs**:
The most famous bush tucker is the **witchetty grub**, which can be eaten raw or roasted over a fire. It has a nutty taste and is rich in calcium, thiamin, folate, niacin, and protein.
**Green ants** are another popular choice. Their white larvae taste like lemon.
Other insects favored include river red gum grubs, Coolibah tree grubs, cicadas, and tar vine caterpillars. Edible insects provide a large amount of protein relative to their size.
**Native Spices**:
Native spices play an essential role in Australian cuisine. Some examples include:
**Mountain Pepper**
- **Aniseed Myrtle**
- **Native Basil**
- **Native Ginger**
- **Blue-leaved Mallee**

**Plants**:
Red fruits are often made into chutneys and jams.
Plums like the **Davidson plum** contain 100 times more Vitamin C than oranges.
Berries such as native gooseberries, snowberries, and white elderberries are also part of bush tucker.
Bush vegetables include sweet potatoes, sea celery, and bush potatoes.
These native foods not only have cultural significance but also offer unique flavors and nutritional benefits. Whether you're exploring