Carlos, a 26-year-old from Chicago, has a unique habit—he regularly eats live bugs like mealworms, cockroaches, and crickets. His unusual eating behavior is featured in an episode of TLC’s “My Strange Addiction,” where he describes the taste of mealworms as similar to buttered popcorn and compares crickets to vegetables. He even claims the insides of cockroaches taste like custard.
Carlos says he enjoys the sensation of live bugs squirming in his mouth, calling it a satisfying and primal experience. He admits he’s been fascinated with eating bugs since childhood, and now consumes up to 100 live bugs a day. According to the show’s producers, that adds up to around 30,000 insects a year—roughly the weight of a turkey.
His partner Ashley, who shares a child with him, initially found his bug-eating habit quirky. But over time, she’s grown concerned about the financial and health risks. Carlos spends money on insect mixes from specialty pet stores, and Ashley believes the habit has become a harmful crutch.
Despite the risks, Carlos says eating live bugs gives him a sense of control and a feeling of power over the insects. However, a visit to a nurse practitioner raised red flags. She warned that eating live bugs—unlike the cooked insects consumed in many cultures—can expose people to harmful bacteria and parasites. These could potentially lead to infections, organ failure, or even neurological damage.
Carlos admitted he sometimes experiences heart palpitations and wasn’t fully aware of the possible health consequences. Although he still likes the taste and sensation of eating bugs, he now says he’s cut back significantly. Since filming the show, Carlos told The Post that he no longer eats live bugs intentionally and that the behavior was limited to a specific time in his life.