11 Things You Didn't Know You Could Eat

As moms across America will tell you, planning your home menu for the week can often be a daunting challenge. After you've taken everyone's requests and hang-ups into account, you're down to two types of meat and some plain dinner staples. The solution? A salad sprinkled with dandelions should do the trick, or a fresh scoop of creepy crawlies could add some extra crunch.

Yes, you read that right. As general consumers of brand-name products and media, we have a pretty specific idea of what is acceptable as food and what isn't. But the truth is, there are plenty of things either growing in your backyard or commonly discarded that are often overlooked as a part of dinner. Weeds and bugs are only the beginning. For those of you with an adventurous appetite and a hankering for curious dishes, there are plenty of items your brave taste buds can try that you might not have known were edible.

Slideshow: 11 Things You Didn't Know You Could Eat Slideshow

How about whipping up a fresh batch of cactus jelly, or forgoing the turkey leg for the cockscomb? Those weeds in your garden may be a fresh dish, as well as the beautiful carnations in the vase on your table. Whether you’re in a pinch, trying to survive in the wild, or just plain curious, check out some of these eats you never knew you could consume.

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