Background: Communities in most countries of the 16-Member Southern African Development Community (SADC) eat insects including crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, edible caterpillar, beetles, and locusts. They also consume wild animals including rabbits, mice, wild birds, reptiles like tortoises, and various types of indigenous vegetables to meet their nutritional needs. Methodology: Several options were utilized for the methodology: First, emails were sent to the national nutrition program officers in the 16 SADC countries; a follow-up second round of emails was sent to countries that did not answer to the first round. This was followed by telephone calls to the program officers as a crosschecking mechanism; a desk review of the national nutritional programs documents; and an internet Google search on the nutritional value of the insects and indigenous foods was done. Results: The emails, telephone calls and reviews of the national nutrition documents provided lists of indigenous foods recommended by some countries, common staple foods, and indigenous foods available in the SADC region. Deficiencies in minerals, vitamins, essential amino acids, micronutrients, and other food content in the staple foods of the communities cause most nutritional disorders in the SADC Region. Anaemia (iron deficiency), stunted growth (micronutrient deficiency), and skin lesions (vitamin deficiency) are some of the common manifestations of diseases caused by deficiencies in diets of the region. Conclusion: Most Member States in the SADC Region have communities that recognize edible insects and other indigenous foods as part of the food and feed. Studies show that these foods contain high nutritional values. This article recommends the inclusion of indigenous foods in national nutritional programs.