Perform the universal edibility test to check whether a plant is edible. Rub the plant on your skin or lips or hold it in your mouth and see if you have an adverse reaction to it.
Use the physical appearance of plants as an indicator of what to avoid. Avoid plants with white or yellow berries: many of these are poisonous. Avoid plants with thorns. They are not edible. You cuold also get a cut that could become infected. Plants with shiny leaves or with leaves in groups of three are generally inedible or dangerous. Plants with umbrella-shaped flowers and plants with seeds inside a pod are usually poisonous, too.
Notice the taste and smell of plants and flowers. Anything that tastes bitter or soapy should not be consumed. Plants with a distinct almond smell are also generally poisonous.
Avoid mushrooms. Many are poisonous and deadly, but they look similar to edible varieties.
Familiarize yourself with edible fruits. Fruits such as mangoes and bananas can be found all over the jungle. Coconuts are also a rich food source.
Search the area for fresh water sources. Jungle rivers contain many varieties of fish. Bamboo is an abundant material in jungles and can be used to construct a fishing spear. Using a spear to catch fish is a challenging task but it can provide a rich source of nutrition.
Use the physical appearance of insects as an indicator of what to keep away from. Avoid bright-colored insects and insects with a pungent smell. Eating any insect that is hairy or bites or stings is unnecessarily dangerous.
Familiarize yourself with local insect species. Insects are a rich source of protein. More than 1,000 species are regular parts of people's diets in other parts of the world. There are no golden rules regarding edible insects, so prior research is advisable.
Recognize the value of worms, grubs and termites as a protein source. These insects are abundant in the jungle and it is possible to survive for a reasonable period of time on these alone. Beetles are similarly nutritious but some have parasites. Boiling or roasting them over a fire makes these insects safe to eat.
