Passage Two

Did you know that cutting meat and dairy products from your diet can reduce your food carbon footprint(足迹) by 73 percent? It’s likely you've heard similar statistics before. It might have even held your attention long enough to try a plant-based diet for a while. However, for some, cutting out delicious meat products forever seems too restrictive to sustain long term.

It's true that we’re creatures of habit, so it 's no wonder that the dishes we’ve grown to love might be difficult to give up even when we want to do so with the most earnest of intentions. But for those who are serious about making a personal change, all the exciting new food technology popping up around us could greatly change the way we as a nation consume food.

Studies have shown that fake meat burgers, typically consisting of soy and gluten(大豆和面筋)， use around 90 percent less water than hamburgers. Therefore, for all those looking to make a change without altering their diet too much, this could be wonderful news. Though meat substitutes have their disadvantages too, with some of the highest carbon emission(排放)of all plant-based food yet, the good still far exceeds the bad when used to replace red meat. If health is a big concern for you, you might be better off sticking to vegetables and enjoying fake meat as a treat.

Currently, companies are racing to create the first “lab grown” meat products as a seemingly simple answer to everyone's concerns. The exciting thing to take from this, whichever side you may be on, is that the fake meat industry is growing so rapidly, and it's certain to produce a sustainable option soon.