Everyone who knows me knows that I don't eat meat. It's bound to happen that you'll find out when we go to a restaurant because usually they will only serve one or two options, and sometimes none at all. Vegetarians are not "picky" eaters because a lot of us will actually eat everything that's not meat. I actually know more picky eaters who do eat meat, where all they will order are fries and chicken tenders when they go out because that's the "safe choice". I don't care if people choose to eat meat and I don't question their eating habits, so why do people question mine?
Eating meat every day or every meal has become the norm in America and a great part of the world because it is so affordable and satisfying to the stomach. I am very fortunate to have grown up in a household where I was able to eat what I want and be given that option to make my own diet choices, and I understand that not everyone does. It's mind boggling to me that if I go to a restaurant or grocery store, it's harder to find a vegetarian item than with something that has meat because it is in fact the healthier option. I love being a vegetarian and I wouldn't have it any other way, but that doesn't mean I can be a punching bag to the average meat lover human being. Over the years I've become used to the same questions that consist of "When did you stop eating meat?" or "do you miss it?", and I really don't mind answering those questions. It becomes frustrating when those questions are geared negatively to put me down or emasculate me, such as "so what do you eat" or "don't you want to eat this?", because I can easily answer to that "everything else AND no I do not!"
Vegetarians and vegans seem to get unnecessary criticism for how they eat when it's their OWN choice and body; it doesn't affect anyone else. The biggest thing it may affect is the environment and an animals life, which I can't seem to find as a bad thing.
As more people are becoming aware of vegetarians and vegans, the future brings me hope for a healthier and environmentally friendly world. Researchers from Impossible Foods have been experimenting with the idea of having a meatless meat tasting patty that bleeds since 2011. Since then they have been creating other types of meat as well. The patty only consists of wheat, coconut oil, potatoes, and heme.
What is heme you ask?
Heme is the reason why meat has that certain color and taste, as it's the nonprotein iron protoporphyrin constituent of hemeglobin, responsible for carrying oxygen.
The patty has recently hit several restaurants in largely populated cities such as Los Angeles and New York City, and is currently on the slightly pricey side for a burger (around $15-20). I believe once this has been on the market for a while the price of the patty is going to drop as the company is working on making the "meat" affordable like the price of any other kind of beef in a market. Once the patty comes out more publicly, I think this will be life changing for the meat industry. I think people who do care about the environment that eat meat will choose the Impossible Burger because there really isn't a difference with the taste of a real or fake burger. And there are actually more health benefits with the Impossible Burger than beef from a cow. Just look!
I believe this is really going to separate people's moral beliefs, and I'm excited to see what people will choose to do with their diets. There is a fascinating road ahead for the food industry, and I'm so excited what science can do for people and the environment.
So what would you do if the Impossible Burger became available and affordable for everyone? Would you ditch the meat and become a vegetarian?
