What will eating habits look like in 2050? If scientists' predictions are anything to go by, it seems a lot more vegetarians will be running the show.
A group of leading water scientists from around the world believe the world's population will have to completely switch to a vegetarian diet in 2050 because of food shortages, according to the Guardian.
As of now, most people eat 20 per cent of their protein from animal-based products and foods. However, scientists warn by 2050, this consumption number might have to drop down to five per cent to feed an extra two billion people expected to be alive, according to the research.
An infographic illustrated by grocery delivery program Door To Door Organics, found that Americans eat at least 12 ounces of meat per day, almost 50 per cent more than the recommend daily amount. Producing meat not only requires space and resources to raise animals, but a lot of water to grow crops. In fact, a study from 2011 found that eating less meat could double the world's food supply.
"There will not be enough water available on current croplands to produce food for the expected 9 billion population in 2050 if we follow current trends and changes towards diets common in western nations," the report by Malik Falkenmark and colleagues at the Stockholm International Water Institute noted, according to the Guardian.
And no, a vegetarian hot dog isn't simply putting a carrot between buns -- vegetarian recipes can be healthy, full of protein and most of time quite tasty. Yoga teacher and Huffington Post blogger Charlotte Singmin says considering going meatless once a week, replacing burgers with portobello mushrooms and adding a veggie-infused smoothie to your lunch are all simple ways you can become a vegetarian. Slowly.
Still think you can't do it? Check out these 8 healthy -- and tasty -- substitutes that are just the same as eating one ounce of meat:
8 Meat Substitutes
Vegetarians on Twitter also get annoyed: