What’s for dinner? Protein — and its large water footprint
When it comes to the question of “what’s for dinner?” protein is typically at the center of the meal. Production and consumption statistics show that, for a majority of people, protein generally means meat, but it also increasingly includes other non-animal proteins like beans and quinoa. … So why does it matter if we’re over-consuming protein? For starters, protein-rich foods tend to carry a larger foodprint than others. … While animal foods are more concentrated protein sources, those animals have to eat a lot of plants to grow. As a result, producing protein-rich foods can take a lot of resources, including one that’s often overlooked: water.