article, Part 1
Did you know that you can eat …sustainably?
The food we consume has a massive impact on our planet. Agriculture takes up half the habitable land on Earth, destroys forests and other ecosystems, and produces a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“With a simple diet shift you can save a tonne of CO2 a year…”[1].
All different definitions of a healthy diet, can come down to “an appropriate caloric intake of plant foods, low amounts of animal source foods, unsaturated rather than saturated fats, and limited amounts of processed foods and added sugar” [2]. And indeed, there are many modern and popular diets that improve health and promote weight reduction.
What exactly is a Climatarian Diet
However, recently have been introduced healthy diets that are not only healthy, but also present planetary benefits by exhibiting lower carbon footprints. Those are known as CLIMATERIAN DIETS. A Climatarian diet has the potential to not just help the planet but also improve your health.
What exactly is a Climatarian Diet
However, recently have been introduced healthy diets that are not only healthy, but also present planetary benefits by exhibiting lower carbon footprints. Those are known as CLIMATERIAN DIETS. A Climatarian diet has the potential to not just help the planet but also improve your health.
How does climatarian diets save our planet?
To save our planet, our diets must consider water, emissions and land usage. A meat-based diet has almost double the carbon footprint of a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, some vegetarian or vegan foods like avocados and almonds have a huge water footprint. In general, within a climaterian diet they should be avoided foods and processing of foods that
To save our planet, our diets must consider water, emissions and land usage. A meat-based diet has almost double the carbon footprint of a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, some vegetarian or vegan foods like avocados and almonds have a huge water footprint. In general, within a climaterian diet they should be avoided foods and processing of foods that
- Require large amounts of natural resources, like land or water
- Contribute to pollution
- Cause ocean acidification
- Emit greenhouse gasses (GHG)
- Use excessive or non-biodegradable packaging [3]
These low-carbon-footprint diets’ main principle is the reduction on ruminant meat (cattle and sheep) and processed food consumption . The increase in consumption of meats such as chicken, pork, and of the locally grown fruits and vegetables can be maintained, without significantly affecting the carbon footprint.
However, although the production of beef and lamb and milk cannot be disassociated from the production of the greenhouse gas methane it wouldn’t be possible to produce enough calories and protein to feed the world if the keeping of sheep and cattle was banned. Replacing too much meat with plant-based foods will also have a high environmental footprint, because cattle and sheep have an important role in our ecosystem of turning grass, something inedible to humans, into high-quality protein
So, should one wishes to both improve his health and contribute to benefit the planetm can easily replace his/hers regular meals by choosing type of foods such as [4] :
1. Lentils and beans
They are delicious and nutritious, and replacing beef with lentils and beans could get us up to 74% closer to meeting our carbon emissions
They are delicious and nutritious, and replacing beef with lentils and beans could get us up to 74% closer to meeting our carbon emissions
2. Local and seasonal fruits and veggies
Match your selection of fruit and vegetables to local seasonal availability, but not to the extent of prejudicing healthy consumption
In this link https://www.eufic.org/en/explore-seasonal-fruit-and-vegetables-in-europe you can find a tool developed by the EUFIC, to explore all the available seasonal fruits and vegetables for each month of the year per country, based on the climate region and country you live
Match your selection of fruit and vegetables to local seasonal availability, but not to the extent of prejudicing healthy consumption
In this link https://www.eufic.org/en/explore-seasonal-fruit-and-vegetables-in-europe you can find a tool developed by the EUFIC, to explore all the available seasonal fruits and vegetables for each month of the year per country, based on the climate region and country you live
3. Whole grains
These include pasta, brown rice and wheat. They have health benefits and less processing and energy requirements environmentally, which lowers the carbon footprint
These include pasta, brown rice and wheat. They have health benefits and less processing and energy requirements environmentally, which lowers the carbon footprint
4. Nuts and seeds
The most eco-friendly include peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds and pumpkin seeds – great protein sources with a lower carbon footprint
The most eco-friendly include peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds and pumpkin seeds – great protein sources with a lower carbon footprint
5. Chicken
Meat production, particularly beef, requires more land and water, and has higher carbon emissions. Swapping beef for chicken can decrease your carbon footprint by nearly half
Based on the above general tips, each individual can adopt an approach that best serves personalized health needs, lifestyle, income and place of living.
Meat production, particularly beef, requires more land and water, and has higher carbon emissions. Swapping beef for chicken can decrease your carbon footprint by nearly half
Based on the above general tips, each individual can adopt an approach that best serves personalized health needs, lifestyle, income and place of living.
Author: Dr Anna Gkriniari, CRE THI DEV
REFERENCES
[1] Climatarian, flexitarian, vegetarian, vegan: Which diet is best for the planet?, https://ideas.ted.com/
[3] Climatarian–The Easy, Healthy, Climate Friendly Diet. [(accessed on 26 October 2022)]. Available online: https://climatarian.com/
[4] What is the Climatarian diet? Foods you can eat to minimize your carbon footprint in 2022, https://eu.usatoday.com/
