Topic 3.4: Tips on following a healthy and sustainable diet

The European Food Information Council recommends the following steps for individuals wishing to achieve a healthy and sustainable diet:

These steps are mentioned as the three pillars of a sustainable diet

1. Consume less

There is a global trend towards overconsumption, despite hunger still being prevalent around the world.
Overconsumption results in overweight and obesity as well as an unnecessary demand for increased production of crop and livestock with the associated environmental impact.
Lowering our overall energy intake could benefit the health of both the environment and the population.

2. Waste less

About 88 million tonnes of food are discarded in Europe annually.
Food waste occurs during all stages of the food chain, by producers, processors, retailers and caterers.
The majority of food waste takes place at home.
If food waste was a country, it would be the third largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions, trailing only the U.S.A and China!

Producing animal-based foods requires higher and more intensive use of resources than plant-based foods and has a greater environmental impact (e.g., land use, fresh-water consumption).
Choosing more sustainable animal-based products (e.g., poultry, sustainably-grown fish), reducing the consumption of animal-based products such as meat, dairy and eggs in general, and incorporating more plant-based whole products (fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes) are great steps towards a more sustainable diet.
Do not choose ultra-processed plant-based dairy and animal alternatives – despite their potential environmental benefit, they may negatively impact health (see Unit 2 on ultra-processed foods).

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