Helping the Planet with Healthy Eating Habits

Abstract

A growing number of people are paying more attention to the concept of environmental sustainability, implementing sustainable eating practices to minimize the waste of resources, and the production of waste products related to the food production process. The careful application of sustainable eating practices makes it possible to help the environment, public health, and society by increasing the availability of food and farmland to feed every inhabitant on Earth. Individuals impact the environment through their eating because of three factors: food, energy used in the home, and transport. The most powerful of these factors is food. Animal food production involves a greater use of resources (raw materials, land, water, energy) and produces more pollutants (chemical residues from agriculture, greenhouse gases, manure) than plant-based food. Thus, a lifestyle based on eating plant foods is not only beneficial for the environment, but also protective of a consumer’s health. Alternative practices, such as using renewable energy sources or alternative fuels, however desirable they may be in combination with limiting the consumption of animal foods, are more difficult to implement across society. To change one’s eating habits is, on the other hand, a simple, fast, and inexpensive approach.

Mediterranean diet: a nutrient‐packed diet and a healthy lifestyle for a sustainable world

“…The MD is a highly diversified heritage of different food cultures and systems, which vary from country to country in the Mediterranean basin. It is important to note that although the MD has ancient beginnings, it can serve as a healthy dietary template for people today; adherence to the diet is easy and its benefits and transferability to non‐Mediterranean regions have been proven 10–21 …”

Sustainable food systems and healthy diets: the case of mediterranean diet

“…The term "sustainability" refers to the ability to maintain a certain standard of human living without causing environmental damage or any other harming of the nature. It should be understood that it benefits the human health and well-being, has socio-economic benefits and contributes to environmental integrity (Baroni et al, 2018;Bornkessel et al, 2019;Chen et al, 2019;Monsivais et al, 2012). The 17 SDGs cover three sustainability pillars: environmental, social, and economical.…”

“…In the global nutrition policy sphere, the term "malnutrition" no longer refers only to undernutrition, such as wasting, stunting, underweight or deficiencies in vitamins or minerals. Malnutrition in all its forms includes obesity, as well as dietary factors that increase the risk of NCDs, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancers; they are a major cause of disability and death in all countries (Baroni et al, 2018;FAO & WHO (2019);HLPE, 2019HLPE, , 2020Swinburn et al, 2019). Many studies now point to synergies between healthy diets and reduced environmental pressures, leading to the notion of sustainable diets, for healthy lives and healthy ecosystems.…”

“…In the Mediterranean, there is a widespread awareness of the social, cultural, economic and health aspects of food, and this is shared by all Mediterranean people in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea; adherence to this diet is easy and its transferability to non-Mediterranean regions has been proven (Aboussaleh et al, 2017;Antonopoulou et al, 2020;Baroni et al, 2018;Benhammou et al, 2016;Bonaccio et al, 2012;Hidalgo-Mora et al, 2020;Peng et al, 2018a;Peng et al, 2018b;Serra-Majem et al, 2003-2004Trichopoulou et al, 2014).…”

GoVegan: Exploring Motives and Opinions from Tweets

“…Studies have associated the motives to go Vegan for several reasons. For instance, animal welfare [23,24]; health-conscious [16,20,25,26]; to sustain the planet [27][28][29][30][31]; to obtain a sense of belonging in social media or gaining social identity [32,33]; or to endorse celebrities/society [14,34,35]. Are these opinions discussed on Twitter?…”