Pro Tips for a Healthy and Sustainable Diet

Furthermore on the topic of a sustainable diet, see the article "Better Food, Better Life" to better understand its importance, we will discuss today 9 practical tips for it. All of the information mentioned in this article was found in the Food Facts for Healthy Choices website made by the The European Food Information Council (EUFIC).

The European Food Information Council (EUFIC)

1. Eat more fruits and vegetables

   1. You need to be aware of the kind of vegetables you eat since some do require a lot of transportation which affects sustainability (green beans, berries imported, etc.) but in general, vegetables have a low environmental impact and are really good for our healthy

2. Eat locally, when in season

   1. Choose to eat locally-grown foods when it is their season in order to avoid higher cost of production which leads to an impacted environment. By doing this, not only do you help your community, but you also eat natural products that aren’t manipulated to grow in times which aren’t necessary.

3. Avoid eating more than needed

   1. If you reduce what you eat, this will reduce demands on food which results in a decrease of excess production (we don’t waste more natural resources that are being lost everyday). In addition, you get to keep yourself healthy and avoid any unnecessary weight gain.

4. Exchange animal protein for plant-based ones

   1. More resources are needed to produce animal-based proteins so eating a more plant-based diet will reduce the amount of resources being used everyday decreasing the negative environmental impacts. Not only that, but this type of diet is more healthy since it provides more fiber, has lower saturated fat content and contributes to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. Choose whole grains

   1. Cereals that aren’t refined need less resources for them to be produced since they require fewer processing steps. They also reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

6. Eat dairy products in moderation

   1. We all know that dairy products are an important source of protein, calcium and essential amino acids so we don’t personally recommend discarding them at all. We suggest reducing its consumption in order to lessen the environmental impact they have with their production while also obtaining their health benefits.

7. Avoid unnecessary packaging

   1. Use materials that are biodegradable, fully recyclable or made from recycled materials in order to avoid an environmental impact. If this can’t be done, then reduce the amount of packaged products you buy so that you contribute less to this effect.

8. Drink tap water

   1. If the water quality of your water is high and safe when it comes from the tap, then choose this option instead of buying bottled water in order to reduce your “ecological footprint”. If you don’t have this option, buy a water bottle that can be refilled many times in order to avoid buying a lot of plastic water bottles.

We hope all of these tips help you understand how you can contribute to the environment while also maintaining good health. Please let us know if you are following some of our tips and send us some pictures of your voice in this sustainable change!