Most scientists agree, our planet is getting warmer. An interesting fact you may not be aware of is that the food you and others consume plays a significant part in global warming.
That’s right!
According to
Dr. Deigo Rose, PhD, MPH, RD, professor and nutrition program director at
Tulane University, a person who eats plants and animals (an omnivore) has a
dietary carbon footprint that is nearly double that of a vegetarian’s diet and
triple that of a vegan’s diet!
The good
news is omnivores can lower their carbon footprint if their diet emphasizes
plant-based foods and healthy fats. Two diets that exemplify these traits are
the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. Both of these diets also have the
extra-added benefit of reducing your risk of heart disease, stroke,
hypertension, and colorectal cancer. It’s a two-for-one!
So, what is the
Mediterranean diet? This diet plan is mostly plant-based, with no red meat, and
eating fish twice a week. Chicken and turkey are eaten a few times a week or
less with an emphasis on beans, lentils, tofu, and pea protein. Think black
bean quesadillas, black bean soup, chickpea stew, lentil soup, tofu stir-fries,
and veggie burgers made from pea protein. Egg yolks are limited to 4 per week.
Dairy is in moderation and low-fat. Think one serving of low-fat yogurt or
cheese per day or even less, if possible.
The DASH
diet is like the Mediterranean diet, but it also limits sodium to 1500 mg. to
2300 mg. per day to help lower blood pressure. On both meal plans, processed foods,
and foods high in saturated fat like butter are limited. Alcohol and sugar are also
restricted to very small quantities.
Now, knowing
this, what changes can you make to eat a healthy diet, improve your health and
the health of the planet? Here are a few of my suggestions:
Eat less red meat. Beef has 8 to10 times
the impact of chicken and 50 times the impact of beans on the planet. Here is a
healthy recipe to substitute for a beef burger, https://lisaprincenutritionspecialist.com/healthy-recipes
Switch from dairy milk to unsweetened
plant-based milk.
Try a plant-based yogurt like Nature’s
Promise almond milk yogurt.
Eat fish twice a week instead of beef,
pork, or chicken.
Replace meat in tacos, burritos,
Shepherd’s pie and so forth with a plant-based substitute like Gardein
Plant-Based Beef or Morning Star crumbles. You’ll be doing yourself and the
planet a favor and you probably won’t even taste the difference.
Eat more nuts and less cheese for a
healthy, filling protein.
Eat beans, chickpeas, and lentils. See www.lisprincenutritionspecialist/recipes for a delicious lentil soup recipe.
There you have it. Help save the planet and
yourself – eat a healthy diet!
Let me know
what new plant-based foods you have tried, and which ones you’re going to
incorporate in your diet. I’m thinking of you! _Lisa
