How Can Your Diet Help Save the Planet?

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