Nutrition Zone:
Protecting our planet in the way that we eat. By Sarah Jackson
S
ustainable living seems to be a new
trend for 2018 and rightly so. We
live on a beautiful planet, a planet
we can help protect...so, however
we can protect it, it is definitely
worth considering.
‘Sustainable eating’ does not yet have
an official definition. However, there are
lots of examples of good accreditation
schemes, such as those certifying ‘organic’
and ‘Fairtrade’ food that are helping make
sustainability more available. Understanding
the journey of food from farm to fork and
the different environmental impacts it hasom living
along the way is worthy knowledge because
even a small change can go a long way.Why is sustainable
eating important?
The British Dietetic Association states: “In
the UK, it is estimated that well-planned
completely plant-based, or vegan, diets need
just one third of the fertile land, fresh water
and energy of the typical British ‘meat-and-
dairy’ based diet. With meat and dairy being
the leading contributor to greenhouse (GHG)
emissions, reducing animal-based foods and
choosing a wide range of plant foods can besustainable eating
beneficial to the planet and our health.”
However, everybody has a choice in
what they eat, and diets are personal to
each individual. Not everyone wants to
lead a vegan or plant-based diet. Still, with
the most food waste in the UK coming
from households (around 20%) it may be
worth considering ways to help reduce this
environmental issue.Consequences of the food
industry on our planet
Excessive greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions: the world’s current food