9 Food habits that makes you Healthy.

 

1. Eat more fruits and vegetables:

Fruit and vegetables are good for our health, and most come with a low environmental impact. There are exceptions, as some require a lot of resources to transport and keep fresh, so eating these less frequently can increase the sustainability of our diets.

2. Eat locally, when in season;

Locally-grown foods can be a sustainable choice if we choose those that are in a season where we live. The cost of producing or storing local foods beyond their natural growing seasons could be higher than shipping foods that are in season somewhere else.

3. Avoid eating more than needed, especially treats:

Consuming only what we need reduces demands on our food supply by decreasing excess production. It also helps to keep us healthy and avoid excessive weight gain. Limiting snacking on energy-dense low-nutrient foods and paying attention to portion sizes are all useful ways to avoid unnecessary overconsumption.

4. Swap animal proteins for plant-based ones:

In general, more resources are needed to produce animal-based proteins (especially beef), compared to plant-based proteins (such as beans, pulses, and some grains). Eating a more plant-based diet also brings health benefits: plant-based food provides more fiber and has a lower saturated fat content, both of which can contribute to a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease.

5. Choose whole grains:

Non-refined cereals are generally less resource-intensive to produce than refined ones as they require fewer processing steps. They are also good for health, reducing our risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and overweight.

6. Choose sustainably sourced seafood:

Fish is a good source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which contribute to normal vision, brain function, and heart health. However, overfishing is causing wild fish stocks to become depleted. In order to benefit from the necessary nutrients and reduce pressure on wild fish stocks.

7. Eat dairy products in moderation:

While milk and dairy products have an important environmental impact, dairy products are an important source of protein, calcium, and essential amino acids, and have been linked to a reduced risk of several chronic diseases, including Metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, stroke, bowel cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

8. Avoid unnecessary packaging Foods:

Food packaging, especially when made of non-recyclable materials can have a huge impact on the environment. We all can reduce the amount of packaged products we buy (think of bulk apples versus cling-film wrapped ones), or opt for materials that are biodegradable, fully recyclable, or made from recycled materials.

9. Drink tap water:

In Europe, the standards of water quality and safety are high. Instead of buying bottled water, we can re-fill a reusable water bottle at the tap as many times as we want. Tap water costs a fraction of the price of bottled water and reduces our ecological footprint.

Further information:

For more information on the environmental impact of our diet see ‘Towards more sustainable diets’