It was in 2015 that the food companies and dieticians awaited the highly anticipated dietary guidelines brought forth by the US Department of Agriculture and the only question that they all had in mind was whether or not they would include environmental considerations.
Later on, the USDA updated its guidelines every 5 years on what was healthy for Americans and what wasn’t. It was then that the advisory board of USDA first recommended that these guidelines on food items should also include sustainability. This federal agency was being asked to factor in considerations like whether or not the food that we eat is good for the planet and for our body.
Soon after, there was a huge uproar within the food industry as there were hundreds of commenters who kept arguing that the environmental guidelines set by the USDA were beyond the addressing and that they were nothing but an overreach of the authority of the USDA.
Later on, the USDA revealed its final set of guidelines and though it didn’t contain any such environmental concerns, it was clear that nutritionists were all drawing connections between environment and health.
More and more consumers are eager to obtain better options
There are an increasingly large number of consumers who drive the push for food sustainability and they have been encouraging dieticians to go on board. The consumers are no longer looking for what is there on the nutrition fact panel any longer but they also have a whole list of various other things which they wish to know about and how they define what eating right is.
The supermarkets and bigger food stores are all taking a close look at the environmental and health concerns as supermarket dieticians are extremely interested in engaging consumers and creating value.
The professors of nutrition think that there are various aspects of food sustainability, fair labor rights, making local economies, environmental impacts, and animal rights which are all drivers of behavior modification. There are many such professors who have tried in their personal life to show people what they should actually be eating and they failed to change the mindset of people regarding their diet.
A diet that is healthier for you and also for the planet
If it was possible to appeal to the different drivers of how people choose their diet, this could not only address the obesity problem of the nation but also the environmental impacts of the production of food and also the stability of the food supply chain.
Decreased meat consumption could certainly have a huge impact on the usage of water. It was also seen by a food agency that 20% of the proteins received by Americans are from sources based on plants. If this could be shifted to 25%, this could lead to saving water to provide an increased water supply to the entire nation.
It is indeed hard for people to get motivated enough to bring about an alteration in their eating habits for a positive result that they will see in the next decade. But if you could pose it in such a manner that they would receive an immediate payoff in the form of good health, weight loss, and increased energy, this could help them focus on the benefits. Here, health professionals have to play their role of encouraging more people to eat healthy. If you seem to be interested in a green diet, read on.
Making your plate sustainable – What it takes to bring about this change
There are multiple reasons why we eat, hunger is one of them. We eat for a favor, for pleasure, we eat for comfort, for good health, and for gaining good nutrition. Of late, there has been a brand new reason behind eating and what we eat. There are many who are adopting the ‘green diet’ and buying food that is local, sustainable, and organic.
People who are having a ‘green diet’ include people who grow their own food and who compost their waste, who have been loving earth products Australia, and also those who carry a reusable bag to the grocery store. If you too want to prep up your green eating skills, here are a few things that you can do:
Consume fresh produce of the season
In case you’re someone who is fortunate enough to reside in a state which has got lots of farms, you will always have access to vegetables and fruits throughout the year. When you eat local produce and you eat seasonal fruits and vegetables, this clearly means that your food has not traveled a lot to reach you and this ensures its freshness. Alongside, you will also feel happier by supporting local farmers. Nevertheless, if you don’t have farms near you, grow your own fruits and veggies.
Cook in your own kitchen
When you eat at home, this will save you the fuel that you may need to reach a restaurant and the money that you will need for having the food. You will also cause benefit your health as there’s no good that you can do to your health by eating out.
When you cook your own food, you will have full control over the ingredients that you choose. If you want, you can reduce calories and the salt that you eat and make your meal a nutritional one.
Reduce wastage of food
As per reports, Americans generated 35 million tons of wasted food and this is almost 40% of the food that reaches our homes. If you could reduce food waste, you would automatically save money and contribute to the local landfill. Make sure you plan your meals in such a manner that you end up cooking the food that you bought and that there is no food left.
Grow your own veggies
How about designing a little vegetable plot in the backyard to get the best fruits and vegetables? If you have a garden in the backyard, you can fulfill all the points of sustainability. The vegetables that you grow will be unprocessed, and organic and they will travel 0 miles to reach out to you. The waste can be put back into the soil.
5 Healthiest green foods to Include in your diet
If you really believe that there can be no specific day to celebrate Earth Day, you should start including the healthiest green vegetables in your diet. Are you worried about what to include? Here are a few to take into account.
1. Collards, kale and Swiss chard
These are termed as the ‘super veggies’ and they are at the top of the list because they really have no other role to play apart from improving your health. They are rich in calcium, fiber, chlorophyll, and magnesium. An easy way to make the most out of them is to steam them, saute them and add them to smoothies, juices, and soups. Try a new leafy green every week and keep rotating what you eat.
2. Living greens like broccoli, mung beans
If you have had sprouts, you’ll know that they are abundant in protein, enzymes, and fiber. They’re living and hence will add freshness to the meal. You can add broccoli and sunflower sprouts to sandwiches, salads, soups, stir-fries, and cooked grains.
3. Fresh green herbs like basil, parsley, or dill
When you consume fresh herbs during summer and spring, this will uplift your spirit and give it a boost. Not only will you find it favorable in terms of taste but also in terms of its nutritional value. If you have green juices, you can also try to put in parsley, whole grains, and chopped salads.
There are fresh herbs for example dill which have a nice accent to soups and dips. You can also utilize basil to design pesto and there’s nothing that can beat the taste when you make it homemade.
4. Asparagus
Asparagus is called the spear of the spring. It is one of the richest stalks which is an immensely vital source of fibre. The tips of asparagus are filled with Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and iron. When you steam it, asparagus tastes great and just make sure that you don’t overcook. You should eat them green and not when it is brown.
5. Avocado
If you’re not in love with the creamy texture of avocados, you can definitely be enticed after you get to know your health benefits. Avocados are a risk in protein, omega-3, antioxidants, and vitamin E and they also protect your heart, skin, and blood. They even have an amazing taste and when you add them to sandwiches, desserts, dips, and salads, they taste extremely good. If you want to, you can mash up an avocado and also apply it on your skin as a face mask.
Therefore, if you’re wondering about how you could adopt a sustainable diet to live a healthy life, take into account all the points mentioned in the article. Do good to your health and also to the environment by making proper choices of the foods that you choose.
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