This Diet is Good for You and the Planet!

Our diet has a big impact on climate! 

Each step of the food supply chain - from land use choices and farming to transportation to purchasing and packaging - releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Not all food is created equal and some food items have a larger carbon footprint than others. A key example is that beef and other meats have a larger carbon footprint than fish and vegetables.

Climate change is a wicked and complex problem, but the solutions can be both delicious and healthy! By eating climate-friendlier meals that have fruits, vegetables, beans, and mushrooms we can have a healthier planet and a healthier you!

When eating out, a general rule you can follow is to order fruits and vegetables and avoid meat like pork and beef. Remember that you don't need to be vegan to make a difference! You can swap out a few meals a week with more plant-based food or even just by reducing the amount of meat in a meal and adding more vegetables. Here's an example of some climate-friendly meals that were served at the Ateneo Loyola Heights campus just this week.

The awesome news is that eating Climate-friendlier food is also the perfect opportunity to support Filipino farmers! Organizations like Sierreza - Community Supported Agriculture, Good Food Community, and Gising Gising PH are some of our favorite shops that support locally grown fruits and vegetables. Some of the items on their menu might not be so familiar to you, but don't worry! You can find sample recipes and guides from Good Food Community through their website (bit.ly/GoodFoodRecipes) through their Pamayanihan Cookbook (bit.ly/GoodFoodPamayanihan)

Be sure to follow the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability on Facebook for more information on food, climate, and how we can shift to more sustainable diets! This post series was made for the LS - Ateneo Food Safety and Nutrition Advisory Council.