Did you know that our diet can seriously impact the environment?
Today, approximately 70% of freshwater resources are used for agricultural production and animal husbandry. 10% of greenhouse gas emissions come from agricultural production. Agricultural production is also one of the most important causes of water pollution. The use of forest areas for agricultural production also leads to a gradual decrease in the area covered by forest areas on a global scale. This situation causes the demand for food to increase worldwide due to reasons such as an increasing population and food waste.
What changes can we make in our eating habits to help minimize these negative effects? The answer to this question is linked to the concept of sustainable nutrition. Meeting people’s nutritional needs may be at risk in the near future due to reasons such as the negative impact of agricultural production on natural resources and global warming. Unsafe and unhealthy food in many countries causes high rates of overweight and obesity, as well as malnutrition.
According to the 2018 World Food Security and Nutrition Status Report, 821 million people—that is, 1 in every 9 people around the world—are struggling with hunger. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that 300 million people in the world will have to fight hunger in 2050. Therefore, the concept of sustainability in nutrition is extremely important.
Sustainable nutrition: a nutritious, safe, healthy, ecosystem-protective, accessible, fair, economically accessible, adequate, and balanced diet of natural origin is a lifestyle. Sustainable nutrition aims to change our eating habits, protect our own health, and use our natural resources more effectively and with less harm.
The Importance of Sustainable Nutrition:
Protection of Natural Resources:
It aims to protect soil, water, energy, and other resources for future generations by using them efficiently for the production of agricultural products.
Climate Change and Carbon Footprint:
The agriculture and food sectors have a major impact on climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions. Animal farming, in particular, is an important source of methane emissions, one of the greenhouse gases. Therefore, it is aimed at reducing the negative effects on the environment by encouraging the consumption of plant-based foods.
Protecting Biodiversity and Ecosystem:
As the choice of local and organic products in sustainable nutrition is encouraged, the protection of biodiversity is supported.
Health and Wellbeing:
A balanced diet that includes different food groups helps us maintain our health and reduces the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. It supports the health and well-being of the community.
Social and Economic Equality:
Choosing to consume local products and shopping at local markets ensures a fair sharing of food resources and prevents waste by reducing food losses and waste.
Sustainable nutrition principles and habits:
- Eat adequate and balanced nutrition.
- Choose plant protein sources instead of animal proteins (eggs, meat, or milk).
- Make sure to consume at least five portions of fruits and vegetables a day.
- Pay attention to the frequency and amount of packaged foods containing sugar, fat, and salt.
- Increase consumption of legumes, whole grains, and oily seeds such as hazelnuts, walnuts, or almonds.
- Choose fish caught from sustainable fishing (caught in season, without risk of hunting).
- Consume vegetables and fruits in season.
- Be careful to consume local foods and shop from local producers. In this way, costs such as transportation and greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced.
- Maintain your ideal body weight and strive to reach your ideal body weight.
- Think about and question where and how all the food that comes to your table comes from.
- Reduce consumption of red meat, processed meat products, and animal-based fats.
- Store the food you purchase in the right conditions.
- When shopping, needs should be prioritized, waste should be reduced as much as possible and do not waste any food.
- Return food waste to nature using the compost method.
- Evaluate the juices or parts of food, such as stems and leaves.
- Try to adopt the waste-free kitchen principle.
- When cooking, cook for as many people as there are.
- During your travels, try to eat the local dishes of the regions you visit.
- Pay attention to the expiration date of the products you use while cooking.
- Do not leave your kitchen without creating a shopping list while shopping.
- Store your vegetables and fruits in the right conditions.
- Maintain a good balance between meat and vegetable consumption.
- Include every part of the vegetables and fruits you use in the meal.
- Reduce the use of packaging, bags, and plastic, and choose recyclable products that can be used over and over again and do not harm the environment.