In today's world, teaching our children about healthy eating and the importance of vitamins and minerals is undeniably crucial. However, is it enough? In the face of the challenging times our environment is experiencing, we must also educate our kids about sustainable food practices and the impact our food choices have on the planet.
At the core of our belief is the idea that we should prioritize plant-based foods as the central element of our diet. Not only are they healthier for us, but they also play a significant role in protecting the environment. Plant-centric diets are inherently more environmentally friendly, showcasing the harmony between personal well-being and the health of our planet.
You don't need to search extensively to find reliable information on the positive impact of plant-based diets on the environment. We encourage you to explore "The Lancet - Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems," one of the most comprehensive studies to date regarding the environmental implications of food choices
Allow us to share some thought-provoking quotes from this publication that highlight the importance of diet in protecting the environment:
"More than 820 million people have insufficient food and many more consume an unhealthy diet that contributes to premature death and morbidity. Moreover, global food production is the largest pressure caused by humans on Earth, threatening local ecosystems and the stability of the Earth system. Unhealthy and unsustainably produced food poses a global risk to people and the planet"
"Because much of the world's population is inadequately nourished and many environmental systems and processes are pushed beyond safe boundaries by food production, a global transformation of the food system is urgently needed."
"Current dietary trends, combined with projected population growth to about 10 billion by 2050, will exacerbate risks to people and planet. The global burden of non-communicable diseases is predicted to worsen and the effects of food production on greenhouse-gas emissions, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, biodiversity loss, and water and land use will reduce the stability of the Earth system."
The article concludes that the healthiest and most environmentally friendly diet primarily consists of plants. It suggests that healthy diets should include a diversity of plant-based foods, limited amounts of animal-source foods, unsaturated fats instead of saturated fats, and minimal consumption of refined grains, highly processed foods, and added sugars.
We firmly believe this information should be an integral part of nutrition education for parents and kids.
Sustainable diets, such as plant-based diets, can contribute to the solution of our current climate crisis. As Reshma Shah and Brenda Davis emphasize in their book "Nourish":
"Plant-based diets have consistently been found to offer the greatest environmental protection and meet the UN's definition of sustainable diets. While it is true that different foods will have varying environmental impacts in terms of land and water use as well as emissions, as a whole, vegan diets have been shown to have the least environmental impact."
By providing our children with sustainable nutrition education, we equip them with the knowledge and understanding necessary to make informed choices that promote their well-being and contribute to a healthier planet. Together, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future.
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