Elements of a Sustainable Diet

LONDONCutting down on fatty and sugary foods, and reducing meat and dairy consumption would make the biggest contribution toward improving health and reducing the environmental impact of the food system, according to Setting the Table: Advice to Government on priority elements of sustainable diets, a new report from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC).

The SDC's research found evidence that consuming only fish from sustainable stocks, eating more seasonal food, cutting out bottled water, shopping on foot or over the Internet and consuming more wildlife-friendly, organic foods would also contribute toward a more sustainable diet. However, the most significant health and environmental benefits were from reducing meat and dairy, cutting food and drink of low nutritional valueincluding fatty and sugary foodsand reducing food waste.

"For some time, consumers have been raising the problem of how to juggle competing demands between environment, health and social justice, said  Tim Lang, Food Commissioner at the SDC. They are right to do so. Our research found strong evidence of 'win-wins' in these areas, suggesting that a diet which is sustainable on multiple frontsgood for health, environment, social justice and economyis possible.