A Better Planet, A Better You: Becoming a Climatarian

What is a Climatarian? Have you ever wanted to go vegetarian or vegan because you heard it’s better for the planet? Do you worry about how climate change is going to affect your life? If yes, you and over 50% of people between the ages of 18 and 35 believe that climate change will pose a serious threat within their lifetime and are eager to make a difference. According to reports by NASA, the overall global temperature has increased 2.1 degrees since 1880, on average the sea level has increased by 3.3 millimeters per year and the carbon dioxide levels in the air have increased by 47% since 1850. Food production alone creates about 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change is a vast issue, it can seem overwhelming to make a difference on your own. Vegetarian, vegan and other environmentally conscious diets are common diets to follow, but they can feel very daunting and restrictive. Instead, consider this new diet called the Climatarian diet. A Climatarian is a person who chooses what to eat according to what is least harmful to the environment. This eating pattern focuses on awareness and mindfulness about how the food you eat impacts the environment. Now before diving into how to be a climatarian, let’s talk about why it’s a great solution for your mind, body and planet.

Benefits of the Climatarian Diet There are many ways to reduce your water and carbon footprint through lifestyle change, but today we will be focusing on how to make an impact through your diet. What is unique about the climatarian diet is that it is flexible, allowing you to choose what types of foods you want to eat. The biggest reason to switch is to minimize the impacts of the “Western Diet.” The Western Diet is one that consists of highly processed foods, lots of red meat, lots of “carbs,” or carbohydrates and little to no fruits and vegetables. Based on this diet, one study showed that if the average American simply shifted to a diet more reflective of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommendation of eating whole, nutrient-dense foods they could reduce their energy use by 43%, water footprint by 16% and greenhouse gas emission by 11%. Whether it is limiting how many times you take the car out to get takeout, or changing your main source of protein, everyone can make a difference through their diet. In addition to combatting climate change, the climatarian diet also has benefits for your mind and body. The main purpose of the climatarian diet is to be mindful and aware of the environmental impact your meal has. This diet encourages you to learn more about where your food is coming from and how it impacts your environment. The climatarian diet can also help you to shift to a diet that is more nutrient-dense, filled with whole foods. Eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help ensure that you get all of your vitamins and minerals, improve your overall health, and fuel you to make a difference in other areas of your life. The climatarian diet has much to offer in terms of a healthier you and a healthier planet. There are also many benefits beyond the ones mentioned here, but that is an article for another day.

Tips on Finding Sustainable Food Sources Now that we know why it is so important to be mindful about our eating patterns and how it affects our environment, how do we do it? The first option is to start your own garden or shop locally. This may seem obvious but by creating your own local food source, you reduce the amount of time and energy it will take to get the food to you. The next thing you can do is eat seasonally. Foods that are out of season are typically shipped from far away, thus this step will not only help to reduce energy use, but it will also be easier on your wallet. One big challenge to finding sustainable foods at a grocery store is the lack of labels telling you if a product is sustainable. To overcome this barrier, be passionate about the foods that you are eating. Research about how and where the food is made so that you can make informed decisions about what foods you want to eat. Beyond thinking about where your food comes from, next step is to think about if foods have a higher and lower environmental impact.

What Can I Eat? This step relies on evaluating the foods you are eating. When eating proteins, try to limit your beef and lamb intake as these tend to contribute more to water use and greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, go for beans, lentils, nuts and fish for a lower environmental impact. For those who are looking to try new trends, I would encourage you to try algae, insect protein and cultured, or lab-grown meats, if they are available near you. In addition to protein, you can also consider what type of “carb,” or grain, will be on your plate. Although it may be a daily part of your diet, consider limiting your rice intake and substituting it with oats, rye, barley, corn or wheat6. While this is a general overview of the environmental impact of each food, it is important to note that one food may have a low carbon footprint but a high water footprint. If you are curious about a certain food and how it stacks up with different factors, you can use this consumer made ResourceWatch Interactive Data Set. Right now, it may seem straightforward, but there isn’t a “one size fits all” climatarian diet. If you find yourself struggling to find the best strategies for you, a dietitian can help you. So, will you take the pledge? Try the climatarian diet and make the world a better place, starting today. Reference List 1. Change, I. C. (2014). Mitigation of climate change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 1454. 2. Climate change: Vital signs of the planet. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2021, from https://climate.nasa.gov/ 3. Mekonnen, M. M., & Gerbens-Leenes, W. (2020). The water footprint of global food production. Water, 12(10), 2696. 4. Tom, M. S., Fischbeck, P. S., & Hendrickson, C. T. (2016). Energy use, blue water footprint, and greenhouse gas emissions for current food consumption patterns and dietary recommendations in the US. Environment Systems and Decisions, 36(1), 92-103. 5. Fadda, J. (2020). Climate Change: An Overview of Potential Health Impacts Associated with Climate Change Environmental Driving Forces. Renewable Energy and Sustainable Buildings, 77-119. 6. Drewnowski, A., Rehm, C. D., Martin, A., Verger, E. O., Voinnesson, M., & Imbert, P. (2015). Energy and nutrient density of foods in relation to their carbon footprint. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 101(1), 184-191.