The Climatarian Diet: Health and Sustainability

Introduction to the Climatarian Diet

Whether you’re aware of it or not, your diet impacts the environment. No matter what eating plan you choose — be it the Paleo diet, plant-based diets, or health-focused options like the Mediterranean diet — your food choices affect the planet and climate change. Enter the climatarian diet.

“Climatarians” are individuals who base their food and lifestyle choices on minimizing their carbon footprint. Their primary goal is to make food decisions that are sustainable for the planet, while also promoting personal health.

What Is a Climatarian Diet?

The climatarian diet focuses on foods that have a lower environmental impact. It prioritizes those produced sustainably while limiting or avoiding foods that deplete natural resources. Unlike popular belief, this is not strictly a vegan or vegetarian diet. Instead, it focuses on reducing the consumption of high carbon footprint foods like beef and lamb.

Origins and Popularity

The term “climatarian” was first coined around 2015. Since then, it has gained attention from major food chains like Chipotle, Subway, and Starbucks. While it shares similarities with reducetarianism — a movement that encourages reducing red meat and dairy consumption — the climatarian diet places a larger emphasis on sustainable food sourcing and its impact on climate change.

The Carbon Footprint of Food

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agriculture and food production are responsible for one-third of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions come from activities such as growing crops, raising livestock, food distribution, and transportation.

Recent studies, such as one published in the journal Nature Food in 2021, suggest that agriculture is responsible for 71% of food system gas emissions, with deforestation and soil degradation contributing significantly to this percentage.

Benefits of the Climatarian Diet

Here are some of the key benefits associated with adopting a climatarian diet, both for your health and the planet:

1. Reduction in Animal Product Consumption

Climatarians are not necessarily vegans or vegetarians, but they aim to reduce their intake of high-carbon footprint foods, particularly beef and lamb. This change can have a profound impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of eliminating meat entirely, climatarians incorporate more plant-based proteins like beans and legumes into their diets.

2. Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A climatarian diet can lead to a significant decrease in CO2 emissions. Livestock, particularly cattle, are responsible for a large portion of methane emissions, which is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. By opting for plant-based foods, climatarians help reduce the negative impact on the atmosphere.

3. Conservation of Resources

By eating more plant-based, unprocessed, and locally-sourced foods, climatarians conserve valuable resources like water and energy. For example, it takes significantly more water to produce a pound of beef than it does to produce a pound of plant protein. Opting for seasonal, locally grown foods also reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance transportation.

4. Health Benefits

The climatarian diet not only benefits the planet but also improves individual health. By consuming a variety of plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and seeds, climatarians can reduce their risk of chronic health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Moreover, plant-based diets are high in essential nutrients like fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, promoting overall well-being.

How to Adopt a Climatarian Diet

Transitioning to a climatarian diet doesn’t mean making drastic changes all at once. You can gradually incorporate more sustainable foods while reducing your intake of high-carbon footprint options.

Foods to Emphasize

Here are some of the foods that are considered more sustainable and should be part of a climatarian diet:

• Locally grown, organic vegetables and fruits like leafy greens, apples, oranges, potatoes, and squashes.
• Beans and legumes such as lentils, black beans, and tofu.
• Whole grains like brown rice, millet, and barley.
• Nuts and seeds such as flax, chia, and sunflower seeds.
• Wild-caught fish like anchovies, sardines, and salmon.

Foods to Limit

To minimize environmental impact, try to avoid or reduce the consumption of these foods:

• Beef and lamb, which have the highest carbon footprint.
• Dairy products from factory-farm cows.
• Farm-raised crustaceans such as shrimp and lobster.
• Processed foods containing palm oil or excessive sugar.

Climatarian Diet Sample Menu

Here’s an example of what a day of eating a climatarian diet might look like:

Breakfast

• Rolled oats with seasonal fruit, chia seeds, and grass-fed yogurt.
• Free-range eggs cooked with leafy greens and whole grain bread.

Lunch

• Salad with seasonal veggies, chickpeas, seeds, and olive oil dressing.
• Veggie bean burger with tomato and greens served on a whole grain bun.

Dinner

• Wild-caught salmon with local veggies and brown rice.
• Pasta with sardines, olives, and seasonal vegetables.

Conclusion

The climatarian diet is a sustainable approach to eating that benefits both the environment and individual health. By reducing your intake of high-carbon footprint foods like beef and dairy, and increasing your consumption of locally sourced, plant-based foods, you can contribute to the fight against climate change while improving your overall well-being.

It’s not necessary to make all these changes at once. Instead, try incorporating more sustainable food choices gradually into your diet for a healthier lifestyle and a healthier planet.