What Is The Planetary Health Diet?

What is the planetary health diet?

The Planetary health diet was first coined in 2015 as an answer to the issue of climate change. The diet aims to play an important part in the long-term health and survival of the human population for sustainable, healthy and nutritious food for all. 

The planetary health diet was created by the Eat-Lancet commission and the Wellcome Trust  in response to climate change as a nearing threat.  The diet was created by 37 scientists from around 16 different countries with the interest of agriculture, environment and public health at the centre. The end goal was to create targets to show how sustainable food production and a plant-based diet would also promote health.

 What does the diet consist of?

The Planetary health diet is very similar, if not the same, as a flexitarian diet.  It is predominantly plant-based but can also incorporate small amounts of fish, meat, and dairy. There is also a focus on whole foods and unsaturated fats as well as limits on processed foods. It also includes a limit on certain starchy vegetables including potatoes which is where this diet differs slightly from a flexitarian diet.

So what do your plates look like?

In real terms this means that you might enjoy meat or fish a couple of servings per week but the majority of your protein comes from plants such as beans, pulses and nuts. According to the PHD diet, around half of your plate for each meal would be fruit and vegetables of different colours for a range of different nutrients each day. It is the first diet and scientific study to align the benefits of a sustainable diet with a healthy diet. 

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