Adopting eco-friendly attitudes doesn’t just mean following the principles related to environmental sustainability , but it is an attitude that embraces various areas of our lives, including the food sphere. Following a sustainable diet means making conscious choices , starting with what we put in our shopping cart: here are some suggestions for achieving sustainable cuisine, essential actions to protect the planet and our health at the same time.
What is meant by sustainable food
FAO , the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, defines sustainable food as “food with a low environmental impact that meets nutritional guidelines from an economic, accessibility and cultural acceptability.” A concept that falls within the macro-definition of sustainable development , which appeared for the first time in 1987 in the Brundtland Report, a document released by the World Commission on the Environment and Development. Within the document, sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.“
Sustainable cooking: shopping and food to buy
A sustainable diet is closely linked to conscious shopping : a kitchen can be defined as sustainable based on what you decide to put in your shopping cart, opting in particular for healthy foods and avoiding unnecessary waste. When choosing which foods to buy, it is recommended to opt for legumes, fish, meat, eggs and dairy products, seasonal fruit and vegetables, products that guarantee a varied diet .
If you have any doubts about which foods are right for your lifestyle, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist who will help you establish a correct diet based on your health conditions.
The golden rules and small habits to follow
Following a sustainable diet can be easier than you think : just follow a few small habits, such as checking the expiry date of food , thus avoiding not being able to consume it in time, reading the labels to verify the origin and ingredients with which such a food has been made, and prefer products with registered trademarks synonymous with quality and reliability.
It is important to try to keep both the pantry and the refrigerator in order, so that we always have a clear understanding of what we have and what is missing. Furthermore, to avoid food waste , in addition to buying only what is really necessary , it is useful to choose those types of foods that, with a little creativity, can be reused : for example, the vegetables that serve as a side dish for a dish can become a useful ingredient the next day to prepare a different dish.
