Are you also seeing a lot of ‘natural’ and ‘quick’ detox diets online and have been wanting to try them for so long, but don’t know where to begin? The world of fashionable and immediate detoxes and diets is very appealing, yet stepping into it without any precautions may cause undesirable outcomes. The concept of following a sustainable diet has sparked a significant global debate. While more and more people shift to healthy food choices, there are still many who want to venture into this but are confused as to where to begin.
If you are one of the confused ones, then worry not! This guide will give you all the information you need to help you build a sustainable diet plan.
Let’s first understand what exactly a sustainable diet plan is.
A sustainable diet plan is a plan that satisfies the nutrient requirements of a person and guarantees food security for future and upcoming generations. A sustainable diet plan has faith in a balanced nutritional diet that utilises natural resources, has a low environmental impact, and encourages social and economic equity.
In simpler terms, a sustainable diet plan:
- Guarantees nutritional value, leading to good health and well-being.
- Utilise natural resources like land, water and energy effectively to produce food to minimise environmental effects.
- Enhances social and economic justice, fair pay and ethical labour standards among individuals in the chain of supply.
Now, let’s move on to the steps in building a successful and sustainable diet plan:
- Understand your goals: The very first step in building a successful diet plan is to understand why you want to follow a diet in the first place. Do you want to lose weight or gain weight? Understand your ‘why’ perfectly. If you’re looking for a diet plan for weight loss, then research accordingly and curate a plan that matches your goals.
- Keep it balanced: The main goal behind following a sustainable diet is to provide the body with all the nutrition it needs. This includes a healthy balance across different types of fats, protein, carbs, and fibre.
- Opt for local and regional produce: Choosing seasonal, as well as local, foods like fruits and vegetables has numerous benefits. The very first benefit is that they are not ripened using artificial chemicals. The second is that importing produce from international markets is very cost-heavy and has a harmful impact on the environment.
- Incorporate plant-based diet: Choose additional sources of plant-based protein such as legumes, tofu, and whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice and oats. This addition causes a decrease in the extent of meat consumption and also satisfies your daily nutritional needs. If you are unsure about which foods contain how much protein or carbs, then simply download a diet app. This will help you to keep a close watch on what you consume and how much you consume.
- Reduce food wastage: Minimising the level of daily food wastage significantly contributes to building a sustainable diet plan. Set up a compost pit for any sort of food waste (if any). This will help you to reuse waste food efficiently, and a pretty garden too!
- Be kind: Last, but not least: Be kind towards yourself. Being hardcore strict on your diet will only make you want to eat more junk food. Instead, maintain a healthy balance between your diet and cheat meals. This will keep your cravings satiated while keeping a good diet. Be a diet coach who knows the fine line between being too strict and too lenient.
There is an increase in the number of lifestyle diseases and endangerment of the environment. Both of them will be combated effectively through the creation of a sustainable diet plan. The thing is that the decision to lead a sustainable lifestyle does not always need to be overnight and fast. The change can be gradual and yet be successful.