World Food Day: How to Follow a Healthy Diet and Sustainable Habits

Posted on: Oct 11, 2021 | | Written by:

World Food Day: How to Follow a Healthy Diet and Sustainable Habits

Published on October 07, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

What we eat and how we treat available resources have a huge impact on our planet. As the global population continues to grow and different issues like global warming, deforestation and pollution keep making things worse, it’s our duty to do our bit and try to improve the world and our life. Every small step taken in the right direction can have a positive effect on the planet. Which is why, keeping climate change and other issues in mind, World Food Day is celebrated on 16th October every year. This is the day when the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN was found. The day is celebrated with an important purpose to spread awareness about the wise usage of food and other resources to combat hunger around the world.

Food is one of the most important resources that we use every day. Hence, making some important changes to our diet and lifestyle can make a huge difference in someone else’s life.This includes eating more plant-based foods, avoiding processed foods, and more. These simple steps towards sustainable habits and wise utilisation of resources can help feed the poor and promote our overall health too.Considering that infections and illnessesare on the rise, following a healthy diet is utmost important. Besides this, you must also keep health insurance handy for those uncertain times.

Here are some tips to make your food and lifestyle healthy and sustainable:

1. Do not waste food:

As per reports, about 1/3rd of the food produced for humans around the world is wasted. This is a sad reality as there are many people who do not get enough to eat. Hence, you must make it a point to reduce food wastage by cooking just the required amount and finishing everything that you take on your plate. You can also store leftover foods and use them for the next meal. These simple steps will not only reduce food wastage and cut down your grocery bills, but also save the earth’s resources.

2. Include more plant-based foods in your diet:

Plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lentils, beans and nuts are healthy and have a positive impact on the environment. They reduce greenhouse gases and help preserve land, water and other natural resources. On the other hand, meats and meat industries contribute to food shortages, pollution, and emptying of the oceans. Raising animals for their meat also requires a lot of land, water and energy.This harms the planet and makes things difficult for the poor.

3. Go for local and seasonal foods:

Local and seasonal foods are fresher, cheaper, and better for the environment as well. When you choose local foods, you not only support the local growers, but also the economy at large. These foods help maintain the farmland and no energy is used for storing or transporting them. On the other hand, imported foods are expensive as they require transportation and storage. Also, most imported foods may not be easily available in small towns and remote places.

You must also consume more seasonal fruits and stay away from those kept in cold storage for months. Seasonal fruits are tasty, nutritious, cheaper, fresh and good for your health. You must have noticed that mangoes taste the best in summer, while you get the finest carrots and oranges in winter.

4. Stay away from highly processed foods and drinks:

Potato wafers, protein bars, candies, and sugary drinks may contain many unhealthy ingredients. Although they taste good and have appealing packaging, excessive consumption of these processed products can lead to obesity and other health issues. These products also use up a lot of the available resources and need to be transported and stored. Hence, apart from being low in nutrition, processed foods are also bad for the environment.

5. Grow and cook your own food:

Gardening or growing your own food is one of the best ways to connect with nature and make a positive impact on the environment. You can also go fishing, pick wild berries, or grow your favourite fruits and vegetables. Also, cooking your own food and staying away from processed and packaged ones can be good for your health and the planet. Food packaging uses many resources and creates a lot of waste. On the other hand, home-cooked food is fresh, hygienic, nutritious and much cheaper when compared to outside foods.

Conclusion

So, the above are some simple tips to change your diet and follow more sustainable habits. Apart from these, you must also practice mindful eating and keep portions in check. Go for organic foods and try not to waste even a morsel. These small things will go a long way in helping the planet and future generations.Also, considering the growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases and infections among people of all ages, practicing healthy and sustainable habits is the need of the hour. Besides this, keep the right kind of health insurance handy so that you can avail timely and quality treatment without burning a hole in your pocket if the need arises.

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