Planning means understanding what it means to eat well for the planet.
Eating sustainably protects resources, respects ecosystems and follows nature’s cycles. By choosing more plant-based, seasonal and locally sourced foods, you reduce the pressure on natural resources and on animal production systems. The Mediterranean diet offers this approach, with simple, locally sourced choices. Planning portion sizes, making the most of leftovers and organising food storage reduces waste and makes energy use at home more efficient. With good planning, every meal looks after you, the animals and the planet.
Eating well for the planet means ensuring the sustainability of natural resources.
Dietary choices and their impacton the Environment
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Living Soils and Earth Systems
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Soils are not just "earth": they are living ecosystems teeming with microorganisms, roots, insects and organic matter that keep water, nutrients and carbon in balance. When we look after the soil – through diversity, crop rotation and reduced use of chemicals – we are protecting plant fertility, water quality and the climate.
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Energy in Ecosystems
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All the energy in ecosystems originates in plants and is passed from one trophic level to the next through food chains and food webs. The more ‘steps’ we take to obtain food, the more energy is lost along the way. Choosing a more plant-based diet helps to conserve the ecosystem’s energy and protect habitats.
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Matter Cycles and Water, Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus
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Water, carbon and nutrients are constantly circulating between the soil, plants, animals, the atmosphere and the oceans. When one of these cycles becomes unbalanced – such as through water pollution, too much carbon in the air or an excess of fertilisers – all the others are affected. Making good food choices helps to keep these cycles stable.
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From farm to plate
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Food goes on a journey before it reaches your plate: it is grown in the fields, transported, processed and sold. Choosing local, seasonal and minimally processed food reduces transport, packaging and waste, protects the soil and the climate, and supports your local economy.