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Do diet

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Do diet

Eat well, for you and the planet

We all like a treat, or two! However some can come with a big carbon footprint, and affect our overall health, depending on the snack.

Whether your particular vice is chocolate, cheese, pastries, crisps or fizzy drinks, it can be easy to make a few small changes, and reduce your carbon footprint.

Why

Here are a few reasons to take action.

Click for more info or scroll to read them all.

Money

Eating treats can fill our stomachs but empty our wallets. The cost adds up. Improve your health, and your bank balance.

Brits spend a total of £67 million per week on chocolate.1

Health

Our health is key to everything. We can change our habits, and in tandem, improve our health.

Snacking can be good for you, we just need to look at what we eat. Local, organic, unprocessed, and unpackaged is the way to go whenever possible.

6bn

packs of crisps are eaten in the UK each year.2

Carbon

The food we buy adds up to 20% of our carbon footprint.3

Some foods have bigger carbon footprints than others, especially if long food miles, and lots of packaging are involved.

Mass produced cheese is one to watch because of all those methane-belching cows – 3kg CO2e is released for every 250g block of mass produced cheese. That’s equivalent to a 4 mile drive!4

480k

tCO2 is the annual footprint of the UK's crisp eating addiction.

Global Goals

In September 2017, an historic agreement was signed by UN member nations agreeing to work towards 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development by 2030, otherwise known as the SDGs.

Achieving these ambitious goals will require action from governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals alike. We can - and must - all play our part.

By making the 'Do diet' pledge, you are contributing to the following SDG targets:

3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature

13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

How

  1. Cut back

Sometimes less really is more - more health, happiness, and enjoyment in the foods that we do eat (including the occasional treat). It’s gradual change that can make a lasting impact.

Follow these great tips from James Clear on changing behaviours.


2. Change your environment and cut out altogether

Going cold turkey on those treats could be a fun challenge. To help you to get there, try to change your environment to make the old habits harder to fall back on and the new behaviours easier.

Tip: Don’t leave tempting snacks within easy reach, like on your desk. Better still, keep your cupboards clear of them.

However, for those who find snacking to be a necessity, the next point may be more suited.


3. Find an alternative

Could you exchange that packet of crisps for some homemade kale crisps? Or how about a home baked low sugar sweet treat rather than shop bought?

Recipes:

  1. Banana bread
  2. Oat slice
  3. Roasted Chickpeas
  4. Kale Crisps
  5. Homemade hummus

You can also look out for items that are labelled:


4. Remind yourself Why

When we have a strong purpose behind a new habit that we’d like to form, we have a higher chance of succeeding.

Find out why your action matters and how it can start with food.

Success Stories

2,310

Pledges
in total

31,081kg

CO2
pledged

“

This one was really hard until I realized that cutting out crisps really improved my skin. Going to keep this one up for sure. :)

“

This is really clever! Got me fit too!!!!

“

Good for me too! Little things like this are good and although something I wanted to do for a long time I didn't have the motivation to do but will deff keep it up now!

“

Generally ate healthier as a result of not eating crisps:- I made more of an effort to prepare my lunch at home and not rely on fast food.

“

this is a great way of kicking bad habits - thanks.

“

Was a great eye opener - made me realise how much of the stuff I eat!

References

  1. The Guardian
  2. The Guardian
  3. How Bad Are Bananas, Mike Berners-Lee, page 171
  4. How Bad Are Bananas, Mike Berners-Lee, page 106

Images

Banner Image: Ludovic Avice