Climatarian Diet

Choosing a climatarian diet can have great benefits for human health, the environment and food production. This guide explores what a climatarian diet entails, from plant-based meals to choosing food that is locally sourced. You will also find tips and advice to help you transition to this diet today.

As I bonus I even included three climatarian diet recipes for you to try that have five ingredients or less!

What is a Climatarian Diet?

Climatarian eating is a sustainable way of eating that is focused on reducing the impacts of climate change. The main goal of this type of diet is to reduce your carbon footprint by choosing low-carbon foods and ingredients that have been sustainably grown and produced. This type of diet encourages you to focus on consuming local whole foods, replacing animal products with plant-based options, and avoiding processed or packaged food as much as possible.

Eating Locally Grown Food

Eating locally grown food is one of the most important aspects of a climatarian diet. Local foods have gone through much less processing and travel to get to your plate, meaning they have a lower carbon footprint than foods that are transported from across the world. Additionally, local farms typically use fewer chemicals on their crops and focus on organic and sustainable growing practices, further reducing their environmental impacts. By eating local foods, you can support farmers in your area while reducing the emissions associated with food production.

Some of my favorite locally grown food choices are:

• Buying my produce from local co-ops.
• Eating more plant based meats
• Incorporating sustainable seafood

Supporting Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Eating a climatarian diet is not just good for the environment, it supports sustainable farming and agricultural practices. By buying locally grown products, you are helping to protect the planet by reducing emissions associated with transportation, as well as supporting small farmers and businesses in your area. Additionally, because the food has been grown closer to home, it is often fresher than food brought from much farther away. Furthermore, an emphasis on organic and sustainable growing practices helps to preserve local soils and biodiversity.

Decreasing Your Carbon Footprint

Eating a climatarian diet can also help you to reduce your carbon footprint. By consuming locally grown foods, you are minimizing the amount of energy and resources used in food production, harvesting, and transport. Additionally, when purchasing organic foods, you are avoiding the potential for pesticides to enter the environment — an unfortunate side effect of many industrial farming practices. Choosing to purchase in-season produce can further reduce your impact on the environment; not only will Seasonal fruits and vegetables be tastier, but they require less energy for transportation and preservation.

Potential Health Benefits of a Climatarian Diet

Eating a climatarian diet can offer many potential health benefits. Since it is plant-based, you will be getting lots of antioxidants and other nutrients that are found in fruits and vegetables. Additionally, by limiting or avoiding processed foods or animal products, you may be able to reduce your intake of added chemicals and hormones. With an emphasis on local food, you can also reduce your exposure to pollutants present in the environment. Lastly, the fresh produce may be tastier and fresher than mass produced factory farmed foods, making them healthier for your body as well as more enjoyable to eat.

Is It A Better Diet for Those With Stomach Disorders Like Colitis?

I've always followed the FODMAP diet since I was diagnosed with colitis. So when I saw the climatarian diet, it was a good wake up to making sure I'm getting additional health benefits from my food. I think it could also be beneficial by eating more locally grown foods, and reducing processed foods.

You can read more about some of the most popular diets on the market and if they are considered FODMAP friendly diets here.

Three Climatarian Diet Recipes with Five Ingredients or Less

I always love reading about a diet and then having to search for recipes. Today I've included three climatarian diet recipes with five ingredients or less! This is a great inexpensive way to see if the diet will be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Grilled Eggplant and Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 eggplants, sliced into rounds
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
2. Brush the eggplant rounds with olive oil and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side until tender.
3. Arrange the grilled eggplant and tomato slices on a serving platter.
4. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry

Ingedients:

• 1 head of cauliflower, chopped into florets
• 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 can of coconut milk
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add the cauliflower, chickpeas, coconut milk, curry powder, and salt to the pot.
3. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until the cauliflower is tender.
4. Serve over a bed of brown rice.

Quinoa and Black Bean Bowl

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 avocado, diced
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the cooked quinoa, black beans, and diced avocado.
2. Drizzle with lime juice, salt, and pepper.
3. Serve warm or cold, as desired.

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