Examination of the interrelationships between nutrition, environmental sustainability and food-processing: A concept study using model diets.

ABSTRACT: Recent work has focused on understanding the link between diet quality and environmental impact, however it is also important to consider the role food processing plays in this relationship. Using model meal plans, this paper examines the link between nutrient content, environmental impact, and processing. Four distinct meal plans were considered - 'Healthy', 'Unhealthy', 'Healthy (plant-based)', 'Healthy (plant-based, processed)'. For each a variety of environmental impact, processing and nutritional composition metrics were compared. Alternative healthy eating index (AHEI) score for the Unhealthy diet was significantly lower than the other three diets. The 'Healthy (plant-based)' diet had the highest AHEI score but was not significantly different to the 'Healthy (plant-based, processed)'

SUBMITTER: Mulrooney SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10681926 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature