There is increasing evidence that Brits are embracing diets that are healthy for the planet as well as for themselves.
That's according toa new survey by London-based AI food tech startup Spoon Guru, which found that a quarter (24 per cent) of those polled are actively choosing more sustainable food options to tackle global warming. Some 22 per cent are following a more eco-conscious diet to address animal welfare, and 25 per cent are eating more sustainably to tackle eco issues due to agricultural expansion.
The findings also suggest that the planet’s wellbeing is mirroring a similar focus on people's own health, the company claimed, while the Covid crisis has changed eating habits for one in five (22 per cent) of Britons, highlighting the growing trend for conscious eating and the link between eating healthily and eating sustainably.
However, the study indicates that Brits would welcome more help when it comes to choosing more sustainable food options, with 27 per cent calling for more guidance from retailers and 37 per cent urging the government to collaborate with retailers to promote a dietary shift from meat to plant-heavy diets.
Adrian Hodgson, chief health officer at Spoon Guru, said: “This study reinforces the fact that a healthy planet and healthy people are intertwined. We’ve seen a significant rise in calls for dietary shifts from meat to more plant-heavy diets to combat the impact that farming animals has on the environment, with one in 10 Brits now following a vegetarian or plant-based diet.
'A focus on eating less meat and adopting plant-based options as part of a well-rounded, balanced diet that includes moderate amounts of all the food groups, not only benefits people’s health but also helps to combat many urgent environmental issues - not least the threat to wildlife and the risk of pandemics.
“Our findings show that consumers are taking heed and adapting their diets to include more sustainable food options. However, the challenge remains - how can we all select better foods, not only to support our health and immune systems but to also address pressing environmental concerns? Today we are spoilt for choice and it really is a minefield out there. Consumers need more help than ever when it comes to navigating healthy food items and educating themselves about more sustainable food choices.”
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