Sustainable Diets: Fundamentals for human and planetary health

The food we buy, cook and eat every day – as well as the way it’s produced – is key to addressing the challenge of sustainable healthy eating. This course explores the fundamental principles of a sustainable diet for human and planetary health. It aims to help all health professionals to develop the confidence and knowledge necessary to incorporate sustainability into their practice.

Gain understanding of

• Why sustainability needs to be embedded into food provision, dietary advice and support
• The impact of the food system on health and planet and the urgency to shift to a more sustainable system
• What a healthy sustainable diet encompasses
• Key nutrients often cited as a concern and the evidence supporting their adequacy within a plant-based sustainable diet
• Adaptations and special dietary considerations needed when advising vulnerable population groups or those with enhanced requirements: children, adults, the elderly and athletes
• Key influencers and barriers to shifting the nation towards more sustainable plant-based eating patterns – a ‘top down’ approach

Be aware of

• The impact individual foods and dietary patterns can have on health and the environment
• How healthy eating and sustainable food messages align
• The latest international and national guidelines and policies with regards to sustainable diets
• The varied spectrum of sustainable, plant-based dietary patterns suitable for different individuals, ranging from vegan to flexitarian

Be able to

• Advise on accommodating for all essential macro- and micronutrients on a plant-based diet
• Confidently provide advice to individuals on how they can shift towards healthful, sustainable plant-based dietary patterns
• Identify the top dietary adaptations needed to improve the environmental impact of current dietary patterns
• Understand key reports and studies on sustainable diets and eating