Follow a diet that gives up nothing but changes everything to save lives and the planet, say food experts

Everyone worldwide can adopt a diet that is healthy and sustainable without giving up entire food groups, according to a new report. Researchers from the Barilla Foundation and Federico II University, Naples, assessed different foods according to their impact on human and planetary health, ranking them to design a “Double Health and Climate Pyramid”.

The Double Pyramid, launched under the patronage of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, provides a simple tool to guide everyone towards a diet that reduces the risk of disease while also limiting climate impact, tackling the biggest challenges in the Age of the Human.

The findings suggest a healthy and sustainable diet based on a large amount of plant-based foods, with varied protein sources including legumes, nuts, fish, and poultry. Unlike many dietary guidelines, the findings do not require consumers to give up red meat, dairy, or even cakes and pastries, but do indicate the appropriate frequency and portion to meet health and sustainability targets.

Healthy Diet Is Key

"The Double Pyramid aims to communicate simply and directly the features of a balanced, healthy, and sustainable diet by advising on the appropriate frequency of consumption for all food groups,” said Dr Marta Antonelli, Head of Research at the Barilla Foundation and one of the report’s authors.

“Compared to other tools, the Double Pyramid has the advantage of taking into consideration all eating occasions, such as snacks, street food, or lunches, and also going beyond a single meal by giving a daily and weekly perspective on frequencies of food consumption.”

For the first time, the Double Pyramid has also been adapted for seven world regions, taking into account local culture and regional food.

The seven pyramids illustrate that healthy and sustainable diets are available worldwide, allowing consumers to address the personal health and climate impact of their choices while respecting traditional diets and local food systems. 

These traditional diets can also lay the foundation for food habits appropriate for the Anthropocene, the report suggests, as they typically rely upon foods that are high in nutrients and low in climate impact.

At present, diet-related costs due to mortality and non-communicable diseases are projected to exceed US$1.3 trillion per annum by 2030, whereas the cost of global greenhouse gas emissions is estimated to reach US$1.7 trillion in the same timeframe.

At the same time, some 690 million people worldwide lack sufficient food, with an additional 83 to 132 million people likely to become undernourished as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What is clear from this new report is that sustainably produced, high-quality nutrient-dense foods must be accessible and affordable for all,” said Gabriele Riccardi, Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Naples “Federico II”.

The report makes 10 recommendations based on the learnings from the Double Pyramid, including the adoption of greener food procurement policies, educational initiatives for farmers, producers, and the public, and subsidies for nutritional and sustainable foods.

ALMA, the International School of Italian Cuisine, has adopted the Double Pyramid to train future chefs and will develop, in collaboration with its network of international school partners, seven recipes that follow its principles.

“Today, we face the major challenge of resetting food systems from farm to fork, as they are currently failing to provide adequate and equitable food for all while posing an unsustainable burden on ecosystems and natural resources,” said Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank and a member of the Barilla Foundation Advisory Board.

“We know that the capacity to produce food, the well-being of ecosystems, and human health are inextricably linked, and now, thanks to the Double Pyramid, we have a science-based tool to rethink our food habits.”