A sustainability analysis of environmental impact, nutritional quality, and price among six popular diets

Introduction Sustainable diets and their overall impact on the environment human health have garnered global attention. Environmental impact, nutrition, affordability are three relevant dimensions for assessing sustainability of diets. Using a relative score, we compare Mediterranean, paleo, ketogenic, vegetarian, vegan diets, along with World Health Organization dietary guidelines in order to evaluate which most sustainable. Methods Environmental, price data individual food items were collected used analyze an online meal- prep program, one week's worth meals standardized at 2,000 kilocalories per day was generated each diet. Estimates greenhouse gas emissions, eutrophication, land use, water withdrawals, nutritional quality, calculated. Ultimately score based these metric averages Results Our model indicates that vegan, vegetarian sustainable across all metrics while meat-heavy such as ketogenic diet, greatest negative environmental impact. A diet Organization's performed poorly regards affordability, impacts, quality. Diets higher quality included Mediterranean eliminate meat cheapest both by total cost gram food. Discussion highest share common characteristic: they suggest consumers committed should prioritize ‘plant-forward' In contrast, rich animal products perform but especially terms sustainability.