The Sustainable Diet Handbook is the reference handbook I've been waiting for. It gives me all the practical information I need to eat in a truly sustainable way, and explains why. With this handbook, I know how to eat:
- by taking care of my health;
- by preserving the climate and the living creatures around me: wild and cultivated plants, wild and farm animals, in the soil, freshwater and marine environments (environment);
- by pleasing myself with tasty, nutritious dishes (taste);
- without spending too much time in the kitchen (time);
- by paying producers properly, both near me and in developing countries (social justice);
- ... while preserving my budget !
What is the Sustainable Diet Handbook?
The handbook consists of four volumes, totalling over 700 pages in A5 format:
- "Key information" takes stock of what is meant by food that is respectful of the environment, health and producers, based on existing scientific studies and reports. It gives the main directions to follow to make progress in this area, and also points out the most widespread misconceptions.
- "Practical sheets" provides answers to the major practical questions raised by the transition to a more sustainable diet, including: what equipment is useful, how to identify a suitable vegetable supplier, how to reduce the share of certain foods or replace them, how to introduce more vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, how to ensure a balanced diet, how to limit wastage, how to save time.
- "Basic recipes" offers hundreds of sustainable recipes for everyday use, taking into account simultaneously and as far as possible the constraints that weigh specifically on everyday eating, by combining cooking methods and ingredients, ensuring good flavour combinations.
- For each of the 52 vegetables available throughout the year in Europe,"Vegetable Fiches" offers information on the season in which to buy them, preparation advice and between 3 and 5 specific recipes, in addition to the "basic recipes" adapted for that vegetable.
How can I obtain the Sustainable Diet Handbook?
I can download a free electronic version in PDF format under a Creative Commons CC-BY-ND 4.0 licence, as well as a set of calculators (spreadsheet files) for environmental sustainability and the balance of my diet, by following this link.
I can buy the Sustainable Diet Handbook in paper and ePub e-book format from my local bookshop and from the BOD online bookshop (currently in French only, English version upcoming).
I can also subscribe, free of charge and with no obligation the weekly newsletter, which delivers the latest vegetable fiche to my inbox every week.
So I'm maintaining my motivation to slowly but surely move my diet towards greater sustainability, in all the dimensions mentioned above: health, environment, taste, time, social justice and budget.
