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Methodology and optimization tool for a personalized low environmental impact and healthful diet specific to country and season

Author

Listed:
  • Christie Walker
  • Stephan Pfister
  • Stefanie Hellweg

Abstract

To remain within the limits of the planetary boundaries and address increasing disease rates due to poor eating habits, there needs to be a major shift in dietary patterns. The composition of an optimal diet changes depending on location, season, and personalized dietary needs. We develop a methodology to build a 500+ food item, nutrient, and environmental impact database specific to a given country and month, which includes several life cycle stages of a food item and calculates impacts depending on from where the item is sourced. This database is then used to develop a detailed and personalized, healthful, low impact diet by using linear optimization. We applied this methodology to several case studies to compare what low impact diets would look like depending on country (Switzerland vs. Spain), season (August vs. February), sex, the inclusion of dietary supplements, and for different diet types and impact categories (climate change and biodiversity loss). Results indicate that, although optimized diets are similar, there are marked differences in the detailed composition depending on country, season, and impact considered, especially regarding legume choice. The lowest impact diet contained local and imported foods as well as fish. Vegan diets had the lowest impact only when incorporating a supplement to meet nutrient needs. We developed a tool to be used for personalized diet composition assessments for any global geographical location and season. We anticipate this work to be useful for developing country‐ and season‐specific dietary guidelines and for consumers hoping to reduce their own personal impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Christie Walker & Stephan Pfister & Stefanie Hellweg, 2021. "Methodology and optimization tool for a personalized low environmental impact and healthful diet specific to country and season," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1147-1160, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:25:y:2021:i:5:p:1147-1160
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13131
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin C. Heller & Gregory A. Keoleian, 2015. "Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates of U.S. Dietary Choices and Food Loss," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 19(3), pages 391-401, June.
    2. Robert W. R. Parker & Julia L. Blanchard & Caleb Gardner & Bridget S. Green & Klaas Hartmann & Peter H. Tyedmers & Reg A. Watson, 2018. "Fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions of world fisheries," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 333-337, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chris Kennedy & Richard Wood, 2022. "Winners of the 2021 Graedel Prizes: The Journal of Industrial Ecology Best Paper Prizes," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1161-1163, August.
    2. Georgia-Eirini Deligiannidou & Chrysoula Kyrgou & Evangelia Nena & Vangelis G. Manolopoulos & Eugenia Bezirtzoglou & Christos A. Kontogiorgis & Theodoros C. Constantinidis, 2022. "Use of Edible, Medicinal, and Aromatic Plants in Various Health Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation among Inhabitants in the Area of Thrace, North-Eastern Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, October.
    3. García-Leal, Javiera & Espinoza Pérez, Andrea Teresa & Vásquez, Óscar C., 2023. "Towards the sustainable massive food services: An optimization approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    4. Ling Zhang & Xinzhu Zheng & Wenling Liu & Li Ma, 2025. "More habitual deviation alleviates the trade‐offs between dietary health, environmental impacts, and economic cost," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 29(2), pages 503-517, April.
    5. Sandra G. Marquardt & P. James Joyce & Giles Rigarlsford & Mariska Dötsch‐Klerk & Kathelijn van Elk & Jonathan Doelman & Vassilis Daioglou & Mark A. J. Huijbregts & Sarah Sim, 2024. "Prospective life cycle assessment of climate and biodiversity impacts of meat‐based and plant‐forward meals: A case study of Indonesian and German meal options," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(6), pages 1598-1611, December.

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