The Double Pyramid Model Linking Food Nutrition and Environmental Impact to Promote Healthy, Sustainable Diets

The updated Double Pyramid Model indicates that a Mediterranean diet could result in a lower environmental impact compared to diets high in meat consumption.

• The Double Pyramid Model aligns food choices with their environmental impacts, promoting foods with lower impacts for frequent consumption.
• Three dietary patterns were compared: omnivorous (including meat), lacto-ovo-vegetarian (including dairy and eggs), and vegan (plant-based).
• All menus provided balanced nutrition but varied in the inclusion of animal flesh and products.
• Diets based on the Mediterranean principles may contribute to reduced environmental harm compared to meat-heavy diets.

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