This study investigates the environmental and nutritional benefits of plant-based dietary shifts in the United States. Using data from the Food4HealthyLife calculator, the researchers developed 24 model composite diet scenarios across three dietary concepts, assessing their environmental and nutritional performance using the Health Nutritional Index (HENI) and Food Compass scoring systems. Results showed a nonlinear relationship between environmental and nutritional performance, but trade-off analysis identified a diet (10% legumes, 0.11% red meat, 0.28% processed meat, 2.81% white meat) reducing global warming by 54.72% while maintaining high diet quality. This suggests potential benefits of transitioning to optimal plant- and animal-based dietary patterns.

Raphael Aidoo, Vincent Abe-Inge, Ebenezer M. Kwofie, Jamie I. Baum, Stan Kubow