If you’re curious how your plate impacts the planet, the climatarian diet offers a simple and delicious way to reduce your carbon footprint one bite at a time. Whether you’re an eco-newbie or a seasoned green eater, this guide breaks down everything you need to know to get started. 

What Is the Climatarian Diet? 

The climatarian diet is all about making food choices that help reduce your carbon footprint. Rather than focusing on calorie counts or cutting out entire food groups, this way of eating makes you think about how your meal impacts the planet.

It prioritizes local and seasonal foods, avoids ingredients with a heavy carbon toll — like red meat and dairy — and champions sustainable farming practices. Unlike veganism or vegetarianism, a climatarian diet isn’t necessarily about ethics or animal rights, though they often overlap. Instead, it’s a practical, flexible approach to eating with the earth in mind. 

Climatarianism is growing in popularity as climate awareness becomes central to everyday decisions, including what’s on your plate. 

The Climatarian Diet vs. Other Diets 

While veganism cuts out all animal products, and vegetarianism excludes meat, climatarianism focuses primarily on lowering carbon emissions from your food. It’s less about strict rules and more about conscious choices based on environmental impact. 

This means you might still eat meat occasionally, just less often and more thoughtfully. Its flexibility often makes it easier for some people to maintain, while still helping the planet. 

Is the Climatarian Diet Healthy?

The climatarian diet isn’t just good for the planet — it can boost your health, too. By focusing on whole, plant-based foods and reducing processed items, you naturally increase your intake of fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. That said, if you cut back on meat — especially red meat — make sure you still get enough iron and vitamin B12, which are essential for energy and brain health. Balanced nutrition is key. 

How the Climatarian Diet Helps the Planet 

Food production accounts for more than a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. By changing your diet, eating from root to stem and dining at home more often, you can lower your environmental impact more than you might think. 

For example, switching from beef to legumes, fish or poultry can significantly reduce your meal’s carbon emissions. Choosing local produce reduces the “food miles” your groceries travel to get to your plate. Cutting back on waste also saves methane from landfills and resources used to produce food that’s never eaten. 

Living as a climatarian means voting for the planet at least three times a day. Even small choices, like skipping out-of-season berries, can add up to meaningful change. 

What You Can Eat on a Climatarian Diet

The good news is climatarianism isn’t an unhealthy, restrictive diet. Climatarians enjoy a full, flavorful range of foods that are also kinder to the earth. Fill your plate with local vegetables to reduce your risk of communicable diseases, and opt for seasonal fruit, legumes, whole grains and ethically sourced fish. 

Choose organic or regenerative products when possible and aim to shop from farmers’ markets or low-packaging grocers. You don’t have to be perfect — you just have to be aware. A climatarian dinner could be a hearty lentil stew in winter or grilled zucchini and brown rice in summer. The idea is to eat what grows near you, in season and with minimal environmental cost. 

Foods to Cut Back On and Why 

To keep your carbon footprint low, it’s smart to limit your consumption of foods with a big environmental impact. Red meats, like beef and lamb, top the list as they require tons of land and water and produce high greenhouse gases. Imported fruits and vegetables — especially those flown in from far away — add “food miles” that increase pollution. Highly processed snacks and foods wrapped in excess plastic also contribute to waste and emissions. 

Cutting back on these foods isn’t just good for the planet — it’s good for you too. Reducing your intake of processed foods supports better health outcomes, especially as you age. So think of this as a win-win — better for you, better for the earth. 

Simple Swaps for Starting a Climatarian Diet  

Starting your climatarian journey is easier than you think. Try these simple swaps to reduce your carbon footprint without sacrificing flavor: 

• Swap beef burgers for black bean or lentil patties. Note: Turkey and chicken burgers also have a lower environmental impact than beef. 
• Choose seasonal, local apples instead of imported berries.
• Replace plastic-packaged snacks with bulk raw nuts and seeds.
• Pick wild-caught or sustainably farmed fish over traditionally farmed varieties.
• Use reusable produce bags to cut down on plastic waste. 

These small changes add up. Even introducing one swap a week to your routine can make a difference for the environment and your health. 

Creating a Climate-Friendly Plate 

The climatarian diet is less about perfection and more about progress. Every mindful meal is a step toward a healthier planet and a healthier you. So don’t stress about being flawless. Instead, start with one small swap and build your eco-friendly eating habits at your own pace.