Eating Healthy: Top Tips for Sustainable Nutrition

Everyone knows we should be eating healthy to keep good health and prevent long-term health problems, but many people don’t know where to start.

That’s why, ahead of national ‘Nutrition and Hydration Week’ (16-22 March), NHS Greater Manchester is keeping it simple with five easy steps to make sure you’re eating the right food – helping to boost your health, wellbeing and the environment at the same time…

Eat Less Dairy and Red Meat

Reducing the amount of dairy and red meat in your diet has two key benefits. It can reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease, and it’s also one of the biggest changes people can make to reduce their environmental impact. About 30% of global carbon emissions (gases that contribute to climate change) are from food systems, and more than half of this comes from livestock.

Eat More Whole Foods

Whole foods are in their natural form, such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fruits, while refined foods are heavily processed and lack fibre and nutrients. Plant-based, whole food diets not only benefit the planet but also increase life expectancy and lower the risk of serious diseases. For example, the Mediterranean diet, linked to Greece, Italy, and Spain, is connected with better mental health and wellbeing.

Keep It Seasonal

Eating seasonal fruit and vegetables grown locally in the UK is a total win-win. It makes your diet more varied and has a smaller carbon footprint, meaning it creates less impact on the climate than out-of-season produce which has been transported a long way – which in turn can often mean it’s cheaper to buy.

Get Planning

Take the waste, stress and constant ‘what’s for dinner’ conversations out of meal-times by planning ahead. Creating weekly meal plans will help get the greatest value from your food – saving money because you’re only buying what you need and reducing carbon emissions from binned food at the same time. For help on creating a weekly meal plan visit Love Food Hate Waste charity for ideas:  https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/good-food-habits/how-do-I/create-flexible-and-simple-meal-plans.

Grow Your Own

Make eating healthy super cheap by growing your own fruit and veg. Whether it’s in your own garden, a window box or local community it doesn’t matter – what matters is you’re eating more fresh, high quality food with the bonus of time spent in nature.

Dr Manisha Kumar, Chief Clinical Officer for NHS Greater Manchester said: “Small changes can make a big impact and trying just one of these steps will make a difference.”

For more information about the importance of nutrition visit: Eating a balanced diet – NHS

Nature For Health Programme

Manchester based social enterprise, Sow the City, are combining the positive impact of growing your own food and being outside in nature to improve peoples’ health and wellbeing through the ‘Nature for Health’ programme.

Funded by the public health grant and local housing provider, One Manchester, the programme provides free gardening and nature-based activities for Manchester residents referred to the service with health challenges – either through self-referral or referrals from health professionals, social care teams, supported accommodation providers and other support workers.

For more information on the programme and how to sign up visit: Nature for Health 2026 | Sow The City