UnEarth Magazine.

Words by Alana Lester, Art by Defne Celiktemur

Have you considered why your diet is what it is? We know about the food pyramid and the healthy eating plate, but where does your food actually come from? What makes you eat what you eat? And does your food arrive to your plate with additional costs on top of those that are monetary? These are the questions on the minds of many people across varying tastes, but what exactly are the options and what might be the best fit for you? Here, we will be briefly looking into plant-based and organic diets, looking into what makes them beneficial, and why people may choose to adopt them.  

Organic diets: These foods are prepared for the plate utilising ecological-based practices in sustainable and environmentally beneficial ways. Many items can be produced organically: meat, eggs and dairy, fruits, vegetables and grains, even cosmetics and clothing can be organic. To make items organic, harmful chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are not involved in the process and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are never the result. This is because such chemicals are not only hazardous to the pests they’re trying to eliminate, but they are also significantly harmful to the surrounding land and water systems, local wildlife and biodiversity, and the consumer’s health. The downside to organic produce is that due to not adopting these chemical aids, lower crop yields and higher crop losses due to pests are the result. Combined with the fact that the UK’s already small amount of organic operators has decreased by nearly 5% since 2022, organic products usually cost significantly more than conventionally farmed alternatives. Only 9% of people surveyed in a UK study in 2019 confirmed that at least 50% of their diet was organic due to such products having low accessibility and the lack of awareness regarding organic products but eating organically and locally is a great step to be more environmentally friendly whilst maintaining current diet preferences. 

Plant-Based Diets:  There are approximately 2.5 million vegans and 8.6 million vegetarians in the UK alone in 2024, with an estimated 15 million people adopting meat- free diets total by next year. These options are now increasingly accessible, with reasonable selections for plant-based items added to the menus in most restaurants across the UK. What encourages people to make the change to animal-free diets can be down to multiple considerations: healthier lifestyles, less environmental impacts, and a concern for animal welfare and ethics. Furthermore, with the rising popularity of these options, switching to vegetarian or vegan diets is becoming more affordable and for similar prices to their animal-based counterparts, people can adopt diets that are more environmentally conscious since plant-based diets nearly always have a lower carbon footprint. It should be noted, however, that with the elimination of animal-based products, some important nutrients abundantly found in them can be harder to source, so people who are planning to adopt these diets should make efforts in order to accommodate the reduction in the likes of B12, zinc, iron, calcium and omega-3 with the likes of tempeh, fortified foods, and supplements.  P.S: Don’t forget to sign this petition  for 100% plant- based menu items across St Andrews Union outlets in a bid for helping our climate. 

Some places to go in Fife (because supporting local is always a good idea):  

Organic:  

Naturity: 183 South Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9EE  

Balgove Larder- Farm Shop, Butchery & Café: Strathtyrum, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SF   

Pillars Of Hercules: A912, Falkland, Fife, KY15 7AD  

The Tree- The Open Food Network: Order online before Sunday and collect at the Union Tuesdays 

Veggie/Vegan catering:  

FiveAcres: 68 Market St, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9NU  

Cafe in the Square: 4 Church Sq, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9NN  

Forgan’s: 110 Market St, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9PB  

Combinico: 91 South St, St Andrews, KY16 9QW 

   

Remember: A good diet is one that provides you with the needed vitamins, minerals and energy, and most importantly, suits you the best. If you are in search of a personal way to help the environment and improve your health, doing your own investigations and incorporating elements of these diets could be a beneficial step. Finally: no matter what your diet, food should be enjoyed, not a cause for concern.