Smart Foods for Your Health and the Climate
Updated: Sep 14
Norm Leo is a climate scientist, speaker, and consultant who makes climate science easy to grasp and inspires confident action by highlighting the tangible benefits of climate solutions. He is also the author of "Look At It This Way," helping readers see climate challenges as opportunities for growth and impact.
What if the foods that nourish your body could also help solve climate change? Today, a growing movement in nutrition shows that “smart foods,” choices that support both personal health and climate resilience, are not only accessible but also delicious, affordable, and deeply rewarding. In this article, Norm Leo shows how local produce, urban gardening, regenerative farming, and plant-forward eating can strengthen your health while building a more sustainable food future.
What are smart foods?
Smart foods are choices that benefit your health, your community, and the climate at the same time. They emphasize fresh, local, and seasonal produce, plant-forward meals, foods grown with regenerative or climate-resilient methods, ingredients that require fewer resources, such as water, land, and energy, and farming practices that protect soil, biodiversity, and long-term food security.
Smart foods aren’t about restriction. They expand your options with foods that taste better, nourish more deeply, and lighten your environmental footprint.
Why smart foods matter for your health
Seasonal produce is fresher, fully ripened, and often costs less. Fresh, local foods are harvested at peak ripeness, meaning they offer better taste and texture, contain more nutrients compared with long-distance imports, and have fewer pesticides when organic or regenerative methods are used.
Research shows that organic foods can have higher levels of vitamin C, antioxidants, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids.[1]
Reduce the risks of common illnesses
Plant-forward diets also reduce the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, colorectal cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.[2]
Smart foods help your body fight inflammation, improve digestion, and support brain function, all while reducing the environmental pressure of industrial agriculture.
Smart foods strengthen food security
Climate change threatens global food systems through droughts, heatwaves, and extreme weather. Smart food choices support farming practices that build resilience.
Agroforestry: Growing food among rows of trees is proving very efficient. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have shown that it can increase yields by up to 56% thanks to improved soil moisture, wind protection, and enhanced biodiversity.[3]
Regenerative agriculture: Regenerative farming replenishes soil, captures carbon, and boosts yields. It produces nutrient-dense foods while restoring ecosystems.
Urban farming and rooftop gardens: Urban agriculture reduces transportation emissions and strengthens local food supply. Rooftop greenhouses, community gardens, and balcony planters all contribute to a more resilient food system.
Precision agriculture: Drones and satellites help farmers apply water and fertilizer only where needed, reducing waste and increasing production. Some drones even kill weeds with lasers, eliminating the need for chemical pesticides.
Smart foods aren’t just healthier, they are part of a climate-resilient food system.
Smart foods are delicious and diverse
One of the most powerful shifts in sustainable eating is reframing the conversation, instead of saying “eat less of something,” which creates frustration, try saying “eat more of something else.” Everyone loves variety!
Smart foods expand your culinary world with options such as jackfruit pulled “pork,” chickpea curries, lentil stews, sweet winter spinach harvested during freezing temperatures, rooftop-grown salad with tomatoes and cucumbers, and seasonal berries bursting with flavor.
To discover easy meatless recipes, visit Fit Green Mind. I fell in love with the possibilities of tofu when I made “Best Tofu Ever.” My kids love it, and they’re always happy when I make tofu for supper.
Countries like Denmark are demonstrating how plant-based innovation can win over even meat-loving cultures, not through guilt, but through taste, opportunity, and creativity.[4] They funded a new culinary school, and now chefs in various restaurants can cook delicious meals without meat. Many restaurants now list vegan options first on their menus, highlight them, and put the more expensive meat options at the bottom. They also incentivize farmers to grow beans, which are worth more on the market.
Food choices are one of the most powerful climate actions individuals can take, especially when it comes to meat and dairy.
Producing 1 kg of beef emits 60 kg of greenhouse gases. Producing a plant-based patty emits 89% fewer emissions, uses dramatically less water, and requires much less land.[5] My personal favorite is the Impossible Burger patty. Once cooked, it has a charred exterior and a pink interior and can easily be mistaken for real meat. I’ve fooled a few people with this vegan “meat” before, so it’s a secret.
Plant-based cheese alternatives can also reduce emissions significantly compared with dairy cheese. For 1 kg of cheese, a total of 21 kg of greenhouse gases are emitted. However, plant-based cheese, deliciously made with oat milk, reduces that number by 73%. If you haven’t tried vegan cheese yet, you should. My favorite is Violife. They’re grate! (Pun intended.)
If you want to go further, local and seasonal foods reduce transportation emissions while also supporting farmers who use sustainable practices. Rediscovering seasonality brings joy, and it has a measurable impact on your carbon footprint.
Smart foods you can start eating today
There are simple, accessible ways to bring smart foods into your life. Eat seasonal produce that is fresher, tastier, and more nutritious. Support local farmers through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets, farmers’ markets, and urban farms. Grow something yourself, such as herbs, cherry tomatoes, or string beans, as balcony planters are a great option. Try plant-forward meals with ingredients like lentils, chickpeas, beans, tofu, and jackfruit. Explore organic brands and look for labels that support soil health and biodiversity. Reduce food waste by planning meals, storing food properly, and using leftovers creatively.
A smarter, tastier future
Smart foods are not a sacrifice, they’re an upgrade. They help you feel healthier, save money, enjoy better-tasting meals, support local farmers, strengthen food security, and reduce your carbon footprint.
Sustainable food practices offer a wider variety of delicious meals, healthier communities, and a thriving planet. Smart foods are a gift to your body and a vote for a better world.
Ready to solve climate change one meal at a time?
If you enjoyed discovering how climate solutions make your meals tastier and healthier, you will absolutely love my new book, "Look At It This Way: Climate Change Solutions Will Benefit Your Health and Wealth," available on Amazon and in many other bookstores. A whole chapter is dedicated to food. Its unique reversible design makes learning about climate change more engaging, more visual, and a lot more fun.
If you are a professional who is trying to craft messaging that truly resonates, whether you are a sustainability officer in a city, a project manager in a museum, or someone responsible for public engagement, my expertise is at your service. I help organizations communicate climate solutions in ways that inspire action, build trust, and connect with real people.
Read more from Norm Leo
Norm Leo, Climate Scientist, Keynote Speaker & Climate Communication Specialist
Norm Leo is a climate scientist and leading voice in climate communication, known for making complex environmental issues clear, relatable, and actionable. With over 2,000 presentations delivered worldwide, including TEDx, he helps audiences understand climate change without overwhelm or eco anxiety. As the author of "Look At It This Way" and former Head of Science Education at the Biosphere, Environment Museum, he blends scientific expertise with innovative messaging techniques. Norm's talks empower entrepreneurs, executives, and organizations to navigate sustainability with confidence and clarity. His solution-oriented approach leaves audiences inspired to contribute to a more resilient future.
References:
[1] Reganold, J. P., & Wachter, J. M. (2016). Organic agriculture in the twenty-first century. Nature plants, 2(2), 1-8
[2] Micha, R., Wallace, S. K., & Mozaffarian, D. (2010). Red and processed meat consumption and risk of incident coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus, a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation, 121(21), 2271-2283.
[5] Quantis. (2019, February 27). Comparative environmental LCA of the Impossible Burger with conventional ground beef burger (Final report). Impossible Foods.
