A diet promoting plant-based protein to help the environment now has a more human argument: It may lower your risk of dying from several major diseases. (Canada Food Guide (2019))But a challenge remains in how to convey an ideal plate of food to people. For example, Canada's food guide shows a tidy quarter devoted to general proteins, telling people how much versus what kinds of protein. "We need protein, but total protein is not a good indicator of how healthy we are eating," said Lamarche. Beyond just healthy eating, a sustainable diet needs to also consider affordability, cultural relevance and whether it's truly good for the environment, Lamarche stressed.
