Improving Vietnamese Diets: Balancing Multiple Sustainability Domains

Summary

Our research reveals that many people in Vietnam, especially adult women, are not getting enough essential nutrients, and this problem has not improved from 2010 to 2020. Despite the poor quality of diets, the environmental impact of food consumption, such as greenhouse gas emissions, has increased. In the context of Vietnam, balancing diet quality, environmental impact, and diet cost is a significant challenge, with more trade-offs than benefits. Women's diets are particularly affected when trying to make sustainable food choices. Our findings highlight the need to include environmental considerations in dietary guidelines to encourage healthier and more sustainable eating habits. Finally, more studies are needed in low- and middle-income countries, including Vietnam, to understand the global environmental impact of diets and help shape effective policies.