If you want to break your healthy eating plan and eat food truck food, is that OK? Dietitian Heidi McIndoo offers tips on indulging. Plus, information on the new Sustainable Diet Index.
You’re walking down the street, and your senses are overwhelmed by the scents of Greece, the Middle East, Mexico, America, and more. Ah, the food trucks creating their yummy street fare. But if you’re trying to stick to your healthy eating plan, does that mean you have to walk on by? Not necessarily.
Sure, many food cart meals or street foods aren’t topping any uber nutritious foods lists, but nutrient content isn’t all there is to healthy eating. It’s important to keep the joy and pleasure in your eating. Enjoying “treat” foods occasionally is a great way to keep your eating fun as well as help you stick to your healthy eating because you’re not in a constant state of deprivation.
Of course, that’s not to say go hog wild every time you walk past a street food vendor. It’s all about balance. There are ways to enjoy these food truck food while keeping health in mind. In some cases, you might have an option of ingredients such as choosing a leaner meat filling, skipping the high saturated fat, salt, or sugary sauce, or adding fresh fruit. Try to take advantage of these when you can. No need to skip these tasty street foods altogether.
Helpful hints
Next time you can’t resist food truck food, keep these tips in mind.
- Share. To get that taste you’re craving but keep your nutrition goals in check, consider sharing your treat with a friend, or two.
- Go small. If size is an option, choose the smallest to enjoy, while not going too overboard on certain nutrients.
- Resist, a little. Food carts often gather in groups. If you find yourself with multiple options, consider giving yourself just one choice to sample.
The Sustainable Diet Index
Question: What is the sustainable diet index?
Answer: The Sustainable Diet Index (SDI) is used to assess the environmental, health, and social impacts of dietary choices. It helps measure how well a diet aligns with sustainability principles, balancing nutrition with ecological responsibility.
The SDI evaluates diets based on factors such as carbon footprint, water usage, biodiversity impact, and nutritional adequacy. A high SDI score indicates a diet that supports human health and environmental sustainability. Plant-based diets, for example, tend to rank higher due to their lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduced land and water use. Conversely, diets high in red meat and processed foods score lower because of their significant environmental impact.
The SDI aims to guide individuals, organizations, and governments in making informed dietary choices that contribute to global food security and climate change mitigation. By adopting diets with a higher SDI, people can help promote a more sustainable food system while improving personal health.
Incorporating more plant-based foods, reducing waste, and choosing local, seasonal ingredients are simple steps to improve one’s SDI score and contribute to a healthier planet.
Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com.
©2025 Belvoir Media Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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