Balancing Nutritional and Environmental Sustainability Through the Evaluation of the Water Footprint of the Recommended Italian, Spanish, and American Diets

This article evaluates the water footprint (WF) of the recommended Italian, Spanish, and American diets to balance nutritional adequacy and environmental sustainability. The study compares the total, green, blue, and grey water footprints of 2000 kcal/day dietary patterns based on national food guidelines. The Italian diet had the lowest WF, while the American and Spanish diets were 8% and 10.5% higher, respectively. Animal-based foods significantly contributed to the American diet's WF, whereas plant-based foods dominated in the Italian diet. The research emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts between nutritionists and the agri-food industry to create sustainable dietary patterns.