[What should we eat, and why?]

In Hungary, the Smart Plate is a widely used dietary recommendation developed by the Hungarian Dieticians' Association in the absence of an official national guideline. Internationally, the Planetary Health Diet is a diet that integrates both health and environmental sustainability. As climate change progresses, the environmental footprint of dietary patterns is becoming increasingly relevant due to its health impacts.

To compare the Smart Plate and the Planetary Health Diet with the average Hungarian diet, and to assess their effects on human health and environmental footprint.

The average Hungarian diet was described using data from the 2019 National Nutrition and Nutritional Status Survey (OTÁP). Daily intakes of major food groups were determined for all three diets. Effects on human health were assessed according to the Global Burden of Disease optimal intake ranges across nine food groups. Consuming these optimal amounts would theoretically minimize the risk of related diseases. Environmental footprints - greenhouse gas emissions and land use - were calculated using the SHARP Indicator Database.

Among the diets examined, the Planetary Health Diet met four Global Burden of Disease optimal intake categories and thus appeared the healthiest. The Smart Plate and OTÁP diets each met one optimal category. OTÁP showed the highest greenhouse gas and land use footprints, the Smart Plate showed intermediate values, while the Planetary Health Diet had the lowest environmental footprint.

The Planetary Health Diet demonstrated both the most favorable health profile and the smallest environmental impact. The Global Burden of Disease optimal intake ranges are considered reliable due to their basis in systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and validation in large cohort studies. The environmental footprint results align with published evidence.

Adapting and recommending the Planetary Health Diet in Hungary should be considered, as current findings indicate clear health and environmental advantages over both the Smart Plate and the average Hungarian diet. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(9): 337-346.