Want to get someone to eat better? Try convincing them to seek out nature more often. People with high nature relatedness scores were more likely than those with low scores to report having a diverse diet and eating more fruits and vegetables, according to a study in the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Nature relatedness refers to the subjective sense of connection a person has with the natural environment. To conduct the study, the research team from Drexel University surveyed approximately 300 adults in Philadelphia representing different socioeconomic and racial demographics between May and August 2017. The team asked participants how close they felt to nature and what they ate the previous day to determine food consumption patterns.
These findings suggest that health promotion interventions that increase nature relatedness could potentially improve dietary intake. To do so, dietary interventions could include nature-based activities and not just reading food labels. Should more of us get a prescription for time outdoors?
See also: 6 Reasons Why Nature May Be the Best Gym
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